Defying all expectations, BK ROG Esports continues its reign of terror after defeating GameWard and EMEA Masters runners-up Ici Japon Corp. at the LFL HOLY Days 2025. With only one change to its roster for the Ligue Française de League of Legends (LFL) Spring Season 2025, the team shows itself in a new light, ready to dominate the competition. In an exclusive interview, the team's AD Carry, Théo "Booshi" Mouchiroud, discusses his return to competition after his injury, his expectations within BKR, his sacrifices, and talks about his family.

These were your very first LAN matches in front of a crowd. How did you feel about the LFL HOLY Days in Évry?

Théo "Booshi" Mouchiroud: "Honestly, I'm really happy. The aim was to win, and I really didn't want to lose the first game. There's also something a bit silly, but important to me: when you lose, you have to stay in your seat and wait for the others to come and shake your hand, and I didn't want to be that player. I wanted to be the one who gets up, goes to his opponent, and can salute the crowd. So I'm really happy. Beyond that, I do feel that I wasn't very proactive today though, I was a bit scared to step up. I dealt very little damage, almost the same as my support. But in the end, I'm just very happy with the win.

Did you feel any stress or pressure before playing?

Booshi: There are a few things to consider, because it was not only my first time on stage, but also my very first game in the LFL. I come from the Portuguese league, and whether it's in terms of level or visibility, it's not at all comparable. I was expecting to feel more anxiety, but in the end, once I got up on stage and the game started, it was fine.

I was focused, my heart wasn't beating too fast, and I wasn't particularly stressed. The fact that the game went well probably helped too. After that, what bothers me a bit is that I didn't really feel like I was involved in the game enough. I mostly followed the team's tempo, without really taking the initiative. But I think that will come with time.

You said you didn't expect to get the spot in BKR. Can you tell us a bit more about the process and how you experienced it?

Booshi: I joined an already well-established team, which had only changed one player during the offseason. That player was Keduii (Tim Willers), who moved up to the LEC. As a result, I joined a squad that was coming off a pretty disappointing Winter Split: they had finished first in the regular season, but finished 5th/6th, which created a bit of frustration and sadness internally.

When I arrived, they made it clear straight away that they needed stability, that things weren't necessarily going well between all the players. And apparently, according to what the coach and manager told me, I was able to bring that link between certain players, a kind of renewal that was good for the team. They were looking for a rookie, and according to them, I was the most stable and the best performer among those they tested. I only did two tryouts and after that, everything went very quickly. I got the good news shortly afterwards.

You had to replace Keduii, who was seen as a captain with a lot of experience and impact on the team. Did that put extra pressure on you? And how are you adapting to this new structure as a rookie?

Booshi: Clearly, as you said, Keduii was a real leader. He had a big voice; he talked a lot—sometimes maybe a bit too much even [laughs]—but he was someone who was much appreciated in the team. And he succeeded, because he went up to the LEC, so that's wonderful and I'm really happy for him. He even left me a message in your interview with him, which really touched me. He's a very nice person.

Obviously, it wasn't easy replacing him, especially as I don't have that role. I'm not a vocal leader. I came in as a breath of fresh air, a calmer, more stable element—especially in scrim. We have a team with some very explosive players, especially my midlaner and my jungler, who I love. They're two really talented players. And alongside them, we have a slightly more stable top and support. I think this mix works well, and I fit in well with that dynamic. So, I didn't feel any particular stress in replacing Keduii. Above all, I was grateful to be given this opportunity.

You reacted on Twitter to a clip from Doran's mother, who was very moved to see her son on stage. Was your family there today? And more generally, what are your goals as a player?

Booshi: Unfortunately, it was just my big brother today—but even so, it was great to have him there. My family couldn't come, but the fact that they're so supportive is something that means a lot to me. It's not a goal in itself to have their support, but since they offer it to me, I'm really grateful. My parents gave me the chance to try this path, to pursue my childhood dream, and that's already huge. And I owe a lot to my brother. He's the one who introduced me to video games. He's six years older than me, so he's always been a bit of a role model. I think if he didn't show me that support, I'd go ahead anyway, because it's really what I want to do with my life. But the fact that he shows me that he's there, that he believes in me, motivates me even more. It gives me a boost, and that just makes me feel good.

Is it your dream to reach the LEC one day?

Booshi: Yes, absolutely. But I'm a pretty down-to-earth person, so I prefer to take things one step at a time. My only fault is that I'm a bit impatient—so sometimes things get a bit crazy in my head! But for the moment, there's no need to get too excited either: I've played a good game, but not an exceptional one either. Obviously, the LEC is a goal I have in mind. But even before that, taking part in an international event would be a huge achievement. Caliste (Caliste Henry-Hennebert) was also talking about it recently, and I very much agree with what he said. Events like this are what I really want to experience. It's what makes you thrill, what gives you the feeling of touching your dream. For the moment, I'm on the right path—we'll see where it takes me.

