LOUD Raise: “They don’t pay attention to us. So I hope our team can display a performance that can change our image.” – First Stand 2026 Interview

During the Media Day ahead of First Stand 2026, we rounded off the day of interviews with home team LOUD’s head coach, Oh “Raise” Ji-hwan, to learn more about what led him to join the team, what he thinks will be the key for the tournament, and his encounter with his former teammate and current G2 coach Jonas “Memento” Elmarghichi.

Davide: Unlike all teams, you didn’t have to fly to get there, so

How did you prepare at the end of your first split?

LOUD Raise: We technically didn’t fly, but we are still adjusting to the jet lag a little bit to fit the morning time slot. Of course, it will be more difficult for players and teams from other countries, but we have already experienced that. I can say that the preparation wasn’t that difficult.

Davide: I wanted to hear more about LOUD.

What kind of team is it and what are the characteristics of each player?

Raise: First of all, we are a team of two Korean imports, and we are playing with a really young rookie player in top lane, and for mid and support we have very experienced players who have already made it to Worlds so it’s a combination of really young players but also older players. The harmony was really on point, so we were able to win the first split.

What kind of playstyle does LOUD have?

Raise: Honestly, there’s no need to explain because every team has to adapt to the meta. You know, I feel like it’s pretty fixed. So we really work really hard on figuring out the meta and adapting to it and applying it to our actual gameplay. So I think all the teams that have their own characteristics and like a vivid playstyle have already been eliminated because you have to adapt to the meta to survive. So I think what’s really important is having a good read on the meta and, you know, applying that.

Davide: You spoke about the meta.

What do you think about the meta right now? Do you think it will be beneficial for you in terms of how you guys play?

Raise: I don’t think it’s going to be very difficult, but I can kind of define it as, you know, strong mid-jungle passes over the baton, over to the bottom lane, and the bot lane will keep the ball going and kind of close out the game.

Do you think that will be the main key to beating LYON in your first match?

Raise: Honestly, like, for all the matches that we’re supposed to play.

Davide: I want to know a little more about you because I was looking through your past career and your last team before joining LOUD was DRX.

What led you to move to Brazil and join this LOUD project?

Raise: Honestly, my experience as a coach in the LCK, the biggest feeling I received was being powerless. Honestly, I felt like I didn’t really have a lot of control over the things that happened, so I got to really rethink what kind of role a coach actually is. You know, I was going through a lot of stuff in my mind, and then I got a really good offer from Brazil, and I realized it’s kind of wasteful if I don’t really use what I have already.

So I was like, let’s just give it another go. So I came over to Brazil and I was really happy with everything that turned out. And also, it felt like the team was also happy with what I offered back to them. So I was really satisfied with the situation surrounding me after I moved. So it kind of made me want to stay longer.

Davide: I saw that you also played in EU LCS, so you played in EU for a while as a support. At the time, Memento was your jungler. I assume that you know that Memento is now a coach for G2.

Did you get the chance to meet him? If yes, what did you guys tell each other?

Raise: I actually didn’t know until we qualified for First Stand. I was looking at stuff, and I saw him and that’s when I figured out he was on the team. It was exactly 10 years ago when we played together, so I was really happy to find out that he was on G2. And we get to, you know, maybe bump into each other here.

I was so happy, so I messaged him and, you know, we had to communicate. We have to find scrim schedule and stuff. And we also had breakfast together at the hotel and we had some good conversations. So, yeah, we had a really nice reunion after such a long time.

Davide: That’s good news. Obviously, as a head coach, there are expectations coming in for your team aside from the competitive results.

From a coach’s perspective, what would you like to see your team do or achieve that would make you feel like the event was successful?

Raise: Our region was always, you know, one of the weaker regions. To the point where, honestly, other teams don’t even care about us. They don’t pay attention to us. So I hope our team can display a performance that can change our image. You know, it doesn’t matter if we win or lose.

I just wish we can put up the best performance in the game so the teams can realize and the fans can perceive that, ‘Oh, Brazil is not an easy region. You know, it’s not a free win against them’. And then after that, we will be able to have a better anticipation about our results at MSI and Worlds.