The
Esports World Cup Grand Final will feature a matchup that few fans could have predicted. Following
's stunning victory over
, another major upset unfolded as Dplus KIA defeated defending champions
, who had entered the day undefeated in the tournament.
Powered by an outstanding collective performance and a playstyle reminiscent of Karmine Corp's excelling in teamfights while demonstrating remarkable resilience DK have secured their first international Grand Final since the 2021 World Championship. After overcoming an opponent that has historically posed one of their toughest challenges, midlaner
and AD Carry
, both instrumental throughout the series, spoke with
Sheep Esports following the victory.
What’s your first feeling after the win against Gen.G?
Shin “Smash” Geum-jae: “First of all, Dplus KIA has had a difficult head-to-head record against Gen.G over the past few years, but it feels like we've been beating them a lot more this year. I'm really happy that we were able to get the win today on such a big stage.
What do you think will be the key to winning against Karmine Corp?
Smash: KC has been showing really strong performances at this event, so we definitely can't let our guard down. We need to prepare well and make sure we play our game properly. I feel that KC's strength lies in its tempo, so I think it would be good for us to be careful about that aspect.
You and Caliste “Caliste” Henry-Hennebert are two rising stars at the AD Carry position. What are your thoughts about him, and how do you feel about facing him tomorrow?
Smash: I believe we're around the same age, and he seems like a very funny and cheerful person, which is really nice to see. I also think his recent performances have been extremely impressive, so I hope we have a good match and an entertaining series tomorrow.
What does it mean to reach the grand final for your first international event?
Smash: This is my first time competing in an international event, so I'm really happy that I was able to make it all the way to the finals right away. Reaching the finals feels like, in some small way, a reward for all the hard work and effort I've put in up to now, so it feels really good.”
Heo “ShowMaker” Su’s thoughts after the victory:
“I'm really happy that we were able to defeat Gen.G, and I definitely want to win the championship tomorrow. I think the key factors to beating KC in the finals will be performing better in our respective lanes and executing our teamfight setups more effectively. It's been a long time since I last made the finals of an international tournament, but I think we're showing really good performances right now, so compared to back then, I don't feel we're inferior in any significant way.”
