The underdog run has come to an end. Despite a strong start,
Natus Vincere fell 1-2 to GIANTX in the
2026 League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) Versus playoffs. The young squad now turns its focus to Spring, keeping hopes high for future success. In an exclusive interview, AD Carry
Lee "SamD" Jae-hoon spoke with
Sheep Esports about his team’s elimination, his role within the new roster, and his goals before retirement.
What do you think went wrong against GIANTX?
Lee "SamD" Jae-hoon: “In games 2 and 3 we didn’t understand how we were supposed to play with our comps. The first game was simple, but in the second and third we played too slowly, and it became difficult for us. We struggled during those games, and that’s why we lost.
Do you think you should have drafted differently, or was the draft fine?
SamD: I think it’s my fault too. In the second game, I should have picked Ashe. In this meta, Ashe-Seraphine is really strong, but I thought I could contest it with Corki–Nami. In game, though, I think Ashe–Seraphine is way too good in lane, so that’s my bad.
For the third game, things looked fine, but in game it was hard because we didn’t have a tank to absorb Nautilus hooks and Taliyah’s combos, so we couldn’t face check. The draft was a bit hard to play, but it was still playable.
How are you feeling after being eliminated in fifth place
SamD: It’s a bit sad that we finished like this. I wanted to go to Barcelona with my team. But as a rookie team, after only two months together, finishing fifth is not that bad. Of course, right now everyone is sad, but we’re not a bad team. We just need to improve in some areas. I think everyone will work even harder for Spring.
Do you feel this is a good sign for the future?
SamD: This split was just a warm-up for us. In Spring and Summer, we will definitely be much better.
What was the team’s mood and expectations before the match? Was it surprising to lose, given that many expected you to win against GIANTX?
SamD: We didn’t really think we would be winning no matter what. GIANTX is a solid team, but they tend to choke a bit in official matches—that’s their weakness. If they don’t choke, they have five strong players and have been playing together for a year longer. We just focused on playing our game, thinking that if we did that, we could win.
How do you feel about this split overall, compared to last year when you didn’t get much of a chance?
SamD: I’m definitely happier compared to last split because my performance was better. But I still need to improve on some points.
You achieved your goal of beating Steven "Hans Sama" Liv this split. What’s your next goal now?
SamD: I think of it like a game. Chapter 1 was beating Hans Sama. Now Chapter 2 will be Supa (David Martínez García), Caliste (Caliste Henry-Hennebert), and Noah (Oh Hyeon-taek)—three AD Carries. Winning against them is my next goal.
Why did you change your name from Hans SamD to just SamD?
SamD: I originally changed to Hans SamD for fun and so people could get to know me better. I removed “Hans” this year because it’s a new season, new teammates, a new start, and I wanted to be the original me—just SamD.
Some people saw me as if I were just a fanboy. I changed back because I want people to remember me even after I retire, for my own achievements. I want to achieve good results so that people will remember me and the name SamD.
How has it been working with your coach, Vasilis "TheRock" Voltis?
SamD: He’s helping everyone. He’s doing drafts and showing examples of how other teams play. In my eyes, TheRock is really kind, and I see him like a father to my teammates and I.
The team seems very close and friendly. Is this one of the aspects that makes this team appear so special?
SamD: We try to talk a lot. Especially Parus (Polat Furkan Çiçek) wants to spend time on off-days—going outside together, going to restaurants together. We exchange a lot—joking about Korean and Turkish things. Maynter (Volodymyr Sorokin) also tells a lot of jokes. Everyone has a similar personality, and our ages are similar. That’s why we are close, have a good mood, and work well together.
Are there any funny moments you can share that happened with your teammates?
SamD: I have one. After Maynter’s birthday, Parus was joking with him and said he saw his cake in the trash, which made Maynter mad and sad.
Actually, Maynter had bought the cake for the team as a punishment—normally he would just buy coffee—but he bought a cake for us. Parus said, “Okay, but someone just threw it in the trash.” Maynter looked so sad and they didn’t talk for a while. But honestly, it was pretty funny.
You’re 24 years old, which means you might have to do your Korean military service soon. Is this something you worry about, and does it affect how you approach this season?
SamD: This year is still safe for me, but next year might be my last year. If I’m lucky, I could play for two more years.
Time is ticking, and sometimes, I feel rushed because I don’t have as much time as when I was younger. This year, I just want to reach MSI and Worlds semifinals to achieve my goals before I retire. Thinking of the military system does make me feel sad and a bit pressured sometimes.”
