NaJin Black Sword

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Following the launch of South Korea's League of Legends server in December 2011, cable broadcaster OnGameNet launched the country's first major tournament in March 2012. The sibling system, which allowed organizations to own multiple teams, was abolished in late 2014, but NaJin Black Sword had already merged with NaJin White Shield in early 2014 to form NaJin e-mFire, well before the sibling system was abolished and before the new 10-team LCK format was established in late 2014.

In Their Own Story

The history of this specific roster is defined by the structural shifts in Korean esports rather than a singular championship run. In early 2013, the NaJin Sword squad clashed with Azubu Frost in the finals of Champions Winter 2012–13, emerging victorious. They continued to compete through Champions Spring 2013 and Champions Summer 2013, a period where MVP Ozone and SK Telecom T1 K also secured titles. The landscape changed drastically in October 2014 when plans were announced for a league overhaul. This restructuring abolished the winter season and prohibited sibling teams, directly impacting KeSPA-affiliated organizations like NaJin that operated two squads. Consequently, the era of NaJin Black Sword as a distinct competitor under that banner concluded as the league moved to a single-team-per-organization model.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracing the lineage of Korean teams, understanding NaJin Black Sword requires looking at the pre-LCK restructuring rules. Their competitive window was marked by the OGN Champions format, which utilized a 16-team tournament with group stages leading to knockouts. Unlike the modern LCK's round-robin format introduced in late 2014, their matches were part of seasonal tournaments like Champions Winter, Spring, and Summer. The team's legacy is tied to the broader NaJin organization's role in sending representatives to the first World Championship appearance for South Korea in October 2012.

Did You Know?

• NaJin Sword qualified for the League of Legends World Championship in October 2012 as South Korea's sole representative; NaJin White Shield did not attend.
• In Champions Winter 2012–13, NaJin Sword emerged victorious after clashing with Azubu Frost in the finals.
• The sibling team system was abolished in late 2014 to prevent organizations from owning more than one squad, but NaJin Black Sword had already merged with NaJin White Shield earlier that year.
• NaJin Black Sword competed during the 16-team OGN Champions format and had already merged into NaJin e-mFire before the transition to the 10-team LCK round-robin structure in late 2014/2015.