MKOI is playing in the lower bracket of the LEC Summer Playoffs to get a chance to fight in the grand final against G2 Esports. Prior to the start of the weekend, we spoke with MKOI Jojopyun on his year individually, the difference between EU and NA, and what the future would look like for the Canadian prodigy.

Ethan: How are you and the rest of the team feeling right now?

Also, how did you manage these two weeks of preparation since you don’t know who you’re going to face next?

Jojopyun: Yeah. We haven’t played in a while. I think we’re just preparing in scrims, trying to work on making our strengths even stronger while fixing our weaknesses. So I think everybody has a good idea what weaknesses we have and what strengths we have and we’re trying to capitalize on the good things while fixing the bad things. I think the progress is going pretty well.

As for the prep, we don’t know who’s going to win so we’re preparing for both teams. I think [they] are similar in a lot of ways. So that’s up to the coaches.

Zeph and Hansen [are] making a scouting report and then we just go over all their patterns and everything. The team also reviews the games independently, so I think we already have a good idea how they play and we’re going to see how they play tomorrow and then we’re going to build off that.

What’s your bet on who you’ll face?

Jojopyun: Actually, I’m not too sure. It’s pretty close. I honestly think it’s very 50-50. [It’s] not even a PR answer. I just think whoever shows up better on the day will take it. I think both are pretty close teams. I think KC this year, I’m pretty sure, always beats Fnatic, but I think with the six-man roster and KC’s not playing as well.

I think both teams are fine. When they play good, they’re good. When they don’t, they’re not so they’re very inconsistent. So that’s why it’s hard for me to say who will come out on the day. I could see the Spain buff, Madrid buff for Fnatic. If that gets into KC’s heads, I can also see KC using that as an opportunity to make it more fun. It’s all about mindset. Whoever has a stronger mental, honestly, better prep.

Do you feel like G2 is on a different level from these two teams right now?

Jojopyun: I think they are in the sense that they’re more consistent. I think when Fnatic and KC are playing at their highs, they’re good teams. But yeah, I think they’re too inconsistent. We and G2 are the most consistent teams right now, which is why we’re at the top.

I don’t think that when every team is at their peak, I don’t think G2 is much better. But I just think when you saw like G2 versus Fnatic, for example, I just think they’re more consistently better, which is why there are them and us on top right now.

Ethan: Since you are the first NA import to EU, I have to ask you, after three years in LCS, would you say this is the year where you feel like you have evolved or progressed the most?

How would you rank this year so far compared to the others in terms of individual growth?

Jojopyun: Yeah, that’s a great question. I think this year is my biggest individual growth as a player. I think not only gameplay-wise, [but] just as an athlete, how I prepare and my mental and everything. I think in LCS, I used to think I had a good preparation and good mindsets and everything, but I was a bit naive, which, honestly, the vast majority of players are in League and esports.

That’s what I noticed. I really learned this year how important preparation and mindset and everything is. You know, there’s very talented players that just don’t play to the level on stage and I think I just didn’t realise how important preparation was and how important mindset was. So I would say in that aspect, for sure, that’s the most I grew this year by far.

I would say gameplay-wise, of course, too. I would say those two combined are why this year has been the biggest improvement for me by far. And then I’ll probably say it’s 2022, because I was just a rookie coming in. I just didn’t know anything at all. And then I had very good teammates to help me improve. I was very clueless about the game; I just [had] good mechanics.

Ethan: Staying on that topic after 2022, it’s no secret that things got tougher for you and your next teams.

Would you say that joining MKOI this year has been kind of a breath of fresh air for you and your career, that you really needed?

Jojopyun: Yeah. I mean, I think in Europe, it’s much more. I feel there’s much more passion. Not only from just the team, but from the fans, too. I think the fans are very passionate. Everything is much more passionate. Of course, [in] LCS there’s a lot of passionate players and fans, too. But in Europe, whether it’s because the player base, there’s more people or there’s more fans or whatever it is, I just feel that there is more passion.

It’s very easy to get influenced by that and also spark a fire in the team so I think I really enjoyed that a lot.

Just how competitive everybody is and how much everybody wants to improve. I would say joining MKOI was really good in the sense that it just lit a new fire in me that I didn’t know I had, and how to evolve past the game and how important everything really is [on top] of gameplay. So, yeah, I would say it was the best decision.

