The 2022 League of Legends World Championship, or Worlds, has finally crowned a [gasp] new champion. To say it was a momentous finish to a miracle run feels like an understatement for the new kings of LoL, South Korean team DRX.
Led by veteran AD carry player Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu and super rookie midlaner Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, the underdog DRX brought the series to a tense, thrilling and nail-biting final Game 5. They were up against none other than fellow South Korean squad and three-time Worlds champion T1. From play-ins as the fourth seed, to topping the group stage, and even besting EDG and Gen G in the quarters and semis, DRX defied all odds and won it all.
Many are calling it the best Worlds finals ever—after 12 seasons (or years) and countless heartbreaks, triumphs and emotional roller coasters. It just goes to show how beautiful esports, like sports, is when it comes to storylines of success and redemption. So without further ado, here are our five favorite moments from the recent Worlds finals.
#5 Trophy-winning dragon fight
After over 40 minutes of play, neither side has yet to establish a clear lead over the other—until this fight over the Elder Dragon. DRX jungler Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon secures the objective with the smite while T1’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok and Choi “Zeus” Woo-je go for a last-ditch effort to rush the Nexus while their enemies are busy with the dragon and the fight. But Hwang “Kingen” Seong-hoon and the rest were able to recall and defend, killing four T1 members in total. All that was left were finishing touches.
#4 Kingen on Aatrox as raid boss
Perhaps it was pride, or something else entirely, but T1 allowing Aatrox through the draft in Game 5 is possibly one of the factors that led to their demise. DRX toplaner Kingen shushed doubters and included himself in the best players discussion (369 who?) after back-to-back masterful showings on Aatrox. He was even recognized as the Worlds finals MVP. Aside from this solo kill on Zeus, there were moments in the match that you would notice T1 players avoiding him entirely. We don’t blame them.
#3 Gumayusi steals Baron
It’s something only junglers who have played against poke Varus know: the pain of getting the objective stolen from two screens away. T1 AD carry Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong stole the Baron with a fully charged Q with empowered W not once, but twice in the series. The meme below from Twitter expressed it best. Oh, and pardon the foul language in the video from one of the casters, Caedrel, who can’t help but be totally honest.
#2 Pyosik’s post-win tradition
At this point in the tournament, this has been established as a staple for post-interviews whenever DRX wins. This time, after a bit of egging on from his teammate, Pyosik indulges the interviewer Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere to do an impression of his champion from Game 5: Hecarim. And you know Deft is side-eyeing him after the several misses on smite earlier. SMH. Still, it’s fun to see players being themselves after a gruesome series.
#1 Former teammates hugging
This was so heartbreaking to see. Before the handshake, the camera focused on T1 support Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, who was shaking and bawling after their defeat. It was comforting to at least witness the hug between him and his former teammates, now on the other side of the rift, Deft and Pyosik. Colin Young-Wolff even captured a beautiful moment between the legendary midlaner Faker and his reliable yet unconsolable support.
As you dry your tears, here are a couple of honorable mentions from the best-to-date Worlds finals.
Oner so clean, so good
Across the best-of-five finals series, T1 jungler Mun “Oner” Hyeon-jun was nothing short of impeccable. Aside from Gumayusi, he also had some steals to his name, securing a bit of a breathing room for his team. In the clip above, he was able to establish a lead for Faker through a clean gank and the first blood in midlane in Game 5.
Opening ceremony
Kicking off with a spine-tingling, hair-raising song—The Call (feat. Edda Hayes) by 2WEI and Louis Leibfreid—the several thousands in Chase Center and millions worldwide across Twitch and YouTube were treated to a mini concert of sorts and a visual spectacle. Jackson Wang followed up Edda’s act with “Fire to the Fuse” before the ceremony capped off with the main star: Lil Nas X performing “Star Walkin’.”
It sucks to think that we have to wait another year for more of these. Please, Riot, give us more international tournaments!
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