Zeus

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Zeus's journey began in 2019 with T1 Academy, rising from a developmental prospect to the main roster after turning 17 on January 31, 2021. His debut came on February 3 against Nongshim RedForce, where he split time with Kim "Canna" Chang-dong, recording a 12–7 record over 19 games before ceding the starting spot for the rest of the year. The turning point arrived in 2022 when Canna left; Zeus took the throne as the primary top laner and guided T1 to an unprecedented 18–0 regular season run. In the playoffs, he neutralized Choi "Doran" Hyun-jun in Game 4 of the Spring Finals using Flash and Lightning Rush to secure a 3–1 victory over Gen.G. This dominance earned him his first LCK championship and a spot on the 2022 Spring First All-Pro Team.

In Their Own Story

In November 2022, Zeus reached his first World Championship finals but fell short against DRX in a 2–3 series. Undeterred, he returned to lead T1 through a challenging 2023 Summer Split where mid laner Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok was sidelined by a wrist injury, causing the team to finish fifth in the regular season. However, upon Faker's return, they rallied to reach the finals again before falling to Gen.G. At the 2023 World Championship, Zeus reached his second consecutive final against Weibo Gaming. In Game 1, Keria executed a "Hostile Takeover" play at the 18-minute mark, allowing Zeus and Faker to secure kills that established a massive lead. T1 swept the series 3–0, giving Zeus his first World Championship title and earning him the Finals MVP award. On November 23, 2023, he re-signed with T1, only to part ways on November 19, 2024, joining Hanwha Life Esports the following day.

Reader's Guide

Zeus's individual excellence is marked by consistent recognition from the LCK community. He secured his first Top Laner of the Year award at the 2022 LCK Awards ceremony and repeated the feat in 2023, earning three consecutive designations through 2024. His statistical dominance was evident early; during the 2022 Spring Split, he posted a 3.64 KDA average and recorded the most kills among all top laners. He earned First All-Pro Team honors in Spring 2022, Summer 2022, and Spring 2023, with additional designations as Second Team in Spring 2024 and Third Team in Summer 2023. Internationally, he represented South Korea at the 2022 Asian Games, defeating Saudi Arabia, China, and Chinese Taipei to win gold, which granted him an exemption from mandatory military service.

Did You Know?

• Zeus did not start playing League of Legends because he enjoyed the game, but to understand professional matches after watching them with his family.
• In his youth, Zeus reached number one rank on the Korean solo queue ladder in 2018 before turning pro.
• During the 2022 Spring Split playoffs, Zeus used Flash and Lightning Rush abilities specifically to counter a gank against Doran in Game 4 of the finals.
• Zeus received an exemption from mandatory military service after winning the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games.
• T1's 18–0 record in the 2022 LCK Spring Split was the first time in LCK history that a team went undefeated.