HLE Zeka: "I still think Chovy is the best midlaner"

Fresh off their MSI 2026 victory just days ago, Hanwha Life Esports enter this competition with the ambition of establishing themselves as the best team in the world at the mid-season mark. Zeka shares his thoughts on the topic following their qualification for the playoffs.

Zeka at Esports World Cup 2026. Credit: Colin Young-Wolff and Shannon Cottrell/Riot Games

"I really want to beat AL on our way up"

Fresh off their MSI 2026 victory last Sunday,

Hanwha Life Esports

have the opportunity to secure two international titles in a single week, following in Gen.G’s footsteps from 2025. After a strong group stage, with 1–0 wins over LØS and JD Gaming, they have qualified for the playoffs and are already safe from a potential early slip-up.

Kim "

Zeka

" Geon-woo spoke about his sense of reassurance, his growing hunger to keep winning more trophies, and his confidence in both himself and his team in a meta that seems to favor them.

You've cleared the group stage. How are you feeling now that the BO1s are over?

Kim "Zeka" Geon-woo: "First of all, I feel at ease knowing we've gotten out of the BO1s, that we're finally free from them. From here on out it's BO3s, so I think I'm a lot more comfortable now.

HLE came straight from MSI with barely any break. How prepared do you feel compared to the other teams?

Zeka: I'd actually say our preparation has gone even better. Honestly, setting aside the physical condition side of things, this MSI meta and the EWC meta are exactly the same, and since we won in that meta, I believe we're the best at it. As long as we manage our condition well outside the game, I think our team is fully capable of being the best here.

You won MSI on HLE's first ever appearance at the tournament. What does that record mean to you?

Zeka: Winning a tournament on our very first appearance is a really meaningful and significant record, but honestly, I don't think I can really be satisfied with just one. My goal is to keep stacking up more trophies going forward.

Who do you see as the trickiest midlaner left in Paris?

Zeka: From what I've felt, I still think Chovy (Jeong Ji-hoon) is the best midlaner. He seems like the trickier one to face.

Is there a team you especially want to face in the playoffs?

Zeka: Last year at EWC, we lost to Anyone’s Legend, so at this tournament I really want to beat AL on our way up."