GEN Canyon: "Right now, I’d say I’m at about 80% of my full potential"

Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu, jungler of Gen.G at Worlds 2025.

"Making my cats proud makes me want to win even more"

The champions of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) have arrived at Worlds 2025, and for them, nothing short of first place will suffice. Carrying the expectations of his team, Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu sat down with Sheep Esports ahead of his matches to discuss his experience so far in China, what motivates him most, and what to expect from Gen.G this year.

How was the trip to China, and how are you feeling ahead of Worlds 2025?

Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu: “The distance is relatively close, so there was no problem adapting to a new country. We've been eating really well. I'm so excited about Worlds happening in a few hours. I was just imagining myself playing against some of the best teams in the world.

You’re back in China for Worlds, the same place where you won in 2020. What does returning here mean to you?

Canyon: I have a lot of great memories whenever internationals are hosted in China; it makes me even more excited. I always want to win it all. I always want to win the title. Still, winning requires a lot of hard work and great performance, so I have to focus to attain those goals.

Many have been discussing your form lately. How do you feel about your current level going into Worlds, and are you more confident now than during the LCK playoffs?

Canyon: For sure, after losing that matchup against KT, I wanted to be more serious and more rational when it comes to gameplay. Right now, I’d say I’m at about 80% of my full potential.

I saw in an AMA that you said you can’t cook very well, but I always see you cooking on the Rift. Why is that?

Canyon: It’s all about the experience. I’ve never cooked in real life, but I’ve been playing video games since I was about six, so it’s been over ten years of “cooking” in-game experience.

How do you see T1’s level going into Worlds, knowing they first had to play through Play-In? Do you still view them as a major threat?

Canyon: T1 is definitely a threat here at Worlds 2025. Looking back at all the matches we played against them, even though we got the win, there was never a game where we won dominantly or smoothly. It was always a back-and-forth fight, so they’re always a big threat. T1 took a bit of a break before coming back to the stage, so I don’t really know what to expect if we were to face them. It’ll all come down to their condition on game day.

In the West, a lot of people have been talking about Kacper "Inspired" Słoma. What are your thoughts on him and FlyQuest?

Canyon: I can go all the way back to 2020 when he was in Rogue. Even at that time, I thought he was one of the best junglers at Worlds, and he’s still maintaining that form and level of gameplay. So I agree that he’s one of the best junglers here at Worlds.

What or who are you fighting for this year? Maybe to make your two cats, Dongbaek and Kongdip, proud?

Canyon: Honestly, I never thought of it that way, but now that you said it, making my cats proud makes me want to win even more.

Gen.G has been dominant this year, and you’ve mentioned wanting that trophy back. Would anything short of first place at Worlds feel like a failure for your team?

Canyon: Honestly, Worlds means so much—it’s almost everything. If I don’t win the title, it would be a failure, but if I give it my all and leave no regrets behind, it would be one that could lead to future success.”

Header Photo Credit: Aiksoon Lee/Riot Games