T1's top laner 'Doran' Choi Hyun-jun, who successfully reached the semifinals of the Esports World Cup (EWC), declared "I've already shaken off the regret from MSI," and "I've overcome poor performance," reaffirming his strong determination to advance to the finals.

On July 17 (local time), T1 completely defeated Korean team Hanwha Life Esports with a set score of 2:0 in the EWC playoff quarterfinal held at Porte de Versailles Exhibition Center in Paris, France, advancing to the semifinals with a stunning performance. After the overwhelming victory, 'Doran' Choi Hyun-jun met with reporters and emphasized that he had already cleanly shed the regret from the past MSI (Mid Season Invitational) back in Korea. He continued, "I've completely overcome poor performance, I'm confident in my condition," speaking with a confident voice as he emphasized his current excellent form.

In fact, 'Doran' Choi Hyun-jun had recently shown somewhat disappointing performance, including a loss to BiliBili Gaming (BLG) in the EWC group stage, raising concerns. However, he stated that rather than viewing this slump as a simple downturn, he had completely overcome it through consistent and in-depth feedback with his teammates and thorough personal condition management. In the quarterfinal match against Hanwha Life Esports, the combo of 'Doran' Choi Hyun-jun and jungler 'Owner' Moon Hyun-jun shined particularly brightly. With organic coordination and sharp gameplay, they dominated the opposing team and led T1 to a 2:0 clean sweep, signaling the team's perfect revival.

[Photo=Yonhap News]

One of the symbolic performances of the EWC 2026 tournament is the ritual of destroying medals of eliminated teams. When asked about his feelings regarding this performance after winning the quarterfinal, 'Doran' honestly conveyed his feelings, saying "I felt mixed emotions like apologizing to Hanwha Life players and joy." However, he added, "Since we've come this far, I thought we must definitely protect T1's trophy," clearly demonstrating his respect for competitors while also making evident his strong determination toward T1's championship.

Today (18th), T1 will face Europe's powerhouse Karmine Corp (KC) in a fierce battle for the finals in Paris, France. Ahead of the semifinal match, 'Doran' expressed his firm resolve, saying "Regardless of the opponent, I won't be complacent and will advance to the finals." Finally, he sent a message to the fans who continue to support them, saying "I ask for your continued hot interest and expectations," once again reminding everyone of T1's promise to achieve the best results in this EWC.

All eyes of esports fans worldwide are focused on Paris, France, to see whether T1 and 'Doran' Choi Hyun-jun, who have completely shed past poor performance and declared "perfect condition," can overcome the final hurdle toward the EWC championship trophy by winning their upcoming semifinals against Karmine Corp (KC).