Yagao retires from competitive League of Legends

In a heartfelt announcement, Qi "Yagao" Zeng, one of the most celebrated mid laners in LPL history, has announced he is stepping away from professional League of Legends. Known for his exceptional consistency, intelligent playmaking, and key role in guiding JD Gaming to several LPL Championships and deep Worlds runs, Yagao's career has left an indelible mark on the competitive scene.

After over seven years of competing at the highest level, the mid laner's announcement on Chinese website Weibo marks the end of an era for LPL fans and a moment of reflection on a legacy built through sheer dedication. Now, Yagao looks ahead towards a future away from competitive gaming instead.

"I've been offline for quite a while, so I just want to come up and announce that I no longer have any plans to compete professionally. I hope everyone can understand my decision.

And no, I won't be a streamer or anything like that. I want to live a normal life."

In an incredibly successful career, Yagao has faced many of the game's greats, including Faker himself. (Credit: Chris Betancourt/Riot Games)

Yagao - The JDG Messiah

Though Yagao begun his esports journey in LDL, China's tier-2 league, he made his jump over to the LPL when he joined JD Gaming for the 2018 season. Though this was only the organization's second year in the LPL, the inclusion of Yagao marked the beginning of an incredible journey that would elevate JDG from harmless newcomers to the fearsome, world caliber team we know today.

JDG and Yagao's first LPL title would come with their victory over Top Esports in the Grand Final of the LPL 2020 Spring Playoffs. Taking the win in 3-2 fashion, JDG's triumph over TES would be as historic as it was dramatic, for it also gave birth to one of the most intense rivalries League of Legends would ever see, Yagao vs knight.

The JDG-Yagao partnership earned them both world recognition in League of Legends. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

After six years leading the JDG offense, and a short stint with Bilibili Gaming (BLG) after swapping teams with none other than knight, Yagao has grown to be one of the most successful, and loved, players in the LPL.

Saying goodbye

A x2 LPL Champion, x3 LPL Finalist (courtesy of knight), LPL Finals MVP, MSI Finalist and x2 Worlds Semifinalist, Yagao has always left it all on the rift. Now, the time has come for the legendary mid laner to take a step back and enjoy some of the many other pleasures life has to offer, this time away from the spotlight.

"We sincerely thank Yagao for his dedication and contributions to JDG Esports Club and extend our gratitude to all the fans for their unwavering support. We wish Yagao all the best in his future endeavors and look forward to seeing him shine again on the battlefield." -JD Gaming

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Image source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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