Wikipedia

Deft (gamer)

In this Korean name, the family name is Kim.

Kim Hyuk-kyu (Korean: 김혁규; RR: Gim Hyeok-gyu), better known as Deft (Korean: 데프트), is a South Korean professional League of Legends player for KT Rolster. He won the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational with Edward Gaming and the 2022 League of Legends World Championship with DRX.

Deft
Deft in 2022
Current team
TeamKT Rolster
RoleAD Carry
GameLeague of Legends
LeagueLCK
Personal information
Name김혁규
(Kim Hyuk-kyu)
Nickname(s)Unbreakable Heart, One Man Army, Alpaca
Born (1996-10-23) October 23, 1996 (age 28)
Seoul, South Korea
Team history
2013MVP Blue
2014Samsung Blue
2015–2016Edward Gaming
2017–2018KT Rolster
2019–2020DRX[a]
2021Hanwha Life Esports
2022DRX
2023Dplus KIA[b]
2024–presentKT Rolster
Career highlights and awards

Career

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MVP Blue / Samsung Blue (2013–2014)

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Deft began his League of Legends career signing with MVP Blue on February 19, 2013. He made his professional debut in the 2013 Champions Korea season on April 3, 2013.[1] The team failed to make it out of the group stage in either of the season's splits. Following, MVP Blue was acquired by Samsung Galaxy, becoming Samsung Blue.[2] Deft won his first domestic title in the 2014 Champions Spring Split, after Samsung defeated Najin Shield in the finals.[1] The team qualified for the 2014 League of Legends World Championship and reached the semifinals of the event before being knocked out by their sister team and eventual champions, Samsung White.[3]

Edward Gaming (2015–2016)

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Deft in the 2015 LPL Summer Split

In November 2014, Deft signed with Edward Gaming (EDG) of the Chinese League of Legends Pro League (LPL).[4] In his first split with the team, Deft reached the 2015 LPL Spring Split Finals, where Edward Gaming faced LGD Gaming. The series was tied 2–2 after four games, culminating in a decisive fifth game. At around 35 minutes into game five, LGD had control around the Baron and looked to secure the Nashor to overcome a major gold deficit. However, Deft secured a pentakill that led to a win for EDG, giving Deft his first LPL title. With the LPL title, Edward gaming qualified for the 2015 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).[5] Deft won his first international title at MSI, after Edward Gaming defeated SK Telecom T1 in the finals.[1]

In the 2016 LPL Summer Split, Deft had the second-highest KDA ratio among all AD Carries in the LPL at 6.3.[6]

Deft became the seventh player to reach 1,000 kills in the LPL on August 26, 2016.[7]

The team faced RNG in both finals, in which they lost Spring with 1–3 and won Summer with 3–0.

Deft and EDward Gaming qualified for 2016 World Championship, where they lost 1–3 in quarter-finals against ROX Tigers. Deft went back to Korea after the tournament.

KT Rolster (2017–2018)

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After spending two years in China, Deft signed with KT Rolster on December 1, 2016, returning to Korea to compete in the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK).[6]

The teams met in the LCK Spring Split Finals, where KT Rolster fell with 0–3,[8] and LCK Summer Split Semi-Finals, where KT Rolster failed to win again, this time 2–3.[9] The lost in Summer split pushed the team out of qualifying for the Season 7 World Championship with tournament points, in which KT Rolster had to win the Korea Regional Qualifier in order to make it. In Regional Finals, KT lost to eventual World Champions, Samsung Galaxy with a score of 0–3.

Deft and the rest of KT Rolster decided to remain in the team even after a disappointing season. The team placed 3rd in Spring Split Playoffs and 1st in Summer Split Playoffs, where they defeated the rookie sensation team, Griffin, with 3–2, making it Deft's second LCK title.[10] Deft received the most MVP games in the whole league, but did not win the Spring Split MVP award.

KT Rolster qualified for 2018 League of Legends World Championship, where they lost in an extremely close series to eventual World Champions, Invictus Gaming, with 2–3.[11]

DRX (2019–2020)

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On November 25, 2018, Deft joined Kingzone DragonX.[12] The team achieved 3rd place in the Spring Split Playoffs. He became the ninth player to reach 1,000 kills in the LCK. He achieved his 1,000 kills on March 21, 2019. His 1,000th kill was on kt Rolster Kingen's Aatrox with his Ezreal.[13] He is the first and only player to have reached 1,000 kills in two different regions. The team collapsed in Summer Split, resulting them to place at 7th in regular season. It was the first time in Deft's career where he missed playoffs. However, high placing in Spring Split allowed Kingzone DragonX to get a second chance at qualifying for World Championship, but the team ultimately fell in Regional Finals to DAMWON Gaming in a close, 2–3 effort.

