Deft overcoming injury and doubts to win the League of Legends World Championship
The average age of a professional League of Legends player is 21.2; it is lower for the most challenging spot on a team, the ADC role. The role requires a lot of precision to farm enough to win the game, so younger players typically dominate it. Before 2022, no ADC League of Legends World Champion was over 21. That changed when Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu and the DRX team won the 2022 World Championship. Deft was 26 and has played professionally since 2013, winning all significant championships except Worlds. His team was a considerable underdog against T1 and Faker, perhaps the best LOL player ever. As the captain of DRX, Deft helped his team win, making him the oldest LOL World Champion ever at 26 years old at the time.
Many people, including Deft himself, thought he might have to retire after he struggled with a back injury two years ago. He also had many doubters who didn't feel an older player could carry a team as well as younger players. Ultimately, Deft proved everyone wrong.
Quotes
The important thing is the unbreakable spirit
Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu
There was a point when I felt like the results I had made were always going down, not continuously going up,...In addition, I had a lot of mental difficulties when I got injured. I’m alright now, but I thought about retirement at that time.
Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu
Now that some time has passed, it hits me that none of this has been a dream. Every day, I was told I won’t win Worlds. That I am done, because of my injuries, or because I am too old,... And it took me 10 years to earn the right to look back at them, and say You are wrong. I hope me and my team’s victory can bring hope to people out there that are going through times more difficult than me, For in the end, the unbreakable spirit matters the most… I had so much fun this year,
Kim "Deft" Hyuk-kyu
References
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What is the Average Age of LoL Players
According to a survey conducted by ESPN in 2018, the average age of professional League of Legends eSports players is 21.2 years old.
The Global Gaming
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‘I was told I won’t win’: Deft recollects his hardships after winning Worlds 2022
Since Deft suffered a serious lower back injury two years ago, many believed this 26-year-old AD carry was done with his career.
Dotesports
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‘If people think that we are the underdog, we are fine’: Deft and DRX are comfortable being the Worlds 2022 Cinderella story
At one point, the constant failures and mental stress he had from a back injury he suffered earlier in his career made him think about hanging the keyboard and mouse up for good.
Dotesports
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Reddit