MKOI 2025 LEC Spring Roadtrip
Photo Credit: Hara Amorós/Riot Games

Ethan: I remember back at MSI 2022, especially against G2, where Caps gave you a really hard time in the side lanes. What stood out to me this year is how much you’ve grown in that aspect. I’m particularly thinking about the series against BLG. Sure, there were a few mistakes here and there, but in your side lane play, even against one of the best in the world, you were more disciplined and much more precise.

Would you say that’s the area of the game where you’ve improved the most this year, or do you see anything else?

Jojopyun: Yeah, for sure. Because I think in NA, my side laning was honestly my weakest point, which is weird because right now I feel like it’s my best. I really try to put emphasis on improving my side lane and even Knight complimented it.

I felt very appreciative of the comments and just how much I worked this year on fixing my weaknesses. I would say versus G2 at MSI 2022, I think G2 were a really good team. Caps was very good and I was pretty clueless, so they were very hard matches. Versus Caps now, he’s still very good but I just understand much more about the game now.

I felt like, back then, even when I faced Asian teams or when I faced G2 in 2022, I didn’t really understand the details that they were doing or what separated them from us. But now it’s much clearer what the differences are between the best in the world and us, so it’s much easier to learn. I think the knowledge has increased for sure.

Ethan: We are approaching the end of the year. If you had to look ahead, what would you like for your future and the rest of your career? Not necessarily like next year, but do you think you’d like to go back to NA at some point or maybe even Korea? Some rumours suggested back then maybe you want to build your legacy in Europe?

How do you see the far future for JoJopyun?

Jojopyun: I’ve never thought about it too deeply because I’m in the present, so I’m just going to focus on whatever happens right now. But you know, it would be exciting to play in LCK just to see how it is. Going back to NA or staying in Europe, I’m not sure. I really enjoyed playing in both. I really enjoyed playing in Europe, playing in MKOI and also I enjoyed playing in LCS. So it’s a very hard question to ask because I think more of the region, it’s more of the team that I care about…

Like what’s their goal, what are their values, what are their views and if it aligns with or it makes sense to what’s main goal is, and if I will enjoy the process on that team, if I will enjoy it, if I really feel the passion and the fire. I think those are the most important.

I don’t know if I’ll stay in Europe or go back to NA or maybe go to LCK. I mean, just whatever opportunity comes. I’m very happy in KOI, so I don’t really have any thoughts about moving anytime soon.

Ethan: No problem. As you said, you have a very passionate fan base here at MKOI and this weekend you’ll be playing in front of thousands of them. Even if you’ve gotten used to that kind of support from them, it’s still something new for you. So at this time, these stakes are higher than ever, right?

Does that feel like extra pressure or more like extra motivation?

Jojopyun: I mean, it’s just enjoyment. I think one of the best things about being a pro player is being able to experience playing in the biggest arenas, because I think there’s no other feeling like [that].

You hear everything, the noise, you hear the vibrations, the shaking, you know, it just feels so much more alive, you know, like everything matters. Every play there’s going to be so much noise, so it just feels so much more fun. So I always really enjoy it.

I think every pro, honestly, really enjoys playing on the big stages. I think you can’t hate it. So for me, I’m just taking it as. I’m just grateful for the opportunity, especially [since] it’s in Madrid, so I’m assuming it’s mostly going to be MKOI fans.

LEC Finals 2025
Photo Credit: Joao Ferreira/Riot Games

I’m really grateful to be able to play in a big arena because the last show match was very fun and it was also in Spain. I had probably the most fun of the whole year there and MSI… And now we’re back here, especially in playoffs. I really wish we would be able to qualify for Worlds here because I feel like if you’re playing a qualifying match for Worlds in this arena, it’d probably be the best feeling ever. If you lose, that sucks, but it would suck anyway. If you qualify for Worlds here, it’d be crazy, but you know, it’s still the finals and lower bracket finals, so I’m just going to take it in and really enjoy the moments.

Do you have any final words for all those fans who will come to root for you?

Jojopyun: Thank you to all the fans supporting us. I know there are so many fans that support us, the team and me, and I’m very appreciative of that. And for us, the team is working really hard to try to win back-to-back[championships]. So, yeah, we’re going to try our hardest to win and bring another trophy.