Griffin is perhaps a unique name in the professional League of Legends scene, from the way they emerged, to their journey of finishing second three times in a row in the LCK, only to quickly disappear from the global Esports map due to shocking scandals.
But above all, what makes fans remember this team nicknamed “The Birdmasters” is that they became a breeding ground for a generation of outstanding and talented players. Ironically, all five players who played in Griffin’s main roster over three seasons in the LCK had never tasted victory until Viper achieved this after winning the LPL Summer 2021 title with EDward Gaming recently.
After Griffin disbanded, the careers of these rising stars, once considered the next generation of SKT, have plummeted dramatically. Sword has almost vanished from the professional scene due to not meeting the technical requirements. Tarzan did not manage to find a new team and had to take a six-month break before joining LNG Esports.
Viper, Lehends, and Chovy have still found their footing in the LCK, but if they don’t join mid-tier teams, their new teams have also declined compared to their peak performance.
Before Viper joined EDG and claimed the LPL championship, Chovy was the name with the best record among former GRF players, finishing second in the LCK Summer 2020 and earning a ticket to the World Championship that same year with DragonX. But as the saying goes, no one remembers the runner-up; Chovy has indeed remained empty-handed without any official titles, despite always being regarded as the number one mid-laner in the LCK.
In fact, there is another “former Griffin” who also won the LPL, that is Kanavi, but the issue is that Kanavi was originally a part of GRF but spent most of his time on loan at JD Gaming. And of course, he was never part of the official five-man roster of GRF in the LCK.
The disbandment of Griffin has left fans more regretful than any other farewell, as it did not stem from issues of expertise, but rather entirely from the scandals behind the scenes. The abuse scandal involving Sword accusing coach cvMax dealt a heavy blow to GRF right before the 2019 World Championship, resulting in a relatively bland performance in their first outing on the big stage.
Not to mention, the “slave contract” incident involving Kanavi also led to the Griffin organization and its parent company being investigated, facing the risk of receiving penalties from the Korean Esports Association.
The story then took a turn for the worse, as a series of GRF stars decided to “escape” from this sinking ship. After three consecutive seasons of finishing second, Griffin officially relegated after the LCK Spring 2020. A brief journey but one that left a strong mark of the Birdmasters in the highest league of League of Legends in Korea, only deepening fans’ regrets about the unfinished quest for the peak.
But ultimately, those who loved Griffin back in the day can finally smile, as at least they have a champion – that is Viper. His “super carry” performance in the recent LPL final is a clear testament to his undeniable talent and class. And fortunately, fate has finally smiled upon Viper, and his victory alongside EDward Gaming at the League of Legends Championship in China is the sweet reward for this young star.