With names like Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu, Heo "ShowMaker" Su, and Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu, Dplus KIA is in contention for the most star-studded roster in the current League scene. However, it hasn't worked out. While the team has found some success, other teams at home and abroad have defeated them.

Inven Global spoke with the team's Head Coach, Choi "Acorn" Cheon-ju. In our succinct yet revealing interview, Acorn touches on his debut year with Dplus KIA, strategic evolutions, and the team's journey to the World Championship. Delve into the challenges of harnessing star power, adapting to shifting metas, and the head-to-head between LCK and LPL teams.

It was your first year coaching Dplus KIA. How was it different compared to previous teams?

As you know, ShowMaker and Canyon were on our team for a long time. They’ve been a great help whenever we practice or play in games.

What was your main focus since qualifying for Worlds?

The biggest weaknesses we had this year were about mid-late game macro and objective teamfights. We were well aware of what we needed to improve, so our main focus was about that in our recent practices.

Besides what you mentioned, what were the problems? With how talented the line ups, why did you run into so many issues?

Do you mean over the whole year? One of our strengths is our laners. Since the spring season, we’ve been trying to focus on our bot lane, to give them more power, but as the head coach, I think we should have used tank supports earlier. I think we were late in interpreting the meta.

What sort of adjustments for this patch and this meta?

Simply put, I think the game tempo has gotten much faster. I’ve felt it since the summer season. We’ve been moving the carry roles to the top side and reducing “mage support” pie cks. The main focus is to keep the bot lane strong in the early game and transfer that strength to the top side in the mid-late game.

Many people consider Gen.G and JD Gaming favorites. In terms of ability, how do you compare the LCK and LPL teams?

What I had thought and what I’ve been feeling during recent scrims is that the LPL teams are more skirmish-oriented. On the other hand, the LCK teams feel solid. Frankly, over the past year, I believe the LCK teams are ahead in all aspects, from raw ability to play details and mid-late game macro, and so on. As for Gen.G and JD Gaming, I think the two teams are similar. I don’t know how it’ll go during Worlds, but I believe Gen.G has a slight edge.

Do you think DK has potential to pull off a miracle run like DRX last year?

Yes. We do. [Laughs] I’m confident. At least I have confidence about it.