Karmine Corp Blue: One Shot at LEC Versus ft. Blidzy

LEC Versus kicks off on Saturday, January 17. While the ten franchised EMEA League teams will once again compete throughout the year, the two best-performing ERL teams of 2025 will also take part in this first split—with an unprecedented opportunity at stake: qualifying for First Stand.

For Karmine Corp Blue (KCB), this is uncharted territory. A roster built with two players from LFL Division 2. No track record. No safety net. Just raw talent stepping into the spotlight against established names. One shot to prove they can belong. Hotspawn sat down with Karmine Corp Blue head coach Ianis “Blidzy” Paul to discuss the team’s rapid rise, their first bootcamp, and why this group of unknowns might surprise everyone.

From the Underground

KCB doubled down on talent development this year, and for the first time, they’re drawing from their own Division 2 academy: Blue Stars. And most positions were already decided in advance.

We made our mercato very quickly, from October to November. I think that on November 2—the day of the EMEA Masters Summer final—our offseason for 2026 was pretty much already done, except for Yukino. The goal of KCB is also to be an academy, to develop players and take them to the LEC. I think we brought what we had to bring to the four other players from the 2025 roster.

Thus, top laner Tao, mid laner Kamiloo, ADC Hazel, and support Prime join Yukino in the 2026 roster.

Raw Talent – “Tao is the GOAT. Honestly, I was a bit shocked by his level”

Once again this year, KCB has chosen to bet on talent development—and for the first time, by leveraging their Division 2 academy: the Blue Stars project. Despite disappointing collective results throughout the year, two players stood out in 2025: ADC Hazel (18) and toplaner Tao (19). To stay true to the club’s philosophy regarding talent development, it seemed natural for these two players to join the LFL team for 2026. “That’s the whole point of Blue Stars. When we have players who perform at KCBS, the logical next step is moving up to KCB,” said Blidzy.

Tao is the GOAT. Honestly, I was a bit shocked by his level. He’s incredibly strong across the board—mechanically, in lane, and in teamfights. It’s really impressive, and his in-game communication has already improved a lot. Hazel, on the other hand, surprised me with how vocal he is and how good his communication already is. He’s also very strong in lane and plays in a very aggressive way. Naturally, that comes with some downsides, since finding the right balance is always key. Still, it’s much easier to fine-tune an overly aggressive player than to teach aggression to someone who doesn’t have it at all.

And they will be accompanied by the first player in history to have made the giant leap that these two rookies are about to attempt—from ERL Div2 to LEC: Kamiloo. At Team Heretics last year, the midlaner failed to make a strong impression, although his progression between Winter and Spring was noticed. While he was clearly in the lower tier of LEC midlaners, he was far from looking out of place among the best at just 19 years old, having never gone through the ERL stage.

I think Kamiloo will be the best midlaner in LFL, by far. On my side, I took care of him at Izi Dream—I know him well and I know how to work with him, both as a person and in-game. Sure, he didn’t perform in LEC, but he’s still a very good young player, and you have to consider that the jump he made from one season to the next was unprecedented. He still has a lot to learn. Plus, I think he synergizes very well with Yukino, and that was an important point for us. They’re both aggressive players who love to play fast and set the tempo, especially in the early game.

The Chance To Blow

Speaking of the jungler who shook the LFL and EMEA Masters during Summer, Yukino was the only question mark that lingered after the EMEA Masters final, as an offer from FlyQuest came his way. In the end, the Seattle Strike chose to stay and lead the next generation.

Yukino’s trajectory mirrors that of Caliste before him: an explosive talent who, shortly after breaking out, must suddenly become the leader of a new squad. Last year, he learned from experienced players. Now, he’s the only one left from that roster.

He came to a team where you had huge leaders—Maynter and 3xa—and I think he learned from them how to work. Now it’s his role. He has a leadership role, literally, in the team, whether it’s in work ethic or in gameplay. He has a lot more responsibilities than last year, even in reviews for example. Which is normal.

The transition began last summer, “when the team realized they needed to play around him. Not for him—around him.” Yukino isn’t just the carry; he’s the one who sets the tempo, “He leads the team in game, and it works very well,” assured Blidzy.

Hype Man

Completing the roster is Prime, the veteran presence that balances the squad’s youthful aggression. In a team full of rookies stepping into the arena for the first time, his experience—even if it will also be his first in the LEC—is very valuable.