You say you're impatient, and in the end, you've climbed very quickly—from the Nexus Tour to Div 2, then to the LFL. That's pretty impressive, isn't it?

Booshi: It proves my eagerness, yeah. I didn't want to go through the “lame” stages. I was really frustrated about my split with Akroma, which ended abruptly because of my arm. That stopped me. And, by the way, Wooloo gave me a lot of support about that.

How did you experience your time with Akroma, especially when you had to stop abruptly for half a year because of your arm? It can't have been easy with your ambitions.

Booshi: It was a horror. I can't lie, it was a real nightmare. What's more, I was a bit isolated because I was living alone at the time. It was a very complicated period in my life. I had to wait several months before starting again, but fortunately things went well after that. Everything's better now, and I'm glad it's all worked out. But at the time, it was really scary. I think a lot of people don't realize the sacrifices you make. I've sacrificed a lot, whether it's friendships or even love, to be able to continue being in esports. But I hope it will pay off in the end. Right now, it's starting to take shape and become really positive. It's hard when you've already sacrificed so much and then someone says “stop, it's over”. I'm glad all that is behind me.

You spoke of disappointment after the offseason, but you had a good split in the LPLOL with White Dragons, finishing 3rd. What was it like to come back?

Booshi : I definitely did that split in the LPLOL because I was a bit disappointed by the offseason. Things had started well, I had a really good profile and I was well positioned for a spot in the Division 2. But I think my health problems last year demotivated some parties from looking at me, and several factors came into play. Eventually, some teams chose to work with more experienced players, whereas in the beginning, they were more focused on rookies. There were quite a few changes, and doors gradually closed for me. I found myself with nothing at the end of the offseason, so I had to bounce around elsewhere, notably in Greece and Portugal. In the end, I'm happy with my time in Portugal, it was a good experience. It was better than doing nothing, and it helped me gain experience. I also think that some managers expected me to have a bit more competitive experience before signing me up.

Maybe people didn't want to take risks with your first experience returning competitively?

Booshi: And that's something I understand. Maybe they needed that little experience. I was lucky that the Keduii slot became available, and that was a real stroke of luck. What's more, the manager trusts me, the coach trusts me and so does the whole team. That's something I really value, because I don't find it easy. I put myself in the place of Doss (Mads Schwartz) or Szygenda (Mathias Jensen), who played 3 or 4 years in the LEC, and the guy has to put his trust in a rookie who's got nothing. Honestly, it's a bit scary. So I'm really, really happy about it.

Can you tell me a bit about your game with Doss? He's a very experienced player, who's played a lot with Keduii. Does he play a mentoring role for you now?

Booshi: Yes, Doss is a player who brings great stability to the team. He has this ability to control players' impulses. He often talks about “fake dopamine”–those moments when you take risky fights and win them, but it gives an illusory satisfaction. He hates that. For him, the real dopamine comes when decisions are well managed and controlled.

He's a very stable player who doesn't like mistakes, especially silly ones. In the beginning, he slowed me down a lot during the laning phase and even in the mid-game, especially when I took too many risks. He taught me to be more stable, and I think that showed in today's game, where I didn't make any major mistakes.

Now I'm in a phase where I'm trying to be stable while being clutch. My aim is to be solid without making mistakes, but also to move forward, deal damage and take responsibility. That's what I'm working on in scrim, and I'm already seeing progress. There are games where I really carry the team, which wasn't necessarily the case at the start of the scrims. So I'm very happy with my progress.

You're one of the only 7 French ADCs to be Challenger at the time of our interview. The solo queue is only an indicator, but it still shows a good level. Where do you think your ceiling is this year?

Booshi: I don't think my knowledge ceiling has been reached yet; I still have a lot to learn. I'm still progressing, especially in lane with Doss. It's a constant learning process, because the synergy between the two of us is paramount, and each player brings new dynamics. Doss has a lot of knowledge, of course, but we always have to adjust our game together.

In the solo queue, I consider myself among the best, as I've been Challenger for some time now. But I'm not just aiming for that rank. My aim is to climb the ladder, to get better offers and prove that my level is really above average. Overall, it's going pretty well, and I'm happy with my progress.

How do you position yourself against the other ADCs in the league, and where do you see yourself at the end of the year?

Booshi: I think Hans SamD (Lee Jae-hoon) and 3XA (Thomas Foucou) really are the two who stand out. As for the other ADCs, I think I'll be able to take them on at the start of the split. Of course, I've got an important test tomorrow against Hans SamD (note: he won!), and that'll give me a chance to see if I've got the level from the start. But I'm really happy to be able to play against players of this caliber, whom I've always respected. By the end of the split, I think I can reach that level without any problem.

Do you have a message for fans and those discovering you?

Booshi: Thank you for discovering me. Honestly, thank you so much for your support, I've heard it, we know it when we experience it. Thank you for shouting my name out so much, for creating such a great atmosphere, it was incredible. Experiencing it is just crazy. I promise to deal a bit more damage next game. And I'm really happy, thanks again to my family, my brother and my parents, thank you so much."