Uzi - King without a Crown

Adam Čapek

Can you win without winning? Most people would say: No. You can't. But this guy is proof that it is possible. He has been a gamer since his childhood. His parents supported him in playing computer games which isn't common. He is known as the greatest Chinese player of League of Legends.

His story begins in 2013. There is a new Chinese league Tencent LoL Pro League 2013 Spring Season. He saw an opportunity to win the World Championship and make his dream come true. He was part of the team Royal Club. They placed fifth which is not a really good place but there was still a chance. At those times the game was still pretty unexplored. Every region played totally different strategies. In the Royal Club, they were playing a strategy that had to give most resources, protection and kill pressure to one player. In this case to Uzi. In the summer season they placed second. That was an insane improvement. They qualified for the World Championship. In the finals Royal Club faced a new Korean team called SK Telecom T1. These finals were known as Uzi versus Faker, the two most talented players in the world. But unfortunately for Uzi, T1 won with 3 victories to 0 victories from the side of Royal Club.

In 2014 two of his teammates announced that they are leaving the pro gaming scene. Uzi thought that after failure at the World Championship it is a good idea to switch roles in the game. He went from the bottom side of the map to the middle lane. It was a bad idea. The 2014 World Championship was started by Imagine Dragons singing a song made for this moment - the song Warriors. In the finals, they played against Korean team Samsung Galaxy. It was an intense fight but Uzi started to lose hope as they were losing 0:2. But then something happened. There was a fight and Uzi demonstrated his skills and won the game for his team. But they were still losing. Unfortunately, they lost. He was second again.

He couldn't handle the frustration from not winning so he thought about retiring. He wanted a change. He left the Royal Club and joined Qiao Gu Reapers. They placed first in the playoffs. After four years, the title of world champion was within reach. But then in qualification, his teammate said he will not play. A substitute player who could represent him had a hand injury and the last player who could play instead of him has not been granted a visa. Four hours before the start of the match they were disqualified. It was some sort of misfortune.

After two years of finding a new team that will not fall apart, he decided it's time to go back home. In 2016 he was back in the team he started. They changed their name to Royal Never Give Up. I think it was renamed in his honor. Again, they qualified for the World Championship. It looked like it would be an easy victory. But Uzi had bad luck to one player. Whenever it looked like he had a high chance to win, there was Faker to cross his roads.

It looks like an infinite loop. The next two years were actually pretty similar. He wins the playoffs but in the finals, he loses. Four years in a row. I have no idea how frustrating it must have been. In the World Championship 2017, the team performed incredibly well in their group and went 5-1. They only dropped one game to European G2 Esports. They ended in the semifinals to SK Telecom T1 after a 2:3 loss in a very close match. He retired in 2019 due to health problems - backache and wrist pain.

Even though he didn't win the Summoner's Cup he is the king. A King without a Crown. He is and always will be the icon of League of Legends pro gaming. And also the icon of "never give up" strategy.

edited by: Adéla Jarolímková