Kisno's Cinderella Story: Subbing Into His First LCS Match

The North American League of Legends Championship Series built anticipation for its 2026 iteration with rule changes and offseason player movement.

“That unknown moment when you're just starting a season is the best part,” LCS commissioner Mark Zimmerman said. “There've been all these changes in the offseason. You finally get to see who shows up."

Rosters shuffled, and when the dust settled, Disguised, who defended its spot in the LCS by winning the promotion tournament in October 2025, lost four of its five rostered players. Disguised rebuilt its roster by signing Christian “KryRa” Rahaian, Ji-hoon “Callme” Oh, Sajed “sajed” Ziade, and Pedro Luis “Lyonz” Peralta.

The team was set to make its LCS debut Jan. 24, but the team was informed that Rahaian’s visa paperwork had not been processed.

This prompted the team to call on James “Kisno” Woo to step in as a temporary sub and play in his first LCS match.

“I’m glad I got the opportunity, even though it’s kind of unfortunate for KryRa,” Woo said.

‘It all happened fast’

Woo heard there was a chance that Disguised may need him for the LCS opener against Sentinels back in December.

Things went radio silent until a week before the season was set to begin. The team contacted him about traveling to Los Angeles to fill in for Rahaian, the Disguised’s primary jungler.

Information was passed; flights were booked, and Woo arrived two days before the season opener.

“It all happened fast,” Woo said.

When he entered the Disguised team house for the first time, the team was scrimmaging with Rahaian in the jungler role. It left Woo to wait until the team finished before a proper introduction was made.

“It felt really awkward coming into the room,” Woo said.

Disguised kept practicing with Rahaian, even with Woo in Los Angeles, as the team was aware that Rahaian’s visa paperwork could wrap up at any moment. Woo remained off to play games on his own to keep his game sharp.

Riot Games

James "KisNo" Woo smiles during LCS Media Day.

Woo, eventually, got “one or two” games with the team, allowing him to learn how the other four players played. He credits the team’s structure for making it easy for him to step in with little practice and contribute.

“KryRa and I are, like, ‘next up,’” Woo said. “We were similar in how we played a game. He might do a bit better, but coming in, it’s like nothing really changes for the team’s perspective. I just have to do my job properly.”

Woo didn’t feel out of place, however. Prior to joining Disguised, he worked with a North American Challengers League [NACL] team that played against other teams in the LCS. This experience gave him the confidence to step in and compete in his role.

He also played alongside Ziade on Milk Esports in late 2025.

“On the back end, I’m already getting adjusted because I'm scrimmaging against the LCS players,” Woo said. “It wasn't like that big of a jump [for me to be comfortable].”

All smiles

The moment Woo walked through the player tunnel and onto the stage, a smile was on his face.

He took in every moment as he stood with Disguised at Riot Game Studios. Meanwhile, the players around him stood stone-faced, locked in on the upcoming match.

“I was like, ‘You're too happy to be here. I need to stop smiling,’" Woo said.

Woo couldn’t help it, though. It’s just part of his demeanor to smile, even in the face of competition.

“I’ve always been the type to smile a lot, even if it would be a tough situation or a hard situation, I'm always the guy smiling when everyone's in full serious mode,” Woo said. “Even when I'm smiling and stuff, I'm still constantly thinking about the game.”

The match meant a little more than a Swiss Round 1 meeting against Sentinels.

For Disguised, they were facing former team members Issac “DARKWINGS” Chou, Jae-hyun “huhi” Choi, and Min-seong “Rahel” Cho. All left the team during the offseason. Disguised fought to remain in the LCS, while Sentinels absorbed the spot from the departure of 100 Thieves.

All this wasn’t lost on Woo. He knew the history between the two teams but also had some of his own. He played with Chou in 2025 when both were members of Tempest Gaming and Conviction.

“There was friendly banter before the match,” Woo said. “I really wanted to win against them.”

Sentinels took a 1-0 lead before Disguised rallied in the final two games to earn the 2-1 win.

“When we won, we were full of energy,” Woo said. “I was already smiling throughout the whole time. Just happy to be there, you know?”

Waiting for midnight

The clock on Woo’s time with Disguised and the LCS inches closer to ending.

Woo remains level-headed about the reality. He’s fully aware that Rahaian is the team’s jungler, and the time to return to his NACL team will come.

Woo’s status for Sunday is uncertain. Disguised general manager Chris Yong confirmed Thursday that there is a chance Rahaian’s visa paperwork will arrive before the team takes the stage. 

If Woo gets an opportunity to extend his Disguised stay, he said he is more comfortable playing against Flyquest, given that he’d play them in scrimmages in the preseason.

“I'm a lot more confident in playing against FlyQuest than I was with Sentinels,” Woo said. “With Sentinels, I was a little bit scared because I didn't know how good [Yoo-jin Ham] was and how good Rahel was even though I saw what his stage games looked like.”

Even if his run were to end with one LCS game, it’s just extra games for Woo.

Woo wasn’t expecting to play with a competitive team in the first two weeks of the new year and was preparing to work his way to a full-time spot with a team later in the year.

Regardless, it’s a small taste of what he hopes his future to be.

“I've always wanted to experience this at least once,” Woo said.