MVK Esports’ Worlds run ended with a 0-3 defeat to Karmine Corp, leaving jungler Lê “SanSan” Quốc Khánh with a frustrating what-if. In an interview with Sheep Esports, the 19-year-old reflected on the series, his international debut and his hope to face stronger opponents in future tournaments. MVK lost both of its Play-In series against KC, finishing with a combined 0-6 record across the two encounters.
A tough ending after two wins over FURIA
The exit came after MVK had won two best-of-five series during the Play-In stage, including consecutive victories over Brazil’s FURIA. SanSan saw those wins as a major achievement for a team he felt had been underestimated throughout the tournament. His assessment gives MVK’s campaign a brighter note than the final scoreline alone: the team had made its mark before KC shut the door.
Karmine Corp claimed the Play-In’s sole place in the Swiss Stage by beating MVK. The result also capped a difficult stretch for the Vietnamese team, which had to get past FURIA before earning another shot at KC. MVK’s wins over FURIA set up that decisive return meeting.
SanSan’s chance came with a complicated backdrop
SanSan said starting Gury made sense because his teammate had played with MVK throughout the year. He also said coach Lê “SofM” Quang Duy wanted him to take part in a fourth game of the KC series discussed in the interview, but MVK’s 0-3 defeat meant that game never happened.
There is a separate detail in the coverage of MVK’s other KC encounter: a Sheep Esports post reported that SanSan replaced Gury for Game 2. That appearance sits apart from his comments about the later 0-3 series, where he said he felt he could have performed well. His disappointment, then, was about missing a further opportunity against KC, not a claim that he never faced the team.
SanSan described his Worlds debut as a happy moment, while wishing he had played more against stronger international opposition. He hopes to return to the international stage and wants fans to remember what he showed at the tournament. MVK’s elimination leaves that next chance ahead of him, while KC advanced to the Swiss Stage.
The debut is only the first chapter
For SanSan, the FURIA wins and his first Worlds appearance are the campaign’s defining gains, even with the KC loss ending MVK’s run. KC secured the single Play-In route to Swiss, and MVK’s tournament was over after the second meeting between the teams. Karmine Corp’s 3-0 win over MVK decided who moved on.
SanSan’s next stated ambition is straightforward: earn more chances on the international stage and test himself against tougher opponents. For a player still at the start of his career, the debut gave him a first taste; the missed games against KC left an obvious target for the next one.
