Few junglers at the
2026 World Championship have a career like Zhao “
” Zhi-Qiang’s. The player has already competed in the LEC and the LPL, where he won the 2025 title with Bilibili Gaming and played at Worlds, before
joining CTBC Flying Oyster in December, making the LCP his third tier 1 league.
His first year in Taiwan was not easy. With a heavily rebuilt roster,
finished 5th-6th in the first two splits and missed every international event, before reaching the Split 3 final and qualifying for Worlds as the LCP’s second seed. Their first opponent is
, the LCS champions, on October 23. Ahead of the match,
Sheep Esports had the opportunity to speak with the team’s jungler.
You said you were afraid of flying, and Worlds is a long way from Taiwan. How was the trip to the US?
Zhao “Shad0w” Zhi-Qiang: “My back is not really good, so it was really, really painful for me. But it’s Worlds, so you’re going to take it.
This is your first season in the LCP after the LEC and the LPL. How was the adaptation, and what made you choose the LCP?
Shad0w: I took a bit more time than I expected, like two splits, to really get used to the LCP. I’m glad I made it to Worlds in my first season. As for why I chose the LCP, I think the roster is what made me want to come here. And we made it here, so I think I made the right decision.
The team reached the knockout stage at Worlds last year, but this year missed First Stand and MSI. Why didn’t the results match the team’s potential?
Shad0w: I think it’s because we changed three players, all from different regions. That’s why we didn’t play as well in the first two splits. And our gameplay is a bit random. Sometimes we play really good, and sometimes we just throw everything up in the air and it all goes bad. So at Worlds, we’re going to try to play as consistently as possible.
You’ve played in three leagues. What is the biggest difference between them, and what did each one teach you?
Shad0w: Every league has its own playstyle and its own pick and ban, and as a jungler it’s very good to see different playstyles, so you can put it all together. I think I learned more from the LPL, because that’s the style that suits me the best. But learning from the LCP and the LEC made me a better player.
A lot of people in the community ask this: do you plan to play in Europe again someday?
Shad0w: I don’t know. You never know what team you’ll be on next year, so let’s see what life brings.
What’s your read on the jungle meta? Which champions will matter most at this Worlds?
Shad0w: I think the jungle is really broken right now, it’s really OP. I think Lee Sin, Qiyana and maybe Jarvan are probably the most popular. But I don’t see why you can’t play something crazy, like Ivern. I don’t know, maybe.
How do you rate your own year? What are you most proud of, and what do you still need to improve?
Shad0w: I need to improve my consistency, because sometimes I just int, and sometimes I’m really good. But my mechanics have been improving over the last two years. Before, I was really sloppy on the mechanical side, and that’s where I improved.
At Worlds 2025, you went out in the Swiss Stage. What has to be different this time for CFO to reach the knockout stage?
Shad0w: I think I just need to enjoy Worlds more. Be in the moment, enjoy every game I can, and hope this time goes better.
Your first opponent is Team Liquid, with LCS Finals MVP Brandon “” Villegas in the jungle. What’s your opinion of him, and what does he do best?
Shad0w: I think he’s really good mechanically. He’s a player like me, he plays Qiyana and Lee Sin really well. I remember his Lee Sin at an international level, and he was like smurfing it. He’s really good mechanically, that’s why he got the Finals MVP, and I’m looking forward to facing him and seeing what happens.
What are your expectations for the game against Team Liquid overall?
Shad0w: We’re going into every game without any expectations, just enjoying the game and seeing what happens. No pressure.”