On October 10, 2019, Kingzone DragonX rebranded as DragonX, and decided to rebuild the team around Deft. The team was completed with rookies such as Pyosik and Keria from DragonX academy, and the Griffin duo Doran and Chovy. DragonX placed 3rd and 2nd respectively in the LCK Spring and Summer Splits, which qualified them for Mid Season Cup 2020 and Season 10 World Championship. At Mid Season Cup, DRX placed tied for 2nd in the group with a 2–1 record, but lost both tie-breaker games. The team lost the LCK Summer Season Finals against Damwon Gaming with a match score of 0–3. At World Championship, DRX lost again in the quarter-finals to the eventual World Champions Damwon Gaming with a match score of 0–3.[14]

Hanwha Life Esports (2021)

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On November 23, 2020, Deft joined Hanwha Life Esports.[15] The team struggled for most of the Spring Split, but managed to get 3rd place in LCK Spring Split Playoffs. On February 4, 2021, Deft won his 300th game in the LCK.[16] His 300th win was against Afreeca Freecs. On March 14, 2021, Deft became the third player to have played 500 games in the LCK. He won his 500th game against Liiv SANDBOX.[17][18] In Summer, the struggles piled up even more and the team placed 8th in LCK Summer Split, the lowest place Deft achieved since 2013. However, a high standings placement in Spring Split let HLE get a second chance at qualifying for the 2021 World Championship, where the team went on a "miracle run" winning 2 series in a row from the lowest placement in the bracket in the Regional Finals. They first defeated Liiv SANDBOX with a set score of 3–1,[19] then swept Nongshim Redforce with a set score of 3–0, allowed them to grab the final seat for World Championship.[20] In the match against T1 to determine the 4th seed, they lost with a set score of 2–3, and was placed second in the Regional Finals.[21] Second place allowed Deft and his team to qualify for the World Championship, this time as the lowest LCK seed having to start the competition from The Play-In Tournament. HLE placed 2nd in Play-Ins and managed to make it to the quarter-finals, where they eventually met T1 again, in a losing effort 0–3.[22]

Return to DRX (2022)

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On December 4, 2021, DRX announced that Deft would be joining them for the upcoming season.[23] Deft and his team struggled with 3 consecutive losses at the beginning of the split. They gained their first win of the split in the match against Kwangdong Freecs.[24] In February 2022, Deft has reached 3,000 career kills milestone, he is the first and so far only player to reach that amount. Deft is the current all time-kills leader in League of Legends Esports, with Uzi and Faker behind him. He also played his career 1,000th game in the same month, and was the first player to achieve the milestone.[25] On February 24, 2022, Deft became the second player and the first AD Carry to reach 2,000 kills in the LCK.[26] He played his 600th LCK games on March 24, 2022.[27] His team was placed 4th in LCK Spring 2022, after losing to Kwangdong Freecs with a score of 2–3.[28] Deft and his team was placed 6th in LCK Summer 2022, after losing to Liiv Sandbox with a score of 1–3.[29] On September 4, 2022, Deft and his team successfully secured the last LCK spot to the World Championship after defeating Liiv Sandbox with a match score of 3–2.[30] After going undefeated in play-ins and finishing first in the group stage, DRX reverse swept Edward Gaming, becoming the second team ever to reverse sweep someone at Worlds.[31] Coincidentally, this occurred on his 26th birthday. This became Deft's second time in the semi-finals, with his previous time being 8 years ago during the Season 4 World Championship.

Faker and Deft met as T1 and DRX captains in the World Championship final in the U.S. on November 5, 2022. DRX won the Season 12 World Championship, winning against T1 3–2. Deft was the oldest professional player to win the League of Legends World Championship before Faker broke his record on November 19, 2023. "The important thing is an unbreakable heart," which was left in an interview with a media outlet by Deft, who defeated T1 at the time and lifted the trophy for the first time in his career, emerged as a buzzword, citing the Korean national soccer team that participated in the Qatar World Cup.[32]

Dplus Kia (2023)

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Deft at the 2023 World Championship Swiss stage

On November 24, 2022, Deft joined Damwon Kia. Damwon Kia, joined by Canna, Kellin and Deft, started LCK Season 13 consisting of TOP: Canna, JG: Canyon, MID: ShowMaker, AD: Deft, Sup: Kellin. Both Spring and Summer were in poor form, finishing fifth, but they were in good form in the League of Legends World Championship selection and participated in the League of Legends World Championship as the LCK's fourth seed. Ultimately they were defeated by KT Rolster in their last Swiss Stage match, preventing them to reach the quarterfinals in the Knockout Stage.

