DAMWON dominates KeSPA Cup 2020 with new top laner Khan

The defending world champions from DAMWON delivered an exceptional performance at KeSPA Cup 2020, capturing the trophy without dropping a single match throughout the entire competition.

Building upon their momentum from the 2020 World Championship victory, DAMWON claimed another significant title just before the 2021 competitive season commenced. This achievement marked their third consecutive tournament victory, now featuring recently acquired top lane specialist Kim “Khan” Dong-ha. Their championship run culminated in a decisive 3-0 sweep against emerging LCK contenders NS RedForce, providing a spectacular conclusion to their 2020 campaign.

[2020 KeSPA Cup FINALS Champion]

담원게이밍이 퍼펙트 스코어로 우승을 차지하며 또 하나의 업적을 달성하였습니다!

이번 대회 함께 응원해주신 모든 분들께 진심으로 감사의 말씀 드리며, 올해에도 많은 관심과 사랑 부탁드립니다. 감사합니다.#DWG #DWGWIN #KeSPACup pic.twitter.com/BeHDEuIBba

— DWG_Official (@DamwonGaming) January 2, 2021

DAMWON initiated their campaign by completely controlling Group A, maintaining an undefeated record against Liiv SANDBOX, DRX, Afreeca Freecs, and NS RedForce. Their dominant group stage performance clearly signaled their championship intentions and competitive readiness.

The semifinal confrontation pitted DAMWON against Hanwha Life Esports, featuring star players Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon and Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu attempting to halt the reigning champions’ advance. Despite Hanwha Life’s efforts, overcoming DAMWON proved nearly impossible as they fell 3-1. Although DAMWON advanced, Hanwha Life distinguished themselves as the sole team to claim a game victory against the world champions during the tournament.

Spectators anticipated an intensely competitive best-of-five championship series, but DAMWON efficiently concluded the tournament in three straight games. NS RedForce never established themselves as a genuine threat during the finals, enabling DAMWON to complete their 2020 season with impressive style. This victory solidified DAMWON’s remarkable 61-9 competitive record since the previous summer, establishing momentum they aim to maintain throughout 2021.

While NS RedForce didn’t secure their inaugural championship trophy, they demonstrated potential as a dark horse contender within the LCK ecosystem.

The integration of Khan into DAMWON’s starting lineup maintained the squad’s exceptional coordination and strategic synergy. Defeating DAMWON during the upcoming 2021 LCK Spring Split presents significant challenges, though competitive dynamics may shift once newly configured T1 and Gen.G rosters enter competitive play.

DAMWON returns to competitive action on Summoner’s Rift when the 2021 LCK season commences later in January.

Who is Khan?

Khan represents one of South Korea’s most experienced top lane competitors at 25 years old. His professional journey commenced with Prime Optimus in 2013, subsequently progressing through multiple premier esports organizations globally. His career breakthrough occurred during his tenure with Longzhu Gaming in 2017, where he secured victory in the 2017 LCK Summer Split finals against legendary opponents SKT. Following this achievement, Khan collected three additional LCK championship trophies, with two secured while competing under the SKT organization. Despite his impressive domestic championship achievements, international tournament success has remained elusive throughout his career.

What happened to FPX Khan?

Following a challenging 2020 competitive season, Khan and FunPlus Phoenix mutually agreed to separate. Khan competed for FPX across two complete LPL splits, achieving third and eighth place finishes respectively. Assuming Khan’s former position on FPX is ex-DAMWON top lane specialist Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon. To compensate for this roster departure, DAMWON strategically acquired Khan, facilitating the top laner’s return to LCK competition.

Can DAMWON win LCK 2021?

Evaluating their performance across the preceding six months provides substantial evidence supporting DAMWON’s capability to secure upcoming Korean splits during the 2021 LCK season. Commencing with the 2021 LCK Spring Split, DAMWON unquestionably enters as the predominant favorite to claim championship victory. This represents the inaugural instance where DAMWON occupies the unequivocal favorite position for an LCK championship, potentially revealing different team dynamics based on pressure management capabilities. Established organizations including T1 and Gen.G present compelling challengers who could potentially produce upsets if DAMWON fails to maintain their established performance standards.

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