DK cvMax on fan criticism: "Their perspective makes complete sense to me"
Kim "cvMax" Dae-ho spoke to SheepEsports after Dplus KIA's 2-0 against DNS to talk about coaching philosophy, team playstyle, and to answer the western fans' critics about his way of giving feedback.
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Credit: Grégoire "Aries" Bgz
"I think it's completely natural for viewers to feel it's excessive"
head coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho has never been one to shy away from intensity. His feedback sessions, regularly featured on the team's YouTube channel, have made him one of the most polarizing figures in Korean esports, especially among Western fans who've called his approach everything from "strict" to "harsh."
, cvMax sat down with Sheep Esports and offered a rare window into how he sees his own reputation. He acknowledged the criticism head-on, explained why DK is a high-risk, high-reward type of team, and traced his coaching philosophy all the way back to his Griffin days.
You had a clean 2-0 victory today. How are you feeling about the win?
Kim "cvMax" Dae-ho: "I'm really happy we won today.
, I imagine there was a lot of internal feedback within the team. How much would you say those discussions contributed to today's win?
cvMax: The thing is, that stuff ended up going out on video, so I think it drew some attention from people. But that's hard to answer, because what you saw on camera was just it happening to be captured that day. Normally, all year long, we're constantly giving feedback to match whatever the situation calls for. Sometimes it's softer and more measured, and sometimes I'll go in hard, with the intent of leaving an impression, almost like planting a trauma. It varies. So we're always riding a similar wave when it comes to feedback and discussion. That day wasn't some special extra-intense session. We're just always practicing the same way. Some days it works out well, some days it doesn't, but right now, I feel like we're heading in a good direction.
in the EWC with a strong performance. Do you think playing online actually works in the team's favor?
cvMax: I think it depends on the team. The players generally prefer playing offline. They say it feels more like a real match, more tangible. But from what I've seen, they showed good performances online too, so regardless of player preference, I think we're fine with online matches.
How would you evaluate the team's growth compared to the start of the round?
cvMax: I think we've come up quite a bit. I'm curious myself to see where we'll be by the time the regular season wraps up.
Dplus KIA has such a high ceiling that you can beat any team, but sometimes mistakes creep in and you end up struggling. Do you think that's more of a consistency issue, or is the team still building synergy?
cvMax: There's a consistency element to it, but also, I'm a pretty greedy coach. I demand a high-ceiling style of macro. And the thing about having a high ceiling is that the floor is low. That's just the nature of risk-reward. They're always inversely proportional. For example, a 1-3-1 is generally considered a really risky setup. But we run 1-3-1 under specific conditions with specific rules. And it's not easy. So yes, the ceiling is there, but it's very exploitable and can fall apart at any time. Our floor is low enough that we can lose to anyone. So in a way, the “wild card” label might actually fit us. What we're working on is finding the right balance, setting the right lines, keeping things practical, and fine-tuning as we go. I believe if we do that, we can reach the top.
On the DK YouTube channel, fans often get to see your feedback sessions, and they're pretty striking. If you had to describe your coaching philosophy in a few keywords or a short sentence, what would it be?
cvMax: To put it simply: “Do your best in whatever situation you're given.” And that's not just about League. Whether it's my own life, or any situation, within the data you're given and what you feel, just do your best. I think that's the core of it.
Would you say that philosophy has changed compared to your Griffin days? If so, how?
cvMax: As far as I remember, that core principle has stayed pretty much the same from Griffin all the way to now.
Because your feedback style can be so intense, some Western fans see you as strict, even harsh. Is there anything you'd want to say to fans who feel your approach is too harsh?
cvMax: Their perspective makes complete sense to me. When I watch those videos myself, I understand the intent, I know the purpose, I know it's meant for their benefit, but even I feel like it's excessive. So I do think I need to be more flexible in that regard. But at the same time, there's something I wish people could see. We live together in the team house for months. We're genuinely together 24 hours a day. So there's a huge amount of bonding, shared stories, all these things that never show up on camera. It all builds up over time. And within that relationship, there's no way for viewers to know how all of that has developed. Whether it's my anger, my praise, or something I'm deliberately staging, I don't think anyone can fully understand it, because they have to empathize with the character in the video without knowing everything behind it. So I think it's completely natural for viewers to feel it's excessive. If I were a viewer and all I saw was that footage, I'd think, “That's too much. That's not effective.”
At the end of the day, you care about the players more than anyone.
cvMax: Well, sure. But honestly, that's selfish on my part too. If my players do well, that's good for me. [laughs] I'm a very selfish person. So I take care of my players, not just as an act, I genuinely do, but I do it because it benefits me in the end.
You've been coaching for a long time, so you've worked with a lot of players. What kind of mindset would you want aspiring pro gamers to have?
cvMax: I always say something similar. Pro gamers need to have pride, high self-esteem, and they need to be selfish. And they need to be proactive. I know there are passive people who've succeeded too, of course. But being proactive gives you a better chance. Even if you get it wrong, you should be the one thinking, the one constantly searching for answers, in everything. I think that's what raises your chances of making it as a pro."