Return to KT Rolster (2024–present)

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Deft returned to KT Rolster in 2024, citing a desire to play with old DRX teammates BeryL and Pyosik. They were joined by veteran Bdd in the mid lane and rookie PerfecT in the top lane.

Seasons overview

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Team Year Domestic International
League Split Rift Rivals Mid-Season Invitational World Championship
Winter Spring Summer
MVP Blue 2013 Champions — 11th–12th 9th–12th — — Did not qualify
Samsung Blue 2014 Champions 5th–8th 1st 2nd 3rd–4th
Edward Gaming 2015 LPL — 1st 4th 1st 5th–8th
2016 LPL 2nd 1st Did not qualify 5th–8th
KT Rolster 2017 LCK 2nd 3rd 2nd Did not qualify
2018 LCK 3rd 1st 2nd 5th–8th
DRX 2019 LCK 3rd 7th 1st Did not qualify
2020 LCK 3rd 2nd — None held[c] 5th–8th
Hanwha Life Esports 2021 LCK 3rd 8th Did not qualify 5th–8th
DRX 2022 LCK 5th 6th 1st
Dplus KIA 2023 LCK 5th 5th 9th–11th
KT Rolster 2024 LCK 5th 5th Did not qualify

Awards and honors

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International
LCK
  • Two-time LCK champion – Spring 2014, Summer 2018
  • Three-time LCK Second All-Pro Team – Spring 2023
  • Three-time LCK Third All-Pro Team – Spring 2020, Summer 2020, Spring 2022
  • One-time Meme of the Year – 2022
LPL
  • Two-time LPL champion – Spring 2015, Summer 2016
  • One-time LPL MVP of the Year – 2016
  • One-time LPL AD Carry of the Year – 2016
KeSPA
Tencent
  • Four-time Demacia Cup champion – Spring 2015, Summer 2015, Grand Finals 2015, 2016

Personal life

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Deft was born on October 23, 1996.[34] He attended middle school at Sangam Middle School [ko].[35] He attended high school at Mapo High School [ko] and was a classmate of Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok (who he would face in the 2022 League of Legends World Championship final). Deft dropped out of high school, but later received a high school diploma after passing his high school graduation qualification examination.[36]

Prior to going professional in 2011, Deft played League of Legends on the North American server;[37] his favourite champion is Jinx.[38] He also used to play Sudden Attack. Deft is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur F.C. and Son Heung-min.[39]

