DRX: The new LCK kings

With the Last Dance for DRX culminating in the team lifting the new Worlds’ trophy, after one of the most incredible Worlds runs to ever grace the stage, today we are looking at the significance of this win for the LCK, for DRX and for Deft who has now won his newest title.

DRX is a South Korean esports company known for their League of Legends team. Prior to 2020 the team was known as Kingzone DragonX, now known as DragonX, shortened to DRX. Some of their biggest success in recent years, prior to the 2022 season, was in 2020 when the team finished second in LCK summer and fifth at Worlds 2020.

Of the 2020 roster, only two of the core players remained by 2022—Two players of whom everyone is aware of: Pyosik and Deft. As two well known and highly successful players, the 2022 roster was built on enabling these two players to be as successful as possible.

The Worlds 2022 roster featured a former world champion in support BeryL, as well as a familiar face to the DRX roster of top laner Kingen. As well as mid laner Zeka who has been with DRX since 2021 after some time in the LPL on BLG. And of course, Pyosik as jungler (with sub jungler Juhan) and ADC Deft.

For DRX, this was a team who despite regional success, were going into Worlds 2022 the hard way. Their run for Worlds 2022 kicked off in play ins as the LCK’s fourth seed. Despite being the fourth seed and known for being strong competition, the main focus for many fans was not on DRX.

So, while fans supported them, there was limited hype around the team as they began facing off against the other teams of Group B. Some of these teams included the LPL’s RNG who won MSI 2022, the LEC’s fourth seed MAD Lions and the VCS’ Saigon Buffalo.

DRX completed a flawless run through play-ins, winning all of their matches before progressing to the group stage to join Group C. In group C, DRX finished in top spot with a score-line of 4-2, losing a match a piece to the LEC’s Rogue, and LPL’s TES. But won the tiebreaker vs. Rogue to claim the top spot.

Finally, DRX completed their run to finals to face off against T1 through the knockout stage. The LCK fourth seed 3-2 the previous Worlds 2021 winner, EDG to send the LPL team home. Continuing the LPL vs LCK regional competition that has come to be a centre piece of international tournaments.

Finally, the DRX roster sent fellow LCK team GEN.G team home to reach finals and fight for the new Worlds 2022 trophy up against the final LCK team of T1 (after DWG KIA were eliminated by GEN.G). The tight final, was a heart stopping one for all fans, but this was a win that was incredible for DRX and secured the world title for the LCK once more.

What made this run so incredible was how DRX started strong but very much an underdog, having to fight to even make it to the main stage of the tournament. And then to go as far as to claim the title. This was a run so incredible that will no doubt go down in Worlds history.

For the LCK, this is another World championship title to add to the ever growing list, and it is the most recent. The previous Worlds win prior to DRX, was from DWG KIA in 2020, which the team subsequently lost to LPL representatives RNG and EDG.

A win for the LCK here brings the heat of the challenge against the LPL to the main stage once more, and we can expect to see this carry over in the 2023 season as early as MSI 2023. Following any roster changes before then of course.

For the ADC Deft, this Worlds win comes with an additional moment of triumph. Having been to the same high school as Faker and worked his way through the ranks of LCK and LPL, having attended seven world tournaments. Deft claiming his own Worlds title is extra sweet, as he has now claimed all the titles possible in game.

For this roster, (or an iteration of this roster) we will see them return to the LCK for the 2023 season. The earliest we can expect to see them on the international stage would be MSI 2023. But for now, the LCK’s newest top team and kings of the region can take a moment to be proud of what they’ve achieved.

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