In the second semifinal of the LCK Spring 2022, DWG KIA officially became the former champion after losing to Gen.G Esports. Notably, DK lost after having a complete lead in the decisive game 5. In fact, when witnessing ShowMaker and his teammates leading their opponents by 10k gold, many people turned off their devices, convinced that DK would replicate the finals of LCK Summer 2021 and the semifinals of Worlds 2021.
But in the end, all that remains is disappointment for the DK players. Among them, ShowMaker is the most criticized. Moreover, this is not the first time the 2000-born player has become a target for ridicule from some parts of the League of Legends community. Especially in this Spring 2022 season, the number of times ShowMaker has been criticized and ridiculed has increased significantly.
One undeniable fact is that this Spring, ShowMaker’s performance has clearly declined compared to the 2021 season. Especially throughout the group stage, there were many times DK lost or won mainly thanks to Canyon’s super carrying ability. As for ShowMaker, he has hardly played beyond expectations in all matches. Showmaker’s MVP score is the lowest among the top mid laners in the LCK, excluding Bdd, who is having a forgettable season with Nongshim RedForce. In fact, ShowMaker’s MVP score is even lower than Lava’s – the mid laner of Fredit BRION, the team eliminated first in the playoffs.
But, does ShowMaker deserve to be criticized and ridiculed for his performance in Spring 2022? This is the first season where ShowMaker is left with only Canyon. Therefore, the coordination in every play certainly cannot compare to when ShowMaker struggled alongside familiar teammates who had played together since the Challengers League. Moreover, compared to those like Ghost, BeryL, or Khan/Nuguri, the names like Burdol/Hoya or the duo Deokdam – Kellin simply lack the experience, resilience, and caliber necessary to think about titles or miraculous plays.
During the period when DK dominated the LCK (from Summer 2020 until the end of the 2021 season), ShowMaker was always one of the most resourced positions. Now, the current meta requires mid laners to step back and give more space to the AD Carry. A prime example is T1’s gameplay. Although Faker has had his moments of brilliance, Gumayusi and sometimes Zeus are the ones who receive the resources. And when ShowMaker also has to “play a supporting role” or isn’t given resources, he becomes overshadowed compared to his former self in previous seasons.
Additionally, another factor causing ShowMaker to lose his form is the overwhelming expectations from the League of Legends community, especially in the LCK. During the time DK dominated the Korean League of Legends scene, ShowMaker was regarded as the “new monument” for the LCK in case Faker retired. He has a wide champion pool similar to “Demon King”. ShowMaker also achieved glory from a young age and possesses a versatile playstyle. Along with ShowMaker is Canyon, forming one of the most harmonious jungle-mid duos in League of Legends since the time of Bengi – Faker. That alone is enough for ShowMaker to receive high expectations.
And the more expectations there are, the more responsibility he carries. SMK has experienced a decline in performance similar to Faker during the ups and downs of his career. But ShowMaker is certainly shouldering many criticisms, not unlike Faker in the seasons from 2018 to 2020. The only difference is that Faker bore the pressure after achieving all the glory. Meanwhile, ShowMaker has only touched the Worlds trophy once and has yet to win any MSI titles.
Perhaps in Summer 2022, ShowMaker and DK will return to their familiar path of destruction. But one thing is certain: SMK has never claimed he would be the new monument of the LCK, yet he is indeed a “victim” of the overwhelming expectations from the fans.