New King in the Jungle: Worlds Champion Pyosik set to join Team Liquid in LCS for 2023.
World Champion takes Flight
Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon, former jungler for DRX and Worlds 2022 Champion, is set to play for LCS team, Team Liquid for the 2023 upcoming season. This is according to a report from Alejandro Gomis of Blix.gg. According to Gomis, the jungler has reached a verbal agreement with Team Liquid and will be their starting jungler for the upcoming season.
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“Pyosik” was part of the legendary DRX core that made their miracle run at Worlds 2022. Having qualified as the fourth seed from the LCK, they bulldozed their way through Play Ins, Groups, and the Playoffs, taking down scalps like Edward Gaming, Gen.G and T1. According to reports as covered by Strafe Esports, all five DRX members entered unrestricted Free Agency following their Worlds victory.
“Pyosik’s” voyage towards NA marks another legendary Korean player and Worlds winner heading for the League of Legends ‘retirement home.’ The moniker is due to the number of players from the LCK, LPL and LEC specifically that have made the crossing, only for fans to see them fade into obscurity.
Whilst hopefully “Pyosik” does experience similar levels of success in North America, it is unlikely he will attain them there. For “Pyosik,” this marks the first change in his career, having begun his humble beginnings on DRX, and spending the last three years with them since 2019.
Dissolution of the Dream Team
While an unexpected move for a Worlds Champion, this could be seen as a resultant fallout of the dissolution of the DRX roster following Worlds. All five players entered unrestricted Free Agency 22nd of Nov. As reported earlier by Strafe Esports, Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo and Hwang “Kingen” Seong-hoon are set to join Hanwha Life and AD Carry Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu to do the same with DAMWON KIA.
As of now, support Cho “Beryl” Geon-Hee is potentially the only remaining roster member to remain with DRX, though he has entered Free Agency as well and is exploring his options.
Streamer to Winner
“Pyosik” had his humble beginnings as a streamer and OTP (one-trick-pony) Kindred. After being picked up by DragonX and graduating from their trainee program alongside fellow former trainee Ryu “Keria” Min-seok, he made his debut on the main roster in 2019. Fast forward three years of relative obscurity, he was part of the constructed DRX roster in 2022, playing alongside legendary figures such as “Beryl” and “Deft”.
Following their win, reports began streaming in that the DRX core had wanted to remain as five. However, it failed to work out and the roster split up to explore their options. “Pyosik” wanted to stay in DRX, even as an individual. Sadly, it did not work out with DRX. As a finalist, and due to the delayed decision to enter free agency, most of the LCK teams had already begun free agency and decided on rosters and budgets.
An interview with “Pyosik” revealed that it was incredibly difficult to find a team that had a spot for him, left with two. However, neither had him as their first choice. Finally, the offer from Team Liquid offered good work benefits and player environment. His decision to leave the LCK is one that filled him with great sadness (read more in this thread).
"Pyosik" will now enter a new Team Liquid, who is in the midst of creating a Korean-speaking roster, crafted around veteran support Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-in. Long-time LCS jungler Lucas "Santorin" Kilmer recently parted ways with the organization as well, potentially making way for the Worlds Champion.
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Image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games