Kiin is a highly experienced professional in the competitive history of League of Legends, but unfortunately he is often overlooked as he rarely qualifies for international tournaments.
Ever since joining Gen.G, he has finally been able to showcase his true capabilities at MSI 2024. However, I firmly believe that he has been the best for several years now.
Throughout his extensive time with Afreeca Freecs (now Kwangdong Freecs), Kiin encountered virtually every possible experience.
Despite facing nearly ten years of competition and being surrounded by a team of top players, Kiin is now receiving the recognition he deserves in the spotlight.
After years of dedication and perseverance, he has finally achieved success. Curious about his journey to the top, I approached him to hear his thoughts and insights.
Kiin: The Missing Piece for Gen.G
Despite being a part of Gen.G, Kiin often feels overlooked as people tend to pay more attention to others within the team.
Chovy and Canyon are widely recognized as top players not only in their respective roles, but also among the greatest of all time. Peyz, a rising star, continues to improve and impress. Lehends, on the other hand, is known for his unconventional playstyle, fearlessly picking off-meta support champions like Singed, while also excelling at more traditional support picks.
And what exactly is Kiin?
Is he known as a carry player? He has excelled on champions such as Akali, Jayce, Quinn, and others who are designed to carry the game on their shoulders.
Is Kiin’s role on Gen.G that of a weakside player? Additionally, he has proven his versatility by successfully adapting to the lane swap meta and excelling on safe top lane picks.
He adapts to what his team requires of him. In previous teams, his role was to carry the team and he had to shoulder everything. If he perished, the match would be lost. However, with Gen.G, the dynamic has shifted.
Kiin on Afreeca Freecs at Worlds 2018
“During my time with Kwangdong Freecs, my death often resulted in the team’s loss due to the high chances of losing. As a result, I tended to play more cautiously. However, since joining a new team, I have the freedom to die without jeopardizing our chances of winning. This allows me to apply more pressure and take calculated risks whenever possible,”he elaborated.
The statement “when I can”at the end holds more significance than one would imagine, and it plays a crucial role in his strength.
Players such as Ale, Bin, and Morgan, who are also skilled 1v1 top laners, possess a dominating and aggressive playstyle that can easily dominate solo queue.
In professional play, things do not operate in the same manner. Each team may not have the resources to consistently focus on the top lane, nor may they have the ability to support a top lane carry. Understanding how to neutralize a lane holds as much importance as winning it, especially in a meta where lane swaps are common.
“When asked about his strategy for choosing niche counters, Kiin explained that it ultimately comes down to the team composition. Those particular champions can be more challenging to fit into the overall composition.”
Indeed, it is accurate to say that you can witness his methodical approach to drafting. K’Sante is currently one of the most dominating champions in professional play, yet Kiin has managed to devise a strategy to counter him effectively.
Initially, we will examine two situations in which he countered K’Sante and his response to them:
Top draft is Game 1 against TES at MSI 2024, bottom draft is Game 3 against BLG
During the Vayne game against Top Esports, Kiin recognized the importance of neutralizing and outscaling 369 in order to effectively break through the enemy frontline and prevent them from blocking Chovy’s poking attacks. Additionally, the enemy team’s lack of range meant that they would have to engage in close combat, giving Kiin and his team an advantage.
During the Poppy game against BLG, he made a crucial decision to prioritize counter-engage in order to secure victory. Without it, their chances would have been slim against a dive-heavy team with minimal crowd control beyond Nautilus. His presence was essential in protecting the backline and preventing them from being completely overwhelmed.
Despite encountering both scenarios, he was able to identify a suitable counter matchup for K’Sante that also aligned with his team’s composition. Kiin’s focus extends beyond securing a favorable matchup as he consistently considers the overall strategy.
No other top laner is doing this, and it is mostly because of Kiin’s unchanging trust in his own abilities.
Kiin has the brawn to match his brains
Despite only recently winning his first domestic title in the LCK and having only participated in three major international events throughout his career (including MSI 2024), Kiin has still accumulated numerous accolades.
Some of his notable accomplishments include multiple pro placements, reaching 1000 all-time kills domestically as the second top laner, and being named the MVP of the Spring 2024 Finals for his exceptional performance against T1.
Kiin is now liberated from the constraints he faced on previous teams, where he was expected to be the main carry. This has allowed him to fully focus on creating opportunities for his team. The sheer magnitude of Kiin’s capabilities is truly intimidating, as seen in his performance in the LCK.
GENG WON’T GO DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT! #MSI2024 pic.twitter.com/zq5POHNfZV
— LCK (@LCK) May 11, 2024
When he acquires K’Sante, he becomes unbeatable. When he is unable to acquire him, he still knows how to effectively counter him.
Being able to maintain complete control over LoL pro play’s most notable champion is a tremendous advantage for Gen.G. Additionally, Kiin’s release from carry responsibilities has allowed him to shine even more brilliantly than before.
“Last year, I was a member of KT Rolster and came very close to winning the LCK. Unfortunately, I fell short and it left me feeling unsure of myself. I began to doubt if I would ever have another opportunity. However, I am incredibly grateful and relieved to have finally achieved victory and won the LCK title this year. It was an unforgettable experience.”
After 7 years since his professional play debut, he finally achieved his goal.
Despite his previous struggles in the LCK, UmTi’s journey in the LCS mirrored a similar storyline as he finally achieved a domestic title. His success, along with other players like him, serves as a reminder of the importance of never giving up.
Despite being at 10th place in the LCK, Kiin never doubted himself, not even once.
His unwavering confidence has been a driving force, motivating him to constantly push himself and reach his current accomplishments.
“When asked about his past career, he confidently stated, ‘I have always been very confident in myself and have never doubted my performance.’ He also expressed his lack of concern about this tournament.”
“I do not feel any pressure, as I have confidence in my teammates. I believe in their talents and abilities, and I am determined to work together with them to achieve our goals.”
Despite this, when questioned about his chances of winning Worlds this year, Kiin displayed a more modest attitude.
“(laughs) I never would have thought it would take me this long to win LCK. And even if I were to win Worlds, luck would definitely play a big role, so I can’t say for sure.”
Despite any uncertainty, I am confident that Kiin will show up on game day. He may sacrifice resources for his carries, but he remains just as crucial to Gen.G’s major wins this year as players like Chovy and Canyon.
After years of dominating the top lane, Kiin remains the best top laner in the world. He has dedicated countless hours and persevered through challenges in the LCK, consistently outshining his competitors. This determination is finally paying off this year, and there is no doubt that Kiin is the one who will leave a mark in history as he paves the first Golden Road.
The year 2024 is when Kiin will make history.
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