DIG Photon Talks About the Upcoming LCS split
A discussion with DIG’s top laner, Photon, on the past season, the off season, and the upcoming season!
As we get ready for the return of the LCS, we sat down with Kyeong “Photon” Gyu-tae to discuss the offseason and the upcoming LCS split.
So how has the off-season been for you?
Photon: I was just spending time with family, watching Worlds and KeSPA Cup.
Any thoughts on the current KeSPA Cup? (During the interview, Game 5 of Hanwha Life Esports/Dplus KIA was going on)
Photon: I've mostly watched through the highlights (of KeSPA Cup) so I don't know what's going on too well.
Tell us a little bit about the previous season and how you felt with your final placement in 2025?
Photon: Yeah, I mean, it wasn't that good of a spot, but I feel like if you want to perform at this game, you have to be happy together, enjoy it, like anything. Like when you lose a scrim, you have to be eager to talk with your teammates and coaches, about some points, even if it's right or wrong, you know? Like talking with friends. That's what I care about most.
Do you think bad synergy was the root cause for the previous split results?
Photon: Yeah, I mean, how can I say it? It wasn't about individual players, but everything was kind of like a mix of bad synergy. Something had to change. Just the whole system had a bad synergy, I feel like that was the problem. So yeah, I hope next year will be different.
The new team is comprised of players who have played together before with great results. Do you think this split will be better?
Photon: Yeah!
So we're entering the preseason, have you gotten a chance to look at any of the new items or changes?
Photon: I didn't look at many of the new stuff yet, I only saw some videos where we have some quests next season. It seems like top lane will be more useful than this year. I hope next year top laners get to play their own game, without swap, [and be] useful you know?
Useful is a very good word. (laughs) We always joke about top lane being an island.
Photon: I mean, top lane used to be an island, but these days, top kind of became, I don't know how to say it, but top lane always kind of had to sacrifice for swap, for the team.
I think Riot really wanted to push for removing lane swapping or weakening it. I think role quests actually were part of weakening it too. As a top laner, you get more XP and level 20 and a free teleport spell if you finish it. It's a really wild change for preseason actually.
Photon: Yeah, it changed. Like, before if you wanted to be a good top laner, you had to know like how to lane well, how to teamfight, how to teleport well. Of course, the lane swap was kind of like the only thing that mattered. I hope next split will be different for top laners. But I don't think they can limit the lane swapping 100%. Like, it's a good strategy for a team game, but I think they have to find the in-between.
Anyways, I have some items for you to look at. (Shows new item changes) Any catch your eye?
Photon: Oh, Gunblade is coming back, and it looks like the build path is pretty decent to build. It could be strong top side on Akali or some other champions.
So going back to other preseason changes, what do you think about the third slot Teleport with role quests?
Photon: I'm not sure actually, like, if top laners won't take Teleport, even if they can get teleport as a third slot. I think it has like an 8-minute cooldown or 7-minute, and before you finish the quest, so I don't think it'll make people take Ignite or something on top side, but maybe. Maybe some champions like Darius or Garen. But I don't think people will take Ignite instead of Teleport. Teleport is just universal, kind of, so I don't think players can like play without Teleport.
Teleport is very strong yeah especially as pro League and normal League got more... advanced? I can't imagine them not taking it in the pro League. It's too strong in coordinated play.
Photon: Yeah, players are getting better and better, so I can't imagine playing without Teleport.
Image Source: Lolesports Flickr Image 1/Image 2
Alright, so let's switch things up a bit, do you have any players you look up to? It can be anyone, currently playing or back then.
Photon: When I was like a trainee, or five years ago, maybe more than now, I looked up to Cuvee, because they won Worlds. And currently, I'm often watching Kiin's POV. I think when he plays, he's playing for a kind of perfection. Kind of how I want to play, you know? I think he's a really good player to watch from his POV. As a top laner, I look up to Kiin because his playstyle is good.
With Cuvee, I used to look up to them because they were the best when I started. In high school, before I was a trainee, I got scouted by GenG first at that time. In general, though, I also look up to Faker, because now I know how hard it is to be like that, playing a long time and keeping the same level or higher of play at the highest level.
Yeah, it really burns people out. Faker really is amazing for that.
Photon: Yeah true, it isn't easy to keep that skill for a long time.
To wrap things up, do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans and those cheering for Dignitas?
Photon: Thank you for cheering for us, we want to make it work next year, so I hope you guys keep cheering for us. Thank you.
We thank Photon for his time. If you would like to check out his socials, click below!
