For its debut at the highest level, Karmine Corp (KC) experienced significant emotional ups and downs at the First Stand tournament held in Seoul this week. The French esports club entered the international League of Legends competition with high hopes but stumbled at the start, losing its first two matches.
KC faced off against Team Liquid (1-2) on Monday, March 10, 2025, and then lost to the Taiwanese team CTBC Flying Oyster (0-2) on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. These losses put them under immense pressure, as they needed victories to keep their playoff hopes alive.
After returning from the abyss, KC pulled off what seemed like miraculous victories over Top Esports (TES) and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE). On Wednesday, March 12, the team bounced back emphatically, defeating TES 2-0 within just thirty-one minutes. "Karmine Corp needs to believe more and hold onto their destiny," remarked Zaboutine, the tournament analyst, highlighting key changes within the team dynamics.
On Thursday, March 13, though facing one of the tournament favorites, HLE, KC delivered fierce resistance, winning the second game impressively after securing two Elder Drakes and Baron Nashor. Despite this heroic effort, they eventually lost the best-of-three series 1-2. "We showed our capabilities against HLE, but we need more consistency," reflected Kameto, KC's coach.
The stakes were raised when KC found itself needing help from the outside as it concluded the group stage with a 1-3 record. Everything hinged on the matchup between CTBC Flying Oyster and TES on Friday, March 14, 2025. If CFO won, KC would have the opportunity to qualify for the semi-finals due to their direct victory against TES earlier.
Miraculously, CFO claimed victory against TES with the same 2-0 margin, allowing KC to progress. This unexpected turn of events solidified KC's place among the top four teams as they qualified based on head-to-head results against TES.
KC will face off against CTBC Flying Oyster once again on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 10:00 AM, promising another gripping encounter. "CFO's victory against TES was unexpected but brought hope to KC," analysts noted, fueling excitement for the semi-final round.
While it may have been difficult at first, the team's tenacity was admirable. Their performance, including standout moments from players like Marcin "Yike" Sundelin and Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert, has ignited motivation within the squad. "Carmine Corp has shown they can compete at this level, but improvement is necessary for future matches," said one analyst reviewing their play.
This tournament also underscored the lessons learned from competing against some of the world's leading teams. The challenges of adapting to the Fearless Draft format, which imposes diverse compositions, forced KC to sharpen its strategy and champion pool depth. Despite the initial setbacks, their performance against top-tier teams highlighted their potential, reinforcing the learning experience necessary for continued progress.
Overall, KC's upward trend reflects both dedication and resilience. With aspirations for even greater outings during the last matches, the team's growth from this international experience is invaluable. They can now return to the stage to prove themselves again, possibly setting the stage for another great match-up on Sunday, March 16, 2025, should they reach the grand finals.