Unfortunately,
were dealt a swift 3-0 defeat by
on the opening day of the
2026 Mid-Season Invitational. A team renowned for their aggressive playstyle, their own explosiveness ultimately
turned against them, as the
Asia-Pacific representatives were swept into the lower bracket with little hope in sight. However, the Taiwanese squad will have one final chance to turn things around when they face
, hoping to redeem their opening performance and, at the very least, leave the tournament with their heads held high.
In an exclusive interview, the team's head coach,
Chen "REFRA1N" Kuan-Ting, sat down with
Sheep Esports to reflect on DCG's disappointing opening result, discuss the ambitions of his young roster, and explain his coaching philosophy and relationship with his players as a seasoned veteran of the scene.
What did you think of the match against Karmine Corp? Did they impress you?
Chen "REFRA1N" Kuan-Ting: “We were able to get our ideal kind of team comp with what we drafted, but just in general, our performance fell short. It sucks a bit.
What is DCG’s mindset going into MSI, and do expectations change given the team’s inexperience internationally?
REFRA1N: We didn't set any specific goals, considering how we were still in Tier 2 just last year. Our mentality is more like we want to try our best and see what we can achieve with that. Obviously, we’re known for our aggressive style, so we want to be able to show that and stay confident no matter what.
What made you return to coaching DCG after your two-year break?
REFRA1N: Two years ago I was also with DCG. We were one step away from advancing to the international stage. Even if we couldn’t achieve it back then, our director reached out to me because he really wanted to make that dream a reality. It was a strong motivation to accomplish what we fell short of last time—I felt like I still had something I needed to do for DCG.
What is your coaching philosophy with a young, aggressive roster, and how do you handle their lack of discipline?
REFRA1N: I was also a player back then, so I understand the mentality my players have. They are young and haven’t had a lot of experience yet. On top of that, the LCP just gets less attention globally and is often seen as less competitive.
What I tell them is that I want them to savor their time as players. I want them to make the most out of their careers as pro players, leave no regrets, don’t blame others, and really just try their best.
Do you feel like the team’s dad?
REFRA1N: [Laughs] I think I’m more like their teacher, but not one of those very strict Asian teachers. I’m more open-ended, and I give them freedom. I’m more of a teacher or mentor than a parent.
Does that dynamic extend outside the game, for example in daily life and behavior?
REFRA1N: Outside of game, I’m more like their friend. During my professional career, I’ve always worked with people around the same age as me, so I’m a lot less serious when interacting with them day to day.
There’s still a lot of banter and friendly interaction, but I also keep a little bit of boundary between myself and the players so that we can maintain that coach-player dynamic.
How do you view the upcoming match against Team Liquid? Do you consider it an easier matchup?
REFRA1N: It really comes down to how well we perform ourselves as a team. It’s the same thing regardless of who we face. As long as we try our best and play our own style, it comes down to our own performance rather than the level of our opponent.
Is the team still planning to focus on aggressive early-game drafts?
REFRA1N: It really depends on the confidence of our players on stage. If necessary, we will still pick champions that require a slower and steadier early game instead. But yeah, it really depends.”
