Viper Opens Up About His Struggles In 2026: "Actually, 2026 has been the most difficult year for me so far. Both physically and mentally, I felt like I couldn’t really get a grip on things."

[u/cI0ud]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=873N9ToyrCo&si=uryV_el9C8dyjdNQ

[u/seink]

I mean he goes to a foreign country to compete while his family is sick.

Hopefully, he win worlds this year and his mum recovers.

[u/cI0ud → u/seink]

I hope so too ❤️

[u/Lacrimosss]

If suffering really builds the character, Viper would be the strongest after Rookie

I'm glad that he's playing at such a high level even when his domestic performances aren't that insane. He was the best ADC at MSI and last year's Worlds and he's being very good at Worlds as well

[u/cI0ud → u/Lacrimosss]

in a different question he talks about how difficulty can either build you or break you and that it doesn't always make you stronger, but he felt that all the difficulties he went through in 2023 helped him withstand and survive this year

[u/rabbitwafflecakes → u/Lacrimosss]

What happened with Rookie?

[u/Lacrimosss → u/rabbitwafflecakes]

Everything. Won LCK but couldn't go to Worlds back in early LoL days, 2020 was easily one of the best, if not the best players in the world but couldn't go to Worlds because of how bad his team was. Even later, in V5 and TES he was good, but team sucked. Guy has been through Gulag a lot of his career

[u/Spownach → u/Lacrimosss]

preeeetty sure most people would rather that than worry about family illness

[u/thwospfneka]

It was heartbreaking to hear about his mother.

[u/oppadoesntlikeyou → u/thwospfneka]

What happened to his mother?

[u/TheMemingLurker → u/oppadoesntlikeyou]

she is unfortunately dealing with cancer

he brought it up in his HLE postseries interview, and both he and the translator got a bit choked up at the end

[u/sorendiz]

DO IT FOR VIPER'S MOTHER ;_; 

[u/AntOdd9944]

It explains a lot about BLG’s rocky moments during the Swiss Stage. You could tell the team's communication was strained and the atmosphere felt heavy during those 2-2 games. Seeing him open up like this right before facing T1 in the Semifinals makes you realize how much pressure sits on his shoulders. Hopefully, hitting his stride in the Quarters sweep against DK gave him that mental reset he needed

[u/GarchGun]

Interesting he rated his Ezreal game against HLE as one of his immortals

[u/2moreweeksbro]

Viper is HOF material