Champion of the League of Legends Championship of The Americas (LTA), the Team Liquid squad is now charging head first into the First Stand 2025 tournament, with Karmine Corp as their first opponent. In an exclusive interview with Sheep Esports, jungler Um "UmTi" Sung-hyeon shares his thoughts on returning to South Korea and LoL Park, his upcoming match against KC, and how he handles criticism while striving to improve.

This is your return to Korea and LoL Park. What was the first thing you did when you arrived? How did it feel to be back?

Um "UmTi" Sung-hyeon: "Oh, at LoL Park? I got here and... I just instantly made some hot tea. Maybe I borrowed some to bring back to the Riot Hotel [laughs].

Your time with BRION in the LCK was tough, and now you're back at LoL Park with Team Liquid. Do you feel like you have something to prove this time?

UmTi: I wouldn't say that I feel the need to prove anything, I'm not here for that. I'm here to help our team improve and to keep getting better myself. You know, just staying humble and doing our best to show up.

Some people have criticized your recent performances. Last year, you said dealing with criticism was tough. How do you feel about it now? Are you staying calm and confident for the tournament?

UmTi: I try to avoid looking at those critical comments—like on Twitter or wherever—and I try not to care about them. If I did see them, it would probably impact me, so I think it's best that way so I can focus on doing my job better. Of course, there's always stress involved, but that's just part of being a player. I can handle it.

As for confidence, I feel pretty confident right now. I've been working hard with Reignover, reviewing every VOD, watching my scrims, and analyzing past stage games to see where I can improve—especially in communication. So yeah, I'm feeling good about myself.

Does Team Liquid feel at home in Korea? With so many Korean players and coaches on your lineup, how is the team adapting to the environment?

UmTi: I'm very comfortable here for sure, but I don’t think Impact and CoreJJ are [laughs]. This is their first time at LoL Park, and they’re still adjusting. But honestly, they’ve always adapted well—whether it was in the LEC studio or even in Brazil—so I’m not worried about them. It does feel like our second home here.

As for APA and Yeon... they're kind of the rookies of the squad, you know? They're just trying to enjoy and make the most of the experience. When you're a younger player, you don’t think too much—you just enjoy life, gaming, and everything that comes with it. Sometimes it can be rough, but you still enjoy it, you know? The other players and I, we're the boomers of the team.

You mentioned missing your family in a Team Liquid AMA before. Have you been able to see them now that you're back in Korea? Will they be coming to LoL Park to see you?

UmTi: Yes, I met my family about three or four days ago. We had dinner and lunch together, talked, and even went for a walk by the Han River. It was really nice—it made me cry a little, but it was very good. They'll come to see me on Monday and Friday to cheer me on. I'm really happy, and I'll try my best to win for them.

What kind of Team Liquid can we expect at this tournament? The team's performance has been a bit on and off, with the best showing in the LTA finals, but earlier in the split, it was tougher. Do you feel like Team Liquid is at full force right now?

UmTi: The difficulties we faced early on were simply growing pains. We were make a lot of mistakes we did last year, and so, we had to work on fixing things, which presented some challenges. Our coaches have been putting in a lot of effort to manage that. In the LTA finals, we became more united as a team, gaining a clearer understanding of what we wanted to do and how to improve. That showed in our 3-0 victory against 100 Thieves, even though they’re a strong team. At the moment, I wouldn’t say we’re 100% better, but we’re definitely 100% ready to win, no matter the challenge. Last year, we acknowledged that we weren’t perfect, but still showed strong performance in the summer. I think we’re in a similar position now.

So, you're confident for First Stand, right?

UmTi: Yep, we are.

A lot of people are talking about your first match since it's the Americas against EMEA. You'll be facing Karmine Corp. Any thoughts ahead of that match?

UmTi: Karmine Corp is a very talented team. We played against them during Worlds 2024 in Berlin. They were very eager to be our scrim partners and play against us. They’re a team of grinders, and I think they deserved to win the LEC. They have some very talented players, especially Vladi and Caliste. Yike is also a great jungler. Still, even if I think they're a strong team, I don't think we're going to lose.

So, they're good, but you're better, pretty much?

UmTi: Well, I didn't say that, you know? But I'm just saying.

Do you have a message for them?

UmTi: Yes, I have one for Vladi. He was really friendly when we were in Berlin. I really like you and your playstyle, but I'm gonna be ganking you, don't you worry.

We also have to talk about the other teams, like Top Esports and Hanwha Life, who are very strong opponents. Do you think they’re beatable, especially in a fearless draft format?

UmTi: Beyond just fearless drafts, these two are actually beatable. Winning against LCK and LPL teams is possible because they don’t know our styles. I’m sure they’re more focused on each other, like LCK versus LPL, and not thinking too much about LTA or LEC. They really think they’re going to make it to the finals. Let’s be honest, they probably will. But I think that kind of mindset could actually hurt them. That’s what I want, and you know, I just want to grab their ankle and not let go easily [laughs].

How do you feel about how prepared Team Liquid is? A lot of people talked about how you only played one best-of-five, and it was a 3-0. Did you still get enough scrims, and do you feel ready?

UmTi: We’re definitely ready to play in Fearless Drafts because we’ve already practiced a lot in North America. We haven’t had much time to scrim in Korea due to photo shoots and today’s interview, and tomorrow we have one scrim before our on-stage match the following day. For me, this First Stand feels similar to the Esports World Cup. While we haven’t had much time to prepare, it’s about proving what we’ve accomplished in our region and showcasing our region’s style. Let’s find out, you know?

Do you have anything to say to the fans?

UmTi: I’m back at LoL Park after two years, and my fans still remember me and cheer for me here, which feels amazing. I really appreciate everyone and I ask that, especially next week, you all cheer for Team Liquid Honda. Thank you."