Two years ago, a League of Legends team was created in South Korea amidst the turbulence of the off season. As numerous professionals departed the country to play for foreign teams around the world, sister teams were abolished, the circuit system was to be replaced with a league format, the formation of this team was largely overlooked. The players on it were castaways from KeSPA teams that consolidated their remaining talent into five-man rosters, and a top laner so awful nobody else looked at him.

So began the story of ROX Tigers, one of League of Legends’ greatest and unique teams, and after two years of financial struggles, heartbreaking losses, a shining moment of victory, and a hollow denial of the rumors surrounding its disbandment, it comes to an end.

When it started as Huya Tigers, no one anticipated what heights this squad would reach. Eyes were on Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, wondering if he could reclaim his throne after his greatest rivals had left the region, or the ever hyped Najin e-mFire lineup that was 2015’s biggest disappointment, but not the Tigers. That changed when, after renaming to GE Tigers, the squad took the scene by storm and finished the League Champions Korea’s first regular season in first place with a dominant 12-2 match record. However, the team of Song “Smeb” Kyung-ho, Lee “Hojin” Ho-jin, Lee “Kuro” Seo-haeng, Kim “Pray” Jong-in, and Kang “Gorilla” Beom-hyeon could not translate that into an era decorated with international or local titles. Embarrassing losses at IEM Katowice and the LCK spring final foreshadowed the shortcomings of the organization.

(Image courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr)

That summer, the organization changed its name to KOO Tigers in reflection of a short-lived sponsorship by KOOtv. The squad suffered its worst regular season performance ever: fourth place with an 11-7 match record in the expanded ten-team league. It missed its only LCK final appearance as well after KT Rolster bested it in the semifinal match. Due to SK Telecom T1’s victory in the final, KOO was sent to the world championship as Korea’s second seed off circuit points. There, it avenged its summer season with a second place finish that included a victory over KT in the quarterfinals, but another sound defeat at the hands of SK Telecom.

What is remarkable about that particular worlds run is the fact it was accomplished with no resources. The team lacked the luxurious infrastructures of other Korean teams, like numerous coaching staff, an adequate gaming house, and money. The team only had its five players, coach Jeong “NoFe” No-chul and an apartment with no air conditioning as its practice quarters.

The team underwent its final name change in the 2015 offseason. After appearing in the KeSPA cup under “Tigers,” it rebranded as ROX Tigers. The word ROX was chosen by the players to reflect the strength of their friendship. Another change also took place: Hojin retired, and Han “Peanut” Wang-ho replaced him. This change of junglers transformed the identity of the Tigers by empowering its early game through virtue of Peanut’s mechanically impressive aggression. Next year in spring, the Tigers once again slaughtered the competition in the regular season, boasting an impressive 16-2 match record.

(Image Courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr)

With SK Telecom struggling to acclimate with new players, it seemed as if the Tigers finally had their chance to wrest victory from their old enemy, but it once again fell in the final and missed out on attending the Mid Seasonal Invitational. Unlike the previous year, however, it did not falter in summer and secured its third first place finish with a 15-3 match record. 

The world waited for SK Telecom to rise once again, but KT Rolster narrowly defeated Faker and company in the semifinal with a reverse sweep that harkened back to the 2013 summer final. With ROX Tigers’ oldest foe removed, winning its first title was a matter of now or never. It could not fall back on the excuse of “it was SK Telecom.” In a historic final, the ROX Tigers edged the victory over KT Rolster with Smeb carrying the squad on his back in the final game. As the nexus exploded, so too did the players. Over a year of hard work went into that victory, and after having failed all other attempts, finally securing the championship and being able to hold the trophy was pure catharsis.

(Stream Snapshot)

ROX Tigers turned its attention to the world championship as the favorites to win, yet once again, SK Telecom denied them, but unlike all previous encounters, it was an intense, close match that went to all five games. A few summoner spells, ultimates, and failed cc chains were all that separated the Tigers from the chance to finally defeat SK Telecom. Alas, that defining matchup will always loom over the legacy of the Tigers.

During the tournament, ESPN published a report that the team would disband after the world championship. The organization spoke out against it, claiming it was based on speculation. Those actions were likely taken as the organization was trying to secure new investors to ensure its continuation while hiding the fact that its players were considering departing to play for other teams. Such an act is disingenuous, as it is trying to market itself by offering the services of its players in order to secure investments with the hope that it can then hold onto said players after gaining the investments. If such investments came in and then the players left, no doubt that investors would have been chagrined by the organization effectively selling a false product. If the organization cannot continue to exist after the players' departure, then it is failing anyway, and that is probable given its inability to secure a title sponsor despite having such a successful roster. Investors have more than enough reason to be hesitant to invest into such an org besides a third-party report on the matter. What matters is the well-being of the players, and if they feel like they are not being compensated as well as they should be, it is their right to accept new opportunities to secure their financial future.

The ROX Tigers final romp was the 2016 KeSPA cup, where it took first, beating SK Telecom in the best of three semifinal along the way. It's an appropriate punctuation to the one-sided rivalry with SK Telecom: when nothing was on the line, ROX could win, but under the pressure of a best of 5 playoff match, it could not surpass SKT’s mettle.

(Image Courtesy of LoL Esports Flickr)

The ROX Tigers members will likely scatter. Perhaps some will find a team in Korea. Perhaps some will go abroad and accept lucrative contracts as a reward for the past two years of hard work, something deserved for what has surely been a financially strenuous time. Perhaps one or two retire. We’ll find out eventually.

In this moment, we can take the time to appreciate all that the ROX Tigers represent. A band of castaways that waded through oceans of defeat and heartbreak. A group of loud, chatty friends who graced fans with charming skits, an array of stylish uniforms, and tweets showcasing adorable pets. A team that, in the most competitive region in the world, managed to accomplish things that other teams with more money and facilities could not match after its players were rejected by them. Innovators that pioneered metas, invented a playstyle, the Juggermaw, that turned the identity of a champion on its head, and adapted to a single roster change better than arguably anyone else. The springboard which Smeb, the loser who trained until he became the best, launched a second phase of his career from as back-to-back regular season MVP in 2016. The stage which Pray returned from retirement to perform as an old dog with several new, impressive tricks. The squad that allowed Gorilla to demonstrate his skills as one of the best supports of all time. The team unfortunate enough to exist in the age of Faker’s reign, yet played a part in raising his legacy to the heights deserving of the greatest of all time. The miraculous result of the changes and departures in 2014 many rightfully thought no good could come from. The roster will fondly be remembered for its charm, and bittersweetly reminiscenced for choking in the big moment. Six players that shattered all expectations. A collection of a single gold medal and three silvers.

We bid you farewell, ROX Tigers.

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