Zeus (gamer)

1.1. Childhood and Interest in Esports

From a young age, Zeus and his family regularly watched esports matches, such as those for KartRider and League of Legends, broadcast on the prominent Korean esports channel OGN. This family ritual of watching professional games became a formative experience for him. He and his brother began playing League of Legends not initially out of personal enjoyment for the game itself, but rather driven by a desire to better understand the complex strategies and intricate plays unfolding in the professional matches they observed. As he matured, his interest in League of Legends esports deepened, culminating in him becoming a dedicated fan of the powerhouse team SK Telecom T1 in 2018. In the same year, demonstrating exceptional talent and dedication, he achieved the coveted number one rank on the Korean solo queue ladder, a significant milestone that foreshadowed his future professional career.

2.1. T1 Academy and LCK Debut (2019-2021)

Zeus officially began his professional journey in 2019 when he was signed to T1 Academy, the developmental squad of the renowned T1 organization. His time in the academy system honed his skills and prepared him for the competitive environment of the LCK. In 2020, he participated in several amateur tournaments, including the Logitech G Rookie Invitational 2020 and 2020 Roll The Next, where he finished as runner-up in both. He found success in the LCK Academy Series 2020 October Tournament, securing a championship title.

On November 26, 2020, T1 officially promoted Zeus to its main roster, taking the place of Kim "Roach" Kang-hee, who was subsequently moved to the academy team. Although he had been called up, Zeus initially faced an age restriction for competitive play in the LCK. After turning 17 on January 31, 2021, he made his anticipated LCK debut on February 3. This debut match was a victory against Nongshim RedForce during the 2021 LCK Spring Split regular season, where he stepped into the starting lineup in place of Kim "Canna" Chang-dong. Throughout the Spring Split, Zeus shared playing time with Canna, contending for the starting top laner position. He played a total of 19 games, achieving 12 wins and seven losses with an average KDA of 3.11. His final match in the Spring Split was in March against KT Rolster. However, as the season progressed, Zeus lost the starting position to Canna, and he did not play for the remainder of the year. During this period, T1 finished as runner-up in the 2021 LCK Summer Split.

2.2. Ascension to Prominence (2022)

The 2022 season marked Zeus's definitive ascension as a premier top laner. With Canna's transfer to Nongshim RedForce, Zeus was cemented as T1's starting top laner for the 2022 LCK Spring Split. Under his consistent performance, T1 achieved an unprecedented feat, concluding the regular season with a perfect 18-0 record, the first time in LCK history a team had gone undefeated. Zeus's individual statistics were remarkable, with 36 wins and only seven losses. He led all LCK top laners in kills and boasted the highest KDA average at 3.64, earning him a spot on the 2022 LCK Spring First All-Pro Team.

In the playoffs, T1 advanced to the 2022 LCK Spring Finals, where they faced Gen.G on April 2. Zeus showcased his prowess by consistently pressuring Choi "Doran" Hyun-jun in the laning phase. A pivotal moment occurred in game four when Zeus skillfully utilized his Flash and Lightning Rush abilities in conjunction with a gank from Oner, neutralizing Doran and seizing an early lead. This play significantly weakened Gen.G's early game composition, allowing T1 to secure the victory. With a commanding 3-1 final score, T1 won the championship, marking Zeus's first LCK title.

This Spring Split victory qualified T1 for the 2022 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), Zeus's first international appearance. He demonstrated his aggressive playstyle by securing the second-highest damage output among all top laners at the tournament. Despite their strong run, T1 ultimately finished in second place after losing to Royal Never Give Up in the finals. On June 14, T1 announced that Zeus had signed a one-year contract extension, solidifying his commitment to the team. In the 2022 LCK Summer Split regular season, Zeus once again earned a place on the LCK First All-Pro Team. However, T1 faced Gen.G in the finals again and were defeated, finishing the split as runner-up.

T1 entered the 2022 World Championship as the LCK's second seed. In the group stage, Zeus was named the MVP of the game when T1 defeated Edward Gaming on October 14, securing the top seed in their group and finishing with a 5-1 record to advance to the knockout quarterfinals. Zeus reached the World Championship finals for the first time in his career after T1 triumphed over JD Gaming in the semifinals. In a hard-fought series, T1 ultimately lost to DRX by a score of 2-3. At the 2022 LCK Awards ceremony, Zeus was recognized for his outstanding performance and named the LCK Top Laner of the Year. He was also inducted into the 2022 e-Sports Hall of Fame as both a "Stars" and "Heroes" recipient.

2.3. World Championship Victories (2023-2024)

The 2023 season began with T1 topping the 2023 LCK Spring Split regular season with an impressive 17-1 record. Zeus, along with the entire starting T1 roster, was named to the 2023 LCK Spring First All-Pro Team. Despite their dominant regular season, T1 reached the Spring Split playoff finals but again fell short against Gen.G, finishing in second place. This runner-up finish secured T1's qualification for the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational. At MSI, T1 advanced to the upper bracket finals but were defeated by JD Gaming, sending them to the lower bracket finals, where they lost to Bilibili Gaming by a score of 1-3.

In July 2023, during the 2023 LCK Summer Split, T1 faced a significant challenge when their star mid laner, Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok, was sidelined due to a wrist injury. During this period, the performance of Zeus and the entire team experienced a dip. Upon Faker's return, T1 rebounded, winning their final two matches and concluding the regular season in fifth place with a 9-9 record. On August 20, 2023, Zeus made his fifth appearance in an LCK final, but T1 again suffered a defeat against Gen.G.

T1 entered the 2023 World Championship as the LCK's second seed. Zeus reached his second consecutive appearance in the Worlds finals after T1 secured a decisive victory over JD Gaming in the semifinals. In the finals against Weibo Gaming, the first game was closely contested until the 18-minute mark, when Keria executed a critical "Hostile Takeover" play. This enabled Zeus and Faker to secure crucial kills, establishing a significant lead for T1 and ultimately winning the game. T1 carried this momentum, winning the following two games as well, resulting in a dominant 3-0 victory and securing Zeus his first World Championship title. For his exceptional performance throughout the finals, Zeus was also named the MVP.

On November 23, 2023, T1 announced that Zeus, along with Gumayusi and Keria, had re-signed with the team, ensuring the continuity of their championship-winning roster. At the 2023 LCK Awards ceremony, Zeus received his second consecutive LCK Top Laner of the Year award.

In the 2024 LCK Spring Split, Zeus earned a spot on the LCK All-Pro Second Team, and T1 finished as runner-up in the playoffs. T1 also placed third at the 2024 Mid-Season Invitational. Later in 2024, Zeus achieved another significant milestone by becoming the champion of the Esports World Cup. His remarkable year culminated in his second consecutive League of Legends World Championship title, which T1 secured on November 2, 2024. Following this historic achievement, he was once again named the LCK Top Laner of the Year for 2024, marking his third consecutive win of the award.

2.4. Transition to Hanwha Life Esports (2025-present)

On November 19, 2024, Zeus announced his departure from T1, concluding a highly successful tenure with the organization. The very next day, on November 20, 2024, he was officially unveiled as the newest member of Hanwha Life Esports. This move signifies a new chapter in his career, where he is expected to bring his championship experience and top-tier talent to Hanwha Life Esports as they prepare for the 2025 LCK season and beyond.