Before LYON found its footing this season in 2026, it first had to find its voice. For Saint, that voice came in the form of Inspired, a teammate he admits he was unsure about at first, but one who quickly became central to how the team functions.
“I’ve also heard that about him before I actually experienced him,” Saint said in an interview with Dot Esports at First Stand 2026, responding to the ego issues with Inspired and Bwipo during their time at FlyQuest in 2025. “So when I heard that we’re going to be playing together, I was also a bit scared.”
But that hesitation did not last long.
“But after we actually played together as teammates, he was the player who spoke up whenever the team had an issue,” he explained. “And it’s not easy to take that kind of responsibility or that kind of position.”
In a roster filled with strong personalities, Inspired emerged as the one willing to step forward when it mattered most. “He’s the one who was willing to take action whenever the team had some issue,” Saint said. “So, sometimes he can use stronger language, but I think it’s all okay because that’s purely because he wants to win more. So I didn’t have any issue with it.”
From ego clashes to understanding
Building a new roster rarely comes without friction, and LYON felt that early on. With multiple players trying to assert their own ideas, cohesion did not come naturally.
“In the beginning, I think the players, especially AD carry, mid, and jungler, they all had strong egos,” Saint said, referring to the 2026 roster. “When we were first trying to find our chemistry, I had a lot of stuff that I wanted to do. Same goes to the AD carry, same goes to the jungler.”
That clash of perspectives created visible problems in-game. “There were a lot of points and factors that kind of broke the harmony.” Instead of forcing his own direction, Saint chose a different approach as the season progressed. “Starting around mid-season, I was like, maybe I should just play along with their styles.”
Letting go of the AD carry ‘selfish’ identity
That decision marked a larger shift in how Saint views his role within the team. A year ago, he was the focal point. Now, he sees flexibility as LYON’s biggest strength.
“Last year, I was the main carry,” he said. “This year, I feel like I’m more open-minded.”
Rather than centering every game around mid lane, LYON now adapts depending on composition and situation. “Sometimes jungle can carry, sometimes AD can carry, sometimes top can carry. It all just comes down to the composition that we’re playing.”
That evolution required Saint to rethink his own priorities.
“Last year, I focused on how to play selfishly in order to execute the main carry role perfectly. But this year, support and help out the team in a more easy way and more effective way.”
Amid all the changes, Saint remains the only link to LYON’s previous roster, a position that carries both pressure and pride. “I kind of feel like I improved a bit,” he said. “Also, it feels great because, yeah, I am the only remaining 2025 roster member. So it kind of tells me that I have, you know, sort of proven myself.” Even so, the transition to a new lineup came with its own uncertainties.
“Well, when that happened, like, at the first meeting, I didn’t really have a lot of thoughts about it,” he said. “But when we had the roster locked in, then I kind of thought, oh, there’s going to be a lot of stuff that I can learn from the members.”
Learning on the international stage
At First Stand 2026, Saint is preparing for his first global appearance with a mindset focused less on pressure and more on growth.
“The first thing that came to mind was, let’s not be too nervous. Just focus on showing what I’ve accomplished so far,” he said. “Secondly, I just realized there is going to be so much to learn.”
Facing international opponents is not just a test, but an opportunity to study the best, especially those who thrive in similar playstyles. “I mentioned earlier I was on the main carry role for the team, and I think that playstyle kind of echoes with a lot of LPL teams and G2 Esports,” Saint said. “So I am looking forward to those teams executing those playstyles on the top level.”
And when it comes to individual matchups, one name stands out: “I want to face Chovy,” Saint said. “I want to feel how strong he is,” he added. LYON faced Gen.G at FST 2026, and it didn’t pan out well for the squad as the Korean team dominated the NA squad to have a clean 3-0 sweep.
For a player who has already reshaped his identity once, First Stand may be less about proving himself and more about discovering just how far that growth can take him.
