The LCS’ winning streak against EMEA’s teams at international events continues as LYON demolished G2 Esports and closed yet another MSI 2026 match with a 3-0. However dominant they might have looked against the samurais, the LCS representatives will have to lock in and perform even better in their next match against Hanwa Life Esports if they wish to reach the MSI 2026 Grand Final.
In an interview with
Sheep Esports, LYON’s support, Jonah "
" Rosario, reflected on the series against
, his and his team’s growth throughout
MSI, and the challenges of competing in such a demanding international environment.
You delivered dominating games against G2, and it felt almost effortless from you. Was it like that in-game as well?
Jonah "Isles" Rosario: “I think G2 just wasn't proactive enough in gaining leads. It didn't really feel like they had the ability to win the game outside of the team fight phase. I think they really clutched in their series against T1, but the in-betweens of what was going on and getting small incremental advantages —whether it be from leading phase, whether it be from ganks, whether it being from camps and just contesting vision around the map, this type of thing — I think G2 were just too slow.
I don't think they had a draft today that fit their explosive style that allows them to clutch up against some of the stronger teams out there. But I think today, in a standard game, we had the advantage.
In an interview with Arsh Goyal, you said that BLG at First Stand was the best team that you had scrimmed against before T1 this MSI. If you scrimmed against them this MSI, how would you compare G2 in scrims and then on the stage?
Isles: Scrimming G2 was not bad. I think they were an aggressive team, but I didn't really feel the same energy from scrimms as I did on stage today, I guess. I mean, their bot lane always play aggressively and they arrange matchups where they can, but I think they kind of threw down the gauntlet, I suppose, playing matchups that are considered losing into us and trying to find some way to either outscale or to find some advantage in lane, and they just couldn't do that.
I think they had some preparation around trying to ban away certain melee champions from us. They opted into comfort picks on mid with Orianna and banning Akali and picking Syndra as well in this last game. But I think they just couldn't find the edges.
I think there was some contrast between us to
, for example, I think our mid is a super strong leaner, and I think that is one of the ways that G2 can often get ahead. And also, I think Doran had a really big underperformance in that T1 series and landing phase, so they also had advantages through top in that series, and today that was just not the case. And without these, I guess, lane generated advantages, they just couldn't find their footing.
You went through every single lane except for your match against Labros "Labrov" Papoutsakis. And something that the broadcast also highlighted was that, at the beginning of the event, you seemed shakier compared to today. How would you reflect on your improvement during this MSI?
Isles: I mean, it's always an intense environment where when you play at MSI, There's a lot of things to improve on in a very short amount of time, and you might only get to play against the great teams a few times until you're thrust on the stage. And not to mention that only, but there's been such a huge and drastic meta shift in some different ways. Some different teams have leaned so heavily into this new major style and top picks and priority with champs like Jayce that are just overwhelmingly powerful at the tournament. Just adapting to all this plus trying to get your level to match these teams is obviously very difficult.
Coming into this match, I really thought Labrov was honestly one of the strongest supports of the tournament. I though he was on fire, especially in his series against T1. I thought he was playing really well, but I'm not sure what happened today, honestly. I think he was not playing his best. I don't think they were playing their best, but still I was not surprised that laning phase and the games went how they did.
A lot of your teammates are very outspoken, and in comparison, you seem a quieter person, but you are very analytic and critical of your team. Can you tell me how do you fit personally within your team? How does it feel to voice your thoughts within a team that’s so vocal?
Isles: I think being a part of the team is really important and finding your role amidst the pieces. It's something that I think the coaches of my team brought up to me this tournament, that they thought I was a bit too disconnected at times. I think I wasn't voicing my concerns, as you say, as much as I should have been, and something I'm trying to work on now.
And I think even in this last game, there were communication errors that I think I could have fixed if I had been more vocal behind the scenes earlier that would've led to these plays not happening I think if we had established a few more things. So that's definitely something I'm working on.
Obviously, like you say, I have outspoken teammates. Teammates that are very vocal behind the scenes and who are fantastic to play with. They give so much criticism, and they're so honest, and that drives you to be a better player, which is one of the reasons why we get to stand here today. So I mean, yeah, you have to find a role in all this. It's a high-pressure environment, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
Does having someone that you can rely on and you have already played with ease you into your role?
Isles: I mean, absolutely. Every single time I've asked about Berserker (Kim Min-cheol), I always give a similar answer, but he's a world-class player and he's a player that tries to force his teammates into also being world-class players. And especially as his partner in the bot lane, you can't get away with making mistakes and not hearing about them. He's great. He just tries to raise that bar in every game you play.
You mentioned world-class player, you now beat three first seed teams. What do you feel you're lacking to reach that world-class player status?
Isles: I think just a bit of confidence and a bit of just seeing the right play and not hesitating. I think today in the Leona game where I died in bot lane, if I'd seen the play and been a bit more decisive and be a bit more clutched with my flash, which I didn't end up using, the play could have looked so much better. And I think those are mistakes that you just can't afford to make against some of the strongest teams, the very, very strong teams.
These mistakes and this indecisiveness, whether it be Chinese teams or teams like HLE, they really force you to think quickly. And sometimes whether it be confidence or whether it just be not seeing the angles, sometimes you're a little too slow. But yeah, like I said, when you're in this higher pressure environment and you only get to play against these players for two weeks or something like this, it can take some getting used to.
But I mean, I hope that I've showcased some of my improvement on the stage. I still think today wasn't my greatest showing. I think I could have played so much better, but I mean, you can't complain with a result like this.
Mentioning that confidence, do you have any words for HLE since they're your next match?
Isles: Honestly, I'm not really the spicy type, but I do think HLE is a phenomenal team. I think their solo leaners have been in unreal form, which has led to the majority of their victories.
I think their team played a bit shaky yesterday against BLG. I also think they didn't play the best, but I'm really looking forward to getting the opportunity to play against them. It's going to be the first time on stage. And before the tournament, I was talking about how I thought
(
Yu Hwan-jung) was the strongest support at the tournament, and I thought that the meta really suited good decision-making sports. And I thought Delight is at the top of the table, and I can't wait for the opportunity.
As a last question, you're going to have a packed schedule ahead of you, and your teammate, Niship "Dhokla" Doshi, told me that’s kind of a blessing. Do you feel the same, or do you feel like the packed schedule of LoL Esports is becoming part of the reason why pros need to improve faster?
Isles: I mean, in some ways the schedule does impact some things. If we had two months or something playing against these teams and scrimming them and whatnot like a regular season, obviously we would play better because these teams are just better.
You’ll naturally feel that improvement when you play against better teams that you'll just find more opportunities to improve. They'll exploit weaknesses and find opportunities, and you'll learn to adapt. But talking strictly about playing matches back to back to back, I don't think it's inherently disadvantaged. Sometimes it can be an advantage. It obviously depends on the player. If you need an extra day to rest for whatever reason, that could be a factor. But sometimes the momentum of playing on stage and just getting a victory like this — and I mean, you've seen it so many times in so many different sports, particularly any esports in League — the lower bracket runs oftentimes lead to huge upsets and huge, huge runs in general.
So it depends on the person, but for me, I'm all here for it.”
