There’s nothing quite like competing against the best in the world, and TSW Pun promises an even stronger run for the team next time.
Team Secret Whales surprised everyone with an impressive run in the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP), securing their spot at LoL Worlds 2025. The youngest team in the competition brought countless smiles, chaotic plays, and unforgettable TikTok dances that left a lasting impression.
In an interview with esports.gg, TSW’s Nguyễn "Pun" Đăng Khoa reflected on his international debut at Worlds, his growth as a player, and how the experience has helped shape the team into a stronger version of themselves. The top laner promises an even better run next time and an exciting season ahead. The big question remains: will these talented players return for the next Worlds?
The youngest team in the LoL Worlds 2025
With TSW’s elimination, only one Pacific team remains in the competition, CTBC Flying Oyster. They are among the teams in the 2-2 group, which means they still have a chance to qualify for the Playoffs. Alongside CFO, Top Esports, Movistar KOI, FlyQuest, and the winners of BLG vs VKS and T1 vs 100T will have one last opportunity to secure a spot in the LoL Worlds 2025 Playoffs.
Even though TSW are now out of the tournament, they’ve left behind a lasting legacy of memories, laughter, and pure entertainment, both for those who knew them and those who didn’t. The youngest team in the competition brought an infectious energy that touched everyone, and they’ve already promised to come back stronger and deliver an even better performance next season.
TSW Pun on the loss against MKOI: "It helped us grow as a team."
The 23-year-old Vietnamese player started his career back in 2018 in his home country, playing for Dashing Buffalo, CERBERUS, and Team Flash. He signed with Team Secret Whales in the Summer 2025. The team works now with a six-man roster with two top laners.
Sofia: This was the first series where you started in the initial roster. How did this choice make you feel, and how did you prepare for it?
TSW Pun: It’s just that when it comes to experience and mentality, I think MKOI had the edge over us in those areas. It’s a shame to lose this series, but overall, it was a valuable learning experience for us. We faced a lot of challenges when we first started, and it was honestly a bit overwhelming at times. We went through many problems, but I’m actually glad we did. It helped us grow as a team.
Sofia: What do you think were the biggest challenges against MKOI?
TSW Pun: As for the series, I think Jojopyun had a bit of an advantage, but personally, I feel like I played my role quite well. There’s still a lot I need to improve on to help us actually win those games, but I’m satisfied with my performance.
Lessons from my first LoL Worlds
Sofia: What aspects of your own gameplay do you think are most important to focus on and improve heading into next year?
TSW Pun: I think the main thing for me is expanding my champion pool. I want to play more carry-style top laners next year. Also, as a team, we really need to work on how we handle our advantages. There were times in this series where we built a solid lead, but we didn’t use it well enough to close out the game. Learning how to turn those advantages into actual wins will be a big focus for us.
Sofia: As this was your first Worlds experience, even though it ended sooner than you might have hoped, what do you think you could have done differently to help your team win the games?
TSW Pun: This means a lot to me because it’s my first time playing at Worlds. We made so many great memories with the team and with everyone involved. It’s a bit sad that our journey has to stop here, because personally, I think we could have gone further. But at the same time, we know we didn’t do enough, so we have to accept that and learn from it.
Role models and team synergy
Sofia: You joined the team in the Summer. How has your adaptation with them been since then? Do you feel fully integrated?
TSW Pun: Even before I joined Team Secret Whales, I was already friends with some of the members. So adapting to the team and getting along with everyone wasn’t too difficult for me, since I’ve known some of them for years. Right now, we’re very close, and it feels more like focusing on what we can achieve together, especially after qualifying for Worlds, because we already had a strong connection before joining the team.
Sofia: Which top laners have inspired you in your career?
TSW Pun: For me, there are two top laners I look up to as role models. BLG Bin is someone I study if I want to focus on individual skills. He’s a great example for improving mechanics and laning. On the other hand, I really admire GEN Kiin when it comes to teamwork. If I want to learn how to improve my teamfight mentality and play better as a team, Kiin is the best role model for that.
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