KC Double61: "I have no reason to stop playing TFT. I like the game, I like performing, I like the grind"

Following his narrow miss of the TFT Paris Open final, Double61 reflects on his run, his future with Karmine Corp, and a maturing TFT Pro Circuit.

🇬🇧English

"France is THE European TFT country"

With the aura of a former Teamfight Tactics World Champion, Emre "Double61" Demirtas was highly expected at the TFT Paris Open. The Karmine Corp player, however, just fell short of reaching the finals, having been eliminated by Ge "Huanmie" Wuxin, the eventual tournament winner. The Frenchman was kind enough to sit down with us the day after his elimination to reflect on the event.

Now that the tournament is over for you after Stage 4, what do you think of your performance?

Emre "Double61" Demirtas: “Honestly, I am satisfied with my performance: my goal was to reach that stage. Winning in the Checkmate format is often out of my hands, and for everything that was in my control, I think I handled it well. Reaching the final was one of my goals, and I didn't manage to achieve it, but overall I remain happy.

In terms of priority, where would you place this TFT Paris Open? Keeping in mind that there were also 3 “Worlds” (Tactician’s Crowns) this year.

Double61: For me, it is a very prestigious tournament that I would put on the same level as Worlds. Plus, it was in Paris, in France. The format is very complicated and isn't necessarily best suited for TFT. But if you want to hold an Open with that many players, you have to make harsh cuts. In this kind of tournament, you have to accept the possibility of going out early. If you make the final, great; if you don't perform, that’s fine. I really love the LAN atmosphere, it really adds something special.

Does the format imply playing differently? In some rounds, there are very few games to play…

Double61: I think you play differently if you start with a poor Game 1, because you have then to catch up. But honestly, once you get into the game, you aren't going to drastically change your gameplay either.

In Round 4 where you got knocked out, you started pretty well with a Top 2 and a Top 3. Do you have any regrets regarding the following games, or things were just unplayable ?

Double61: Honestly, I don't have too many regrets. I could have taken a few different lines that might have allowed me to reach the Checkmate threshold. But given the state of the games that followed, I don't think I would have managed to win regardless of what happened. So no, no regrets. Huanmie was very strong, he was in great shape. He didn't have the most complicated spots, but he did translate them into victories. Well played to him.

Many wanted to see you in the final, and you are the figurehead of French TFT, the only Frenchman to be World Champion. Does that status bring a bit of stress?

Double61: I am rarely a stressed person. When I come to a tournament, I bring my gameplay, and I just try to do my best. That said, if people consider me the best French player, it’s always nice to hear!

You also have the distinction of being a player for Karmine Corp, an organization with a huge community. TFT is a bit of a niche scene, but do you still manage to feel the passion of the supporters?

Double61: Even if TFT is a bit less known than other games, the Karmine fans are always present. It is something that really makes me happy.

There was a question of cutting TFT at Karmine Corp, but the club reversed its decision after fans protested to keep the “club legends,” you and Canbizz. As someone who started in 2020, are you feeling confident about the future?

Double61: Personally, I have no reason to stop playing TFT. I like the game, I like performing, I like the grind. As long as that continues, I will continue too. TFT is on a good path; there has been a lot of progression on the competitive side. The arrival of the Pro Circuit is a good addition. It allows you to qualify for Worlds and it is a simpler circuit to follow. The Opens are announced a year in advance and for the next one, we are returning to Las Vegas. Last time I went to the final there, so I hope I can repeat that. There is always progress to be made, but the life of a pro player between 2020 and 2025 is a whole different world.

Is France the biggest European TFT country in your opinion?

Double61: France is THE European TFT country. Since the beginning, we are the country that performs the most. The Spaniards also have a big community with Raven and others. When he almost qualified for Worlds in the previous set, the fans were really cheering for him. We are clearly the two biggest communities in Europe.

What is missing for France to become number one worldwide?

Double61: I couldn't say. TFT is a game where you have to work enormously, but even if you do, there will be times when it won't work out. You just have to continue to persevere, and at some point, it will work.

In terms of work environment, what does the Karmine staff put in place to help you?

Double61: We have analysts at our disposal, but most of the time we don't call on them. In general, the data is quite simple to read, so we do it ourselves. To prepare for a TFT tournament, you have to read data, read stats, and play as well... that’s the most important part for me.

To finish, what are the big milestones coming up for 2026? How do you see the end of the year?

Double61: I don't have much to play for on the ladder right now, but as early as the beginning of January, the Pro Circuit returns. After a short week of break, I’ll have to get back to the grind and refocus for Worlds. Most people really like Set 16, notably because the previous Set wasn't a huge success. I think there were many weird patches, and the mechanic didn't appeal to people. But this one is fun, there are many things to discover. It’s a pleasure to play.

Without giving too much away, did you attempt any secret techniques that haven't come out in matches yet?

Double61: Before the Diana comp became meta, we had thought about a Diana comp, but with a heavy burst build. In the end, over the long run, she is played with sustain items. We also looked for other carries, but it didn't really work!”

Header Photo Credit: Jianhua Chen/Riot Games