Prime was one of the best LFL supports. He’s been playing for a long time, and that experience brings a lot to the group. He’s also a very good match with Hazel, because Hazel is very explosive—and to have a player who can calm down that explosiveness is important. He’s a very good link between the players and the staff.

The team’s DNA is clear: early-game aggression. “In the early game, we are really good. We know what we have to do, we’re strong in lane, and we’re really aggressive. I think that’s our biggest strength.” With Yukino and Kamiloo setting the pace on the map, and the others bringing the heat in lane, KCB’s style is built to overwhelm opponents before they can react.

Lose Yourself – “We’re all competitors—we automatically have the pressure”

The question looms over every rookie team: will they crumble under the pressure of the big stage? Hazel and Tao have never played a single competitive stage game in their lives. The LEC can be an unforgiving environment for first-timers.

On arrive aussi, préparez-vous 🤫#KCBWIN🟦 https://t.co/7YFt2xEkKC pic.twitter.com/LBTuxpCNpz

— Karmine Corp (@KarmineCorp) January 10, 2026

But Blidzy refuses to use their underdog status as a shield. “You can’t say to yourself, ‘You don’t have any pressure because you’re a rookie team, and no one expects you to perform.’ In the players’ heads, or even in my head, we automatically have the pressure because we’re all competitors,” he explained. “We have the pressure to perform as much as possible.”

Still, the early signs are encouraging.

Honestly, I was a little scared for the start of the season. In the end, there was no reason at all. The scrims [of the first bootcamp, the interview was held on December 19] are going very well. We lose very little, honestly. When you scrim LEC teams, you realize there is no chasm. There are diffs between certain players, but we don’t get ripped away. It’s going well, and I think that for a beginning of the season—without having really started working on technical aspects and all that—the team is really strong.

The Lot

Being in the LEC—even temporarily—comes with a unique advantage:

This is actually the best split for learning because you play against the best teams in Europe, even in scrims. You’re going to play G2, you’re going to get abused in side by Caps playing Azir, and you’re going to learn from that. There are a lot of things to learn from being in the LEC. This split is mostly about learning. We’ll take what we can get—then go for the titles.

For Winter, the objective is clear: make playoffs—but more importantly, learn everything possible from competing against Europe’s best. “The first goal of this split is really to work and improve. I’d be really happy if we made playoffs.” And for Spring and Summer? “The goal is to win the LFL and the EMEA Masters.”

Blidzy is honest about where his players stand compared to KC’s main roster: “There is a gap. That is certain.” But he frames it as motivation rather than discouragement. “My goal is that at the end of the year, there won’t be such a big gap.”

⏳ Plus qu’une semaine avant l’affrontement.
La tension monte, les camps se forment.
Une seule question : #KCBWIN🟦 ou #KCWIN🟥 ? pic.twitter.com/EIZ8KtgSmd

— Karmine Corp (@KarmineCorp) January 10, 2026

Papa Doc – “The goal is to smoke them [KC]”

And what about facing their sister team in Week 1? The two squads will clash on January 17 at 8 PM—a historic first for the organization.

There’s a rivalry. It’s competition. I love them, I have great respect for everyone, but the goal is to smoke them. I’m not saying we’re going to succeed, but my goal is to win. It doesn’t matter which team you play—but beating KC, would for sure be a nice little point of pride.

For Blidzy, this goes beyond results. “My goal has always been to develop players, whether as an assistant or now as a head coach. Especially at KC, my dream club. Seeing guys like Maynter and Yukino rise—that’s what I live for. It’s what drives me more than anything else.”

On January 17, the spotlight turns on. KCB doesn’t have the pedigree, the stage experience, or the legacy—but they have the hunger. And in BO1s, anything can happen. In a league full of proven names, this is their one shot. They intend to make it count.

Karmine Corp Blue 2026’s roster:

• Toplane: Alessandro “Tao” Xu
• Jungle: Johnny “Yukino” Dang
• Midlane: Kamil “Kamiloo” Haudegond
• ADC: Costin “Hazel” Pestrițu
• Support: Olivier “Prime” Payet

Coaching staff:

• Ianis “Blidzy” Paul
• Benjamin “Fara” Stoffel
• Xenesis