KT Rolster have reached the Worlds semifinals for the first time in the organization’s history. For fans who’ve followed KT Rolster’s journey since the LCK, this result hits differently. All the more so for Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong. Even when the team struggled in the LCK, Bdd stood as their lone pillar and steady backbone. The plays he produced in Korea were moving enough to win over even non-KT fans.

After the match, Bdd said, “We still have games left, so I’m not feeling anything too big—mostly just relief.” On playing again after a layoff and how he prepared for CTBC Flying Oyster (CFO), he added: “There was still quite a bit of time before we played, and there’s no real way to sharpen your on-stage feel except playing officials. So I tried not to overthink it, just did what I always do, and prepped specifically for the opponent. I didn’t expect a clean 3–0, but it ended up being easier than I thought.”

Asked when he felt today’s series was in the bag, he answered, “Around the early fight in Game 1? From then on, it felt like they started making rushed moves, and we kept winning every skirmish, so I think that’s when we seized control.”

We also asked Bdd about the Azir vs. Orianna matchup that appeared today. He said, “There’s a lot of room for both sides to play well in the 1v1, but lately I’ve been thinking that even if you win the 1v1, bad situations can still develop. That’s what makes it tricky. Personally, I don’t think I laned well today, so I’m a bit disappointed.”

Why the Zoe pick in Game 3, and when did he feel that game start breaking open? Bdd explained, “If the best mid champions are taken out in Games 1 and 2, it becomes about either making your comp fit together or locking a champion you’re confident on. I think we handled that part well, and as we played, my lane went smoothly, so I felt like I could have a big impact.”

Bdd also shared his thoughts on CFO mid laner Tsai “HongQ” Ming-Hong. “He’s definitely a young player, and he’s aggressive in lane. I thought he was good. One thing I notice is that LCK mids tend to find a middle ground and make compromises, whereas overseas mids feel more focused on hitting you.”

Having returned to the stage after a while, Bdd had a fun answer about his mindset. A well-known Digimon fan, he said, “I came in listening to the Digimon song ‘Butter-Fly.’ There are a lot of Digimon tracks that are really motivating.”

Next up in the semifinals is Gen.G. “I think Gen.G are the best team in the world,” Bdd said. “But at Worlds, anything can happen. At the start or midpoint of the season, I don’t think anyone expected us to make the Worlds semifinals.

“So I don’t think it would be strange for anything to happen from here. Rather than fixating on ‘I want to beat Gen.G right now,’ I want to go in with a leave-it-to-fate mindset and play in a way I won’t regret.”

He closed by saying, “It always makes me happy and excited to play in front of so many fans. Hearing the cheers gives me chills and a real sense of fulfillment. This is our first semifinals, and our fans are truly passionate—they support us rain or snow, no matter what, and I’m so grateful. We’ve often stumbled at the end in the past, but with the fans here today, I’m just filled with the desire to show the best finish we possibly can.”

This article was translated from the original that appeared on INVEN.