JD Gaming winning MSI 2023 is historic for so many reasons.
The organization earned its first-ever MSI title this year, adding a bigger trophy to its cabinet that’s already stacked with three LPL domestic titles. Led by head coach Yoon “Homme” Sung-young since 2020, they’ve been on an upward rise in the LPL and at international competitions.
After getting eliminated by T1 at last year’s Worlds 2022 semifinals and struggling with individual player motivations, JDG refreshed their roster for the 2023 season, replacing mid laner Zeng “Yagao” Qi with Zhuo “knight” Ding and Wang “Hope” Jie with star bot laner Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk.
Together with top laner Bai “369” Jia-Hao and Lou “Missing” Yun-Feng, they went on to win LPL Spring to represent their region as LPL’s first seed at MSI. This historic win is a testament to the roster’s newfound strength and Ruler as an individual, for he’s now won all of the biggest League of Legends esports titles.
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Ruler has done it all in the LCK, LPL, MSI, and Worlds
Ruler first made a name for himself with Samsung Galaxy in the LCK in 2016 with top laner Lee “CuVee” Seong-jin, jungler Kang “Ambition” Chan-yong, mid laner Lee “Crown” Min-ho, and support Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in.
Even though the team struggled in the playoffs, they survived the regional qualifiers to qualify for Worlds and went to the finals where they were defeated by SK Telecom T1 3-2.
Sticking with the same roster, they finished in third place in both LCK Spring and Summer 2017 the following year, and again qualified for Worlds through the regional qualifiers.
Overcoming Longzhu Gaming and Team WE in the playoffs, they once again found themselves on the same Worlds finals stage with rivals SKT. That year, however, they managed to crack the code and swept them 3-0 at the Beijing National Stadium to win their first-ever World championship.
Taken over by Gen.G, Ruler continued to compete in the LCK through varying rosters that never found the same success — until LCK Summer 2022 when he finally won his very first domestic title, five years after Worlds, sweeping the same rival organization, T1.
With top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon, jungler Han “Peanut” Wang-ho, mid laner Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, and support Son “Lehends” Si-woo, they went on represent the region at Worlds 2022 as LCK’s first seed to finish in 3rd-4th place
In 2023, Ruler decided to move to the LPL, which he told ONE Esports was not an easy move. Despite these challenges, in just one split, he and JD Gaming finished first in the regular season and playoffs, and maintained their dominance all throughout MSI, never dropping a single series in the upper bracket.
With the win, the veteran AD carry has now won all major League of Legends esports titles possible, in his own unique timeline: Worlds first, then LCK, LPL, and MSI.
| RULER’S ACHIEVEMENTS IN LOL ESPORTS | YEAR |
| Worlds | 2017 |
| LCK Summer | 2022 |
| LPL Spring | 2023 |
| MSI | 2023 |
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