MKOI Melzhet: “International [tournaments] are cheat codes. Your level can go so high”

MKOI entered the LEC Summer Split after a very busy international campaign. The Spring champions had the hardest possible start in group A, facing KC and GX for their first week, eventually ending with one win and one loss. HotSpawn had the opportunity to chat with their head coach, Tomás “Melzhet” Campelos, to discuss the state of the LEC, the learnings and goals after his second experience playing internationally, and the challenges of managing a team as well as taking care of a family.

How do you feel after this very close series and what was overall a difficult weekend?

Melzhet: I feel fine. I didn’t come with any expectations this week. The objective was to rest after the long schedule that we had with MSI and EWC. So we only scrimmed for four days. Today, we came to the series with the idea of getting back slowly and ramping up our players. That is the objective. So I’m fine. I think we were close to winning this last game as well as this series, and it would’ve been a 2-0 [weekend], which would be fantastic because then we get both objectives at the same time. But I’m fine, like I don’t care too much.

Honestly not even sad about the loss, it just highlights what we need to work on, regardless really winnable game.

Both team need to step up for worlds

— Zeph (@Zeph_LoL) August 10, 2025

Ethan: The rivalry between KC and MKOI has grown a lot in the league, especially because of that Spring narrative when you took their crown and knocked them out two times.

How important is it for you that the LEC is renewing itself, with new teams competing at the top, but also new rivalries emerging? And are you enjoying being part of something that big?

Melzhet: I enjoy it because I really like to shut mouths and I think KC talk big. It’s really funny and it’s also really interesting for the fans, so it’s really positive for the league. I think it’s also really positive that people like Caliste, Vladi, and new players come and play at this level because I believe they can grow so much. Overall, it is really good for the region.

Would you say that MKOI and KC are the best teams in the league right now? Do you think this is most likely the LEC final we will get in Madrid?

Melzhet: Not sure. I think G2 is there too. G2 is a strong contender. Also, I don’t know right now what the ceiling of Fnatic with Poby is: I don’t know if they are going to have a higher ceiling or a lower ceiling.

But again, I think it’s a four team competition.

Maybe GIANTX gets there, if they manage well the pressure and all of that, because they are doing a great job too. But I think to be the best, it will just come out to who’s the strongest team at the [most important] moment.

Ethan: I heard from your interview with Esportsmaniacos that you wouldn’t let your team rest for the split. I know fatigue can be an important factor, especially with you guys willing to play at Worlds.

Aren’t you afraid that your player might be a bit exhausted without a break until the middle of October?

Melzhet: I spoke with my performance coach and we were thinking: “Ok, we can create space for EWC and take it lightly because it’s not a tournament that important.” But we saw that it was a great opportunity to keep learning. So we didn’t stop to train at EWC, then we had two weeks doing nothing. So we had only four days [of practice when we came back]. The idea is now to have an intense training on what we learned from MSI and EWC so we can compete well at Worlds.

This might mean we’ll be exhausted, but I don’t see any other way to compete versus them. So I’d rather take that shot than have nothing.

What would you say was the main takeaway you had from this international campaign?

Melzhet: I mean, a lot. So far in my career, I’ve only been in three internationals…

Ethan: It’s already many for an LEC coach…

Melzhet: I think it’s still so low, you know, like compared to people like GrabbZ.  I feel like literally internationals are cheat codes. When you go there, you learn so much that if you can translate it to the LEC and learn those skills, your level can go so high. I felt like it happened at Worlds, and I feel like it happened again, right now. We understand better how to play the early game, the tempo, and all of that. We still make mistakes because we spent so much time having these bad habits that it’s hard to get away from them. I think this game 3 showed we were so ahead, and then we just engaged on bot when Corki is going to rotate from mid, he’s in a bad spot, and we gave him 4 shutdowns. Then, we saw on top when Atakhan is up, we are so late, we give a Nashor because we’re not controlling the correct lane of the map… Like so many things that are bad habits, that we saw and thought we needed to erase at internationals. But we still didn’t have the time to work on them.

I can see us fixing all of that, being the best team in the region and being able to compete versus the Eastern teams.

So now it’s time, if we can focus on that, and we are not wasting time. Either in scrims, or because we are too tired sometimes, or we don’t want to, or we don’t feel it, or we’re not motivated… So it’s really important that we take this split really seriously, work hard, and improve all these aspects of “bad habits”.

Ethan: Now that you’ve experienced 3 internationals, how do you perceive the gap between us and the Eastern region, and what do you think we’re lacking to reach them consistently? Because obviously upsets can happen, right?

But what’s your take, as a coach, on how to actually arrive with the same chances as they do when we enter an international competition?

Melzhet: To make it simple, because I think it would take me one hour. It’s like if in chess, they are seeing five moves ahead and you’re seeing only three. They are way better at knowing what is going to happen and why. Why it’s important to now push this wave instead of looking for the kill, and base, then get that spot, and that will lead to having that control, and that control is going to etc. They see the game a few steps ahead of you. But while I felt, for example, that — in the first international we played — they were seeing 10 moves ahead and we were only seeing one.

Now I feel like it’s more like 5 for them, 3 for us. We are getting closer.

We at least understand why they do that. With this understanding now, if we are able to take seriously the training and this split — that’s why it’s going to be intense — I think we have a shot at least to compete versus them. Of course, winning is going to be really f*cking hard because they are super good teams, but I think that’s the mentality. And for example, that’s what I like about Caliste. He’s always talking like he wants to win Worlds, not just go to Worlds. That’s the mentality that everyone should have.

Ethan: On more of a personal note, I know that you had a baby earlier this year. First, congratulations.

How much of a challenge is it to manage a team that is always competing for titles and internationals, as well as taking care of a family and a newborn son?

Melzhet: It’s really hard, and you are always missing something. And also, I don’t rest that much when I come back home because sleep is not there. But thanks to my wife, she’s amazing. She’s taking on so much work, and she’s raising our child so well that I can also be relaxed. Knowing that he’s in good hands and I can focus here when it’s needed. While I can focus on rest and being with them in person, when I am there. But yeah, you’re always missing something. You can’t do everything at the same time. I hope I can reach my goals as well as being a good father to him.

Is there any Faker project coming for him?

Melzhet: No, I’d actually prefer him not to play League at all.

Ethan: Really?

Melzhet: I mean, he can do whatever he wants, and I will support him no matter what. But if I could choose, I wouldn’t like this. I think it’s too stressful. I prefer him to be happy in another place. But actually, any job is stressful so…

Ethan: If he were to play professionally, would you help him on that path?

Melzhet: Of course. But he needs to be Challenger at 12 years old. If not, he’s not playing. Like Gumayusi’s father, you know [laughs].

Any closing words for the fans?

Melzhet: I know that this is probably disappointing because nobody likes to lose anyway. We are thinking in the long term, so I hope you still believe in us. We are going to work hard this split, and I hope we’ll show our true level in playoffs. That is the final goal.