On March 15, 2026, the League of Legends 2026 First Stand tournament officially kicked off in São Paulo, Brazil. In addition to the first-stage champions from the six major regions worldwide, this First Stand tournament also provided additional second-seed slots for the LPL and LCK. The LPL slot was secured by JDG, which restructured its roster at the end of last year. Before the start of the first stage, no one could have predicted that JDG, after such a major roster overhaul, would reach its current position. We also look forward to JDG bringing more surprises to the audience in this international tournament.
During the pre-match media day, we interviewed GALA, the ADC for JDG. This veteran player, with extensive experience in international tournaments, shared some latest pre-match insights with us.
Q:This year's JDG can be described as a mix of veterans and newcomers. Xiaoxu and Vampire are playing in their first international tournaments. As a veteran with rich international competition experience, will you offer any advice to help them adapt to the pace of the World Championship?
A:Actually, I haven't given them any special advice lately because the matches haven't officially started yet. However, I don't feel they are the type of players who get nervous during competitions. Moreover, I think our team's overall atmosphere is very good right now, so there shouldn't be any major adaptation issues during the matches.
Q: For instance, regarding jet lag. It's currently around 5 AM Beijing time. Is it difficult to adjust to this time difference? You went through a similar jet lag adjustment process during the 2022 World Championship. Will it be slightly easier this time?
A:Since we only arrived a couple of days ago, we didn't have much time to adjust to the time difference. However, we've been trying hard to adapt over these past two days, and so far, we've adjusted quite well. Also, the time difference is something everyone has to overcome and adapt to, so it doesn't feel particularly different for us.
Q: The scale of this year's First Stand tournament is significantly larger than last year's, starting directly with BO5 double-elimination matches. Do you consider this good news for your team?
A:Overall, our performance in BO5s during the playoffs might be better than in BO3s during the regular season. So, perhaps this First Stand tournament format is actually more favorable for us.
Q: Now that you're in Brazil, are there any interesting local anecdotes you can share with us? For example, is there any difference between how players on the Brazilian server play compared to others?
A:(Laughs) Honestly, the players on the Brazilian server aren't particularly different from those on other foreign servers we've played on before. If I had to say something, it's that everyone seems to enjoy typing and communicating quite a bit.
Q: For example, typing in English or using emojis?
A:Yes, generally I type in English. If I understand what they're saying, I'll reply and interact.
Q: GEN.G is the champion of this LCK split, and many of their players are old friends and rivals of ours—such as JDG alumnus Ruler. What does it feel like to face him in lane again?
A:It's been a year since Ruler returned to the LCK. We didn't have the opportunity to play against GEN.G last year, so we're looking forward to facing them and seeing just how strong GEN.G really is.
Q: In the First Stand patch, Xayah and Samira have received significant buffs. Will this impact the current bot lane meta? Ruler from GEN.G is also highly skilled with Xayah. Do you think GEN.G will pick Xayah against you?
A:The buffs to Xayah herself are indeed very noticeable. Her Q, W, and E abilities have all been strengthened, and her mana cost has been significantly reduced. It's a substantial buff, meaning she no longer lacks mana during the laning phase. However, since laning is still relatively important in this version (and Xayah's laning strength isn't particularly strong), her pick priority might not be very high.
Q: One last question. This JDG roster hasn't been together for very long, but their results have far exceeded everyone's expectations. What do you think is the main reason this team has come so far? Entering the World Championship is a surprise for everyone. Can we expect JDG to bring us even more surprises?
A:Firstly, many players on this JDG roster came from different teams previously. So, during the first stage, we approached every match with the mindset of learning and adapting as much as possible, regardless of the outcome. I can also sense that my teammates are talented and willing to put in the effort. That's why we've earned the opportunity to compete in the First Stand tournament.
So far, we still believe that this JDG roster is a powerful team capable of defeating any opponent. Therefore, we hope everyone will keep their expectations high for us.