Levi retirement closes the chapter on a legendary LoL career

The career of one of Vietnam’s most impactful League of Legends players has come to an end, as Đỗ "Levi" Duy Khánh announces his retirement from competitive play. It’s impossible to talk about Pacific League history without mentioning Levi, whose leadership in GAM Esports will always be remembered.

Levi’s journey began back in 2013. "League of Legends came into my life at exactly the moment I was facing a difficult question: What do I want to do when I grow up? And League was the answer. My youth, my life, everything was tied to the game. I’m very grateful for it," Levi reflected. Levi’s in-game name was inspired by the character Levi from the Attack on Titan manga.

Levi initially started as a midlaner when he joined SkyRed, but later switched to the jungle. Known as one of the most mechanically skilled junglers in the league, he was regarded as one of the best in his position, even though his team finished 5th in the standings.

In 2016, Levi joined GIGABYTE Marines (now GAM Esports). The following year, the team dominated by winning the 2017 Mountain Dew Championship Series Spring and the GPL 2017 Spring without dropping a single match. After a brief stint with 100 Thieves, he played for JD Gaming from 2018 to 2019. Struggling to integrate with the Chinese team, he eventually returned to GAM Esports.

Since returning to GAM Esports, Levi has claimed 10 domestic titles. Although he never claimed an international trophy, Levi remains a legend in the Pacific region. "Not everyone is Levi" became a popular saying about him. Fans widely recognize him for his iconic Kha'Zix plays and his mastery of Lee Sin, Graves, Nocturne, Wukong, and Vi.

At the end of 2022, Vietnam’s Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Tourism honored him with the title of National Sports Master after he won a gold medal with the Vietnam National Team at the 31st SEA Games. In 2024, VIRESA (Vietnam Esports Federation) awarded him the title of National Esports Grandmaster. He concluded his career with five Worlds and four MSI appearances.

On his official YouTube channel, Levi bid farewell to competitive League of Legends. "Becoming a pro player requires many sacrifices," he said. In the video, the jungler also opened up about health issues that have affected him, though he emphasized, "I don't think those are the main reasons for my retirement."

This announcement came on Levi’s 28th birthday. "I’m not that old, but I’m also not very young anymore. I want to spend more time on myself, with my parents, and my family. I’ve started thinking about settling down, starting a family, and even having kids in the future. If I continue competing professionally, I don’t think I’d be able to do both," he explained.

After 12 years, Levi officially steps away from the competitive scene. He will always be remembered as one of the most impactful Vietnamese junglers in the world and a true leader.

In his retirement video, Levi also shared a glimpse of his future plans: he will become a full-time streamer and content creator. "I love streaming. Even while I was competing, I spent a lot of my free time streaming and interacting with everyone. I love making people laugh," he said. "I'll still play League of Legends and watch official matches." Levi streams on YouTube, so you can still follow him there.

Regarding his competitive future, Levi expressed interest in exploring new games and, perhaps, even participating in some tournaments, mentioning Teamfight Tactics specifically. "I’m closing a major chapter of my life, and a new door is opening. I hope that, in the future, I’ll be happier, smile more, and continue to be with you all. It’s time to say goodbye to the professional League of Legends Levi and welcome the beginning of the streamer," he said.

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