Who would have ever expected that a Mid Lane Nautilus would win Worlds? Normal folk would never even dream of drafting a clunky abyssal creature in the Mage-infested Mid but don't tell that to FunPlus Phoenix' Mid. Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang has found success on the grandest stage of League of Legends with his unorthodox picks. It may not be entirely traditional but there's no arguing with how much Doinb has achieved.
Doinb doing things
Fans traditionally enjoy Mages and Assassins wrecking shop from the Mid Lane. It's just what's expected from the role and it's how the stars of the position have popularized the position. The game's most famous player Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok is well-known for his magic-dealing picks that apply pressure across the map. Doinb goes towards another direction with his initiate-and-defend mindset. Undoubtedly, dealing damage is important for a team but having an initiate-monster overseeing the entire fight from the Mid lane brings an extra layer of assurance for his teammates.
Success speaks for itself and Doinb has done quite well for himself. Collectively, Doinb has earned around $ 330,849.82 in prize earnings. It's a modest amount compared to the higher earnings on the LOL players list but there's one crucial factor at play. Doinb has earned close to half a million dollars across 6 tournaments. His earnings bump no doubt came from FunPlus Phoenix winning Worlds in 2019 but that's not all of his successes.
Doinb played for multiple teams in the Chinese region but only found modest winnings with his previous teams. He shines brightest playing for the black and red of FPX. The bulk of his earnings come from the 2019-2020 period. The Korean Mid master currently ranks 41st among all of the League players but he has a long career ahead of him. Imagine how much higher he'll be on the list once he hits his stride.
Rising like a Phoenix
Worlds winners are the absolute best League of Legends players in the world. They are often viewed as unshakeable pillars of confidence that have defeated the rest of the competition in order to claim the Summoner's Cup. Surprisingly, Doinb shared his initial doubts as a player prior to making the grand finals stage in 2019.
“It's about proving myself. I've never been to worlds before this, and I've always doubted if it was because I wasn't good enough. But this proves that I am actually good enough to make it here at worlds.”
Well there's no doubt that Doinb overcame that self-doubt as he led his dominant team to an impressive win. Doinb was a crucial part of the team's grand finals effort in a last push towards the crown against G2 Esports. He worked well with FPX Jungler Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang as they pulled off timely map rotations to catch G2 off-guard.
The entirety of Worlds 2019 was a spectacle from the wild groups stage to SKT's shocking defeat at the hands of G2 in the playoffs. It was capped off by the stellar performance from FPX that almost no one expected. FPX and Doinb wowed audiences with their amazing map plays and team synergy. Casters and analysts were singing Doinb's praises due to his impressive plays during the tournament.
A girl worth fighting for
It's become increasingly common for family members of esports professionals to support them in big tournaments. There's no better example than Doinb's wife who tirelessly supported him and FPX's conquest of Europe at Worlds 2019. Nothing says Support quite like flying halfway across the world just to support your husband. He was undoubtedly inspired by the thought of having his loving wife cheering him on live from the audience.
In a testament to his reverence for his wife, Doinb honored her in the best way possible for a League of Legends player. World champion skins have been granted to winning teams since the inception of the tournament and it was no different for FPX in 2019. When Doinb was asked which champion we would like an FPX skin for, he chose to forego many of his iconic tournament picks. Doinb remained true to himself when he once again picked an unorthodox choice.
The FPX Malphite skin is Doinb's tribute to his wife as it's the only champion she can play. Forget the roses and chocolates, this is how gamers show their undying love. Unlike the flowers that are bound to wither and die, FPX Malphite will remain in the game forever. Currently, Doinb is still rocking the competitive scene under FunPlus Phoenix. Hopefully, we'll get to see more of him and his team once they rebuild in time for the 2021 season.
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