In 2018, he was selected as one of the torch relay runners for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, alongside his fellow kt Rolster teammates.[40]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Shin, Yeonjae; Kwon, Daniel (November 10, 2022). "Completing 'The Exodia' - Insight into Deft's 3,505 day journey". InvenGlobal. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  2. ^ Palmer, Philip (November 7, 2022). "The League of Legends Worlds finals showed the heart and soul of esports". PC Gamer. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  3. ^ Kelly, Michael (October 28, 2022). "All of Deft's placements at Worlds throughout his pro League career". Dot Esports. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  4. ^ Shields, Duncan (November 10, 2014). "Deft joins EDG". GameSpot. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  5. ^ Geracie, Nick (April 26, 2019). "On this day in LoL Esports history: EDward Gaming prevails over LGD Gaming, wins LPL Spring [2015]". InvenGlobal. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Chouadria, Adel (December 1, 2016). "Deft joins KT Rolster". ESPN. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  7. ^ "LPL第一个1000击杀外援：EDG羊驼deft-王者荣耀-PVP-电竞虎". pvp.dianjinghu.com. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  8. ^ "SKT T1 Faker: "Will be preparing for MSI as much as we have done for the finals, hope for support"". InvenGlobal. April 22, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  9. ^ "Faker: "Trying to cut my arms off in 'Picks and Bans'? I've prepared a prosthetic arm just in case"". InvenGlobal. August 19, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "[2018 LCK Summer Finals] KT Lifts the LCK Summer Trophy. KT Defeats Griffin 3:2". InvenGlobal. September 8, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  11. ^ "IG TheShy: "I asked the team to give me a pick that I can win my lane for sure with, and that pick happened to be Fiora."". InvenGlobal. October 20, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  12. ^ 고, 용준. "[오피셜] 원딜 최대어 '데프트' 김혁규, 폰-투신과 함께 킹존서 대권 도전(종합)". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "League of Legends: Deft Reaches 1,000 Kills in the LCK - 9th Player to Reach the Milestone". www.invenglobal.com. March 21, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  14. ^ "[Worlds 2020] DAMWON Gaming sweeps DRX 3-0 in Worlds quarterfinals". InvenGlobal. October 15, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "[단독] '데프트' 김혁규, 한화생명 합류". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  16. ^ "'데프트' 김혁규, 2년 공백에도 LCK 통산 300승 달성". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  17. ^ "HLE Deft hits 500 LCK Games: "Unless I feel that I'm so bad that I can't play anymore, I won't give up."". InvenGlobal. March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  18. ^ "[LCK] '데프트' 김혁규의 역사 1500킬, 500전". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved March 17, 2021.
  19. ^ "[LCK Today] HLE shuts out LSB 3-1 to end their season; will face NS RedForce to determine final Worlds seeding". InvenGlobal. August 31, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "[LCK Today] Hanwha Life Esports locks in last LCK spot at the 2021 LoL World Championship". InvenGlobal. September 1, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  21. ^ "T1 beat HLE 3-2 to secure Worlds group stage seed, HLE to start in Play-ins". InvenGlobal. September 2, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  22. ^ "[롤드컵] 완벽했다, T1! 한화생명 상대 3:0 승리". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  23. ^ 윤, 민섭. "'데프트 리턴' DRX, 2022시즌 리빌딩 결과 공개". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  24. ^ 윤, 민섭. "DRX, 광동과 혈전 끝에 뒤늦은 시즌 첫승". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  25. ^ "[LCK 스프링] 5주 차에 세워진 기록들, 9주년부터 1000경기까지". 뉴스컬처(NEWSCULTURE) (in Korean). February 21, 2022. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
  26. ^ "[LCK 스프링] 쿼드라 킬로 2,000킬 찍은 '데프트'...DRX, 7승 고지". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  27. ^ "[LCK] DRX '데프트' 김혁규, LCK 통산 600전 달성". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  28. ^ "[LCK] 간절했던 광동, 정규 리그 패배 극복하고 승리 (종합)". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  29. ^ "[LCK PO] 51분의 혈전... 리브 샌드박스, 낭만 역전승으로 2R행". sports.news.naver.com (in Korean). Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "DRX Deft: "In our current state, we're not going to beat the top teams at Worlds. We won't make it past quarters."". InvenGlobal. September 3, 2022. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  31. ^ Garcia, Ethan (October 24, 2022). "Deft advances to first Worlds semifinals with DRX after reverse sweep". Dot Esports. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
  32. ^ Joohwan, Kim (January 10, 2023). "'중꺾마' 데프트 "한국서 열리는 롤드컵, 높은 자리까지 가겠다"" ['Junkopma' Deft "Rolled Cup to be held in Korea, going to the high seat."]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved March 27, 2023.
  33. ^ Rand, Emily (April 23, 2020). "Riot cancels Mid-Season Invitational, announces changes to worlds". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.
  34. ^ Kang, Jin-young (July 5, 2021). "김혁규". 한류타임스 (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  35. ^ Park, Soo-in (July 22, 2021). ""중학교 동창, 친한 사이" 양혜지-데프트, 열애설 불거진 이유 보니". 뉴스엔 (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  36. ^ Bae, Ki-hoon (November 10, 2022). "롤드컵 1등 2등을 동시에 배출한 마포고등학교 현수막에 걸린 내용(+사진)". 뉴스클립 (in Korean). Retrieved December 22, 2023.
  37. ^ "Nine years running without a break: What drives Deft still?". www.invenglobal.com. May 25, 2022. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  38. ^ "League of Legends: 1-Second Interview With KZ Deft: Deft's short advice(?) to amateurs who wanted to become pros!". www.invenglobal.com. April 4, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  39. ^ "League of Legends: KZ Deft: "I've been putting in my everything for the past 6-7 years… If I don't have anything to do the next day, wouldn't my life become so painful?"". www.invenglobal.com. May 23, 2019. Retrieved July 10, 2019.
  40. ^ "League of Legends: The Olympic Torch Relay with kt Rolster: "Good luck Pyeongchang!"". www.invenglobal.com. January 16, 2018. Retrieved July 10, 2019.

Notes

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  1. ^ Known as KING-ZONE DragonX in 2019.
  2. ^ Known as DWG KIA from January 2021 to January 2023.
  3. ^ Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[33]
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by League of Legends World Championship winner
2022
With: Kingen, Pyosik, Zeka, Deft, BeryL 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New championship
 Mid-Season Invitational winner
2015 		Succeeded by
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