T1’s Doran talks to esports.gg about handling pressure, team confidence, and facing IG’s TheShy ahead of LoL Worlds 2025.
LoL Worlds 2025 is just around the corner, and T1 top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon is reflecting on his journey, pressure, and confidence ahead of T1’s opening match against Invictus Gaming. After a challenging season, Doran told esports.gg he’s ready to focus purely on his gameplay and help T1 make a strong run through the Swiss Stage.
T1 Doran on confidence and team synergy at LoL Worlds 2025
In the latest video published on his official Oner YouTube channel, Mun "Oner" Hyeon-jun praised his teammate Doran as the player who deserved the most recognition since the beginning of the year.
"We did win Worlds last year, and even though the only change on members was Hyeonjun hyung [Doran], he still showed a good performance. He must’ve felt a lot of pressure, but he blended well into our team and worked hard with us," he explained.
Doran hadn’t seen the comments, but he was genuinely touched when told about them. Joining a team with such a storied reputation wasn’t easy. He faced constant criticism and skepticism, with many underestimating his abilities as a player.
Now, the top laner says confidence in the camp is growing.
“We’re at a stage where we need to push ourselves even harder,” Doran said. “With one more win, our confidence and performance will only continue to grow.”
Doran joined T1 in November 2024, replacing Choi "Zeus" Woo-je, who then joined Hanwha Life. Both teams could potentially meet each other in LoL Worlds 2025 if T1 qualifies for the Swiss Stage.
Preparing for TheShy and Invictus Gaming
Sofia: As you said, your performance during the year had some highs and lows, but you were still strong and consistent. However, the international stage can bring a different pressure. What aspects of your gameplay are you focusing more on to make sure Worlds matches don't see drop-offs?
T1 Doran: Worlds is a short tournament, and the meta can change drastically in a short time. That’s why we need to stay focused on adapting quickly and staying prepared for any shift that happens. Building trust within the team is very important. The more confident we are in each other, the stronger our performance will be. So our main goal right now is to stay adaptable, maintain that trust, and make sure we’re fully ready for whatever changes come our way.
Sofia: How has your preparation been to play against someone as iconic as TheShy?
T1 Doran: I don't think the meta has changed drastically at Worlds. However, there are still some interesting changes, and we are focusing on those as we practice. When it comes to Kang "TheShy" Seung-lok, he’s been delivering incredible performances for such a long time. So yes, I’m definitely aware of the threat he poses and very cautious when preparing to face him.
How experience shapes T1’s Worlds 2025 run
Sofia: T1 is one of the favorites for the title. It is not a surprise to anyone. Does that put additional pressure on you as you prepare for the competition?
T1 Doran: Before I realized it, I was playing under a lot of pressure. But after overcoming that and helping our team qualify for Worlds, I wanted to take that weight off my shoulders and focus purely on what I can do in the game. My goal now is to enjoy playing and make sure our entire team performs at their very best at Worlds. That’s what we’re really focusing on during our practice. Preparing to deliver our strongest performance together.
Sofia: Is there any top laner you would like to play against in the tournament?
T1 Doran: The first player that comes to mind is probably TheShy, who I’ll be facing in our opening match. I’m looking forward to playing against him, and I’d be excited for anyone to have the chance to face him in the tournament.
Sofia: You are surrounded by some of the most experienced players in the world. What’s something you’ve learned from your teammates that has shifted your perspective on the competition?
T1 Doran: Our team brings a lot of experience to the table. We’ve faced many defeats and have several veteran players, which has taught me not to get caught up in the small things.
LoL Worlds 2025 opening match
The fourth seeds of the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) and the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) will face each other for the last spot at the LoL Worlds 2025 tournament. Only one will be able to stay in the tournament.
On one side is T1, the 2024 Worlds champion and the only team to have ever lifted five trophies. The Korean squad is not only one of the best teams in the world but also a fan favorite. Doran, alongside Oner, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, Lee "Gumayusi" Min-hyeong, and Ryu "Keria" Min-seok, forms one of the most dominant rosters in the game.
On the other side stands Invictus Gaming (IG), the 2018 Worlds champion, returning to the international stage after a long absence. Led by the 2018 title holders TheShy and Song "Rookie" Eui-jin, and joined by the talented roster of Yan "Wei" Yang-Wei, Chen "GALA" Wei, and Tian "Meiko" Ye, IG is on a mission for redemption on the global stage. But can they make it?
The match is set to take place on October 14 at 1 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. CEST / 4 p.m. China Time. As always, esports.gg will be here to bring you full live coverage of the opening match of LoL Worlds 2025.
That's all for now. Stick around for more League of Legends news, guides, and updates on esports.gg.
