The 27-year-old Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu made history in 2022 in League of Legends. As an underdog, he defeated his former schoolmate Faker and surprisingly became world champion with DRX. But now his career is temporarily over: The decisive game for the last spot at the LoL Worlds 2024 was lost. The South Korean military is calling.
Why was Deft the main character in LoL in 2022? Deft is a veteran of the South Korean LoL league LCK. Since 2013 he has played for numerous different teams in the bot lane, never staying at any one place for more than two years.
The unique story of Deft is that he was under the shadow of Faker as a student, who was in his year and at his school. For ten years, all eyes were on Faker as he rose to superstardom in LoL, while Deft was a good player but remained without great fame.
All that changed at the Worlds 2022: Deft and his team DRX started as underdogs at the Worlds, but then defeated all the favorites and upset Faker and T1 in the final, denying them their seemingly secure championship title.
He is the absolute superstar of LoL:
Deft loses the decisive duel for the LoL Worlds 2024 against Faker
What happened after 2022? Since 2022, Deft has switched teams twice, first joining Showmaker and DK Plus, and in 2024 he played for KT Rolster, who narrowly missed qualification for the LoL Worlds 2024 on Saturday, September 14. Thus, the season is over for Deft.
KT Rolster lost the decisive best-of-5 against Faker and T1 with a score of 2-3. Therefore, Faker will be heading to the Worlds in Europe again, while Deft’s career seems to be over.
Deft must go to the military
Why is Deft’s career now coming to an end? Deft is being drafted by the South Korean military. He faces 18 months of service. It is considered unlikely that he will continue his career afterward at nearly 30, even if he says the door is not closed for him yet.
He finds it very disappointing to end his career in LoL with a loss to T1 and Faker. Therefore, he hints at wanting to make a return.
But whether a return in 2026 is really realistic seems questionable.
What did his farewell look like? Deft said goodbye to his fans with a personal message. He writes:
I have learned, achieved, and won so much since then, but if I had to give it all up and go back, I would do it because you have given me so many happy and wonderful memories. For that, I thank you very much.
The fans are reacting emotionally to his departure (via reddit). He took farewell “in the best possible way,” says a post on reddit, which many agree with.
And it was a great last game against his great rival for the Worlds – that is also a consensus.
The story of Deft and Faker is like out of an anime
What is behind it: The story of Deft and Faker is for many a typical “anime” story. Two young men meet in school, compete against each other, and a rivalry develops. But one is much weaker than the other and remains in his shadow.
Then, in Act 2, the careers of both diverge widely, one becomes the superstar, the other the hard worker who has to fight for everything.
In the final, the clearly weaker one defeats “the favorite” ten years later and is the hero. That could be exactly the story of an anime.
The story of Deft and the Miracle Run of DRX at the LoL Worlds 2022 has touched many. Numerous current LoL players followed the careers of Deft and Faker over the last 10 years, and it has been an important part of their childhood or youth. The immense significance of Faker can be seen in German LoL players like NoWay4U or Tolkin, who get excited when they talk about Faker.
Actually, at 27, Faker should also be starting his military service soon, but the LoL star seems to have pulled some strings to escape this fate. Because in 2023, he snagged a victory as a substitute player that could free him from military service: LoL: Faker (27) wins game of world stars, likely avoids early career end – didn’t even have to play himself
