Despite some hurdles,
Top Esports have managed to qualify for the
Worlds 2025 quarterfinals, finishing the Swiss Stage with a 3-2 record. With G2 Esports now standing in their way to the semifinals, the
League of Legends Pro League (LPL) representatives will aim to replicate their previous performance against the European squad. In an exclusive interview, the team’s jungler,
Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok, sat down with
Sheep Esports to discuss the team’s growth, his goals at Worlds, and his confidence ahead of his first bracket-stage match.
How does it feel to qualify for the quarterfinals at Worlds 2025? Does it feel bittersweet to have to beat your fellow LPL team, BLG?
Seo “Kanavi” Jin-hyeok: “Yeah, definitely. I’m happy about the result, but we really didn’t want to face BLG. Unfortunately, we had no choice. We just needed to be strong.
TES started Worlds 2025 with a 2-0 record but ended 3-2. Was there any point where you doubted you would still make it to the bracket stage?
Kanavi: After we lost our best-of-threes in rounds three and four, we were in really bad form and lacked momentum. When we stepped onto the stage against BLG, we felt like it could have been our last match at Worlds. We had to show our best form and aim to win. I feel fortunate we were able to win that game.
Do you feel that Top Esports is in good form now, especially after learning from all the matches you've played?
Kanavi: Recently, we’ve had very good results in scrims, and we’ve been putting 100% effort into our practice. I’d say we’re in pretty good form and have reversed our momentum.
Your coach mentioned that Top Esports sometimes struggles mentally in tough matches. After today’s crucial win, do you feel more confident and less stressed heading into the quarterfinals?
Kanavi: In best-of-fives and best-of-threes, we’ve had shaky moments, especially when it comes to mentality and dealing with momentum. Today, I feel like we did a good job against BLG. In the quarterfinals, we’ll need to stay relaxed on stage and avoid thinking about anything but the game. It’s important to focus on the mission at hand, what you should do in game.
Do you feel confident on an individual level? You’ve been regarded as one of the best junglers in the world for quite some time—do you believe you still live up to that status?
Kanavi: Personally, I’ve always had confidence in myself. I have good mechanics and have achieved decent results in tournaments. I always keep that in mind, but what really matters is showing it on stage. In the past, I couldn’t achieve very good results at Worlds and other international tournaments, so now we really need to prove ourselves and deliver a strong performance on stage.
This is your first year with Top Esports after a long tenure on JDG. How was the adaptation to your new squad, considering this is only the second team you’ve ever played on?
Kanavi: We’ve been together for about a year now, but yes, I was with JD Gaming for a very long time before that. We’ve played so many matches, and through the whole journey, we’ve built up our synergy and made huge progress. This year, we’ve already created many stories and gained valuable experience that has helped us immensely. We still have more matches to go at Worlds, and I just want us to keep working together and make sure we don’t leave any regrets here in China.
Kanavi: Having a strong mentality is very important for any professional player. You need to take care of yourself, both mentally and physically. As players, we don’t get much time for rest or recovery between tournaments, so many professionals struggle to maintain optimal health. In the case of JackeyLove, he’s a really talented player with his own strengths and abilities. He could definitely still play next year. As a team, we’ve built a lot of synergy this year, and our one goal is to be World Champions. We’ll do everything so we don't leave any regrets here.
Do you have a message for your next opponents before the bracket stage?
Kanavi: No matter who our next opponents may be, we’re going to do everything to claim victory. Be careful.”
Header Photo Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
