HLE Chovy and DK ShowMaker, both known as the top Mid laners of LCK at the moment. Despite their young age, their skills and experience at the highest level of competition are truly remarkable. In his prime, Faker seemed to have no rivals in the mid lane. This made the championship race appear to be a one-sided affair for SKT T1. At that time, perhaps only Dopa could compete on equal footing with Faker, but unfortunately, this only occurred in Ranked matches. However, fans will no longer have to regret, but instead look forward to witnessing the duel between the next two talented mid laners that South Korea has produced.
Personal Information
ShowMaker
Name: Heo Su (허수).
Nationality: South Korea.
Date of Birth: 22/7/2000 (21 years old).
Team: DWG KIA.
Position: Mid Laner.
Favorite Champion: Katarina.
Chovy
Name: Jeong Ji-hoon (정지훈).
Nationality: South Korea.
Date of Birth: 3/3/2001 (20 years old).
Team: Hanwha Life Esports.
Position: Mid Lane.
Favorite Champions: Zoe, Cassiopeia, Galio.
After the group stage of LCK Spring 2021 concluded, both ShowMaker and Chovy were among the top three players who received 1000 MVP points during the group stage. Both have had impressive performances this season, being key factors in securing important victories for their teams in the group stage.
To understand more about the contributions both have made to their teams, let’s dive into a detailed analysis of each player’s gameplay to see their strengths and weaknesses. Who among them deserves to claim the number one mid lane position in the LCK?
Chovy
First, let’s talk about Chovy, a young player with a passionate competitive spirit. Chovy has a diverse champion pool, from pure AP mid champions to long-range damage dealers, as well as tank champions focused on supporting teammates, all of which he uses proficiently.
When discussing Chovy, one cannot overlook his laning ability. The mid laner of HLE consistently proves himself to be one of the top control players in the mid lane of the LCK. Especially in terms of farming, regardless of who he faces, including ShowMaker, the 2001-born player always demonstrates superiority in minion score compared to his opponents.
The highlight match of week 5 of LCK Spring 2021 between HLE and DWG. ShowMaker himself admitted in an interview: “Chovy is outstanding in the laning phase, I have to admit that he is superior to me in laning skills.”
That’s in terms of individual laning skills, but clearly, this is a team sport that emphasizes teamwork. No matter how well Chovy performs or how capable he is of carrying HLE to the LCK playoffs, if the surrounding teammates are not strong enough to help this young talent fully unleash his potential, it is a significant loss. What Chovy lacks to reach titles is support from teammates who can share the burden and guide the young player to success. The question arises, if Chovy were placed in a star-studded lineup like DWG, how much more would his potential be unleashed?
ShowMaker
What ShowMaker has demonstrated over the past years is undeniable. Unlike Chovy, ShowMaker shows that he is not only a talented player but also a seasoned competitor on the international stage with prestigious titles achieved alongside his team. Such as the 2020 World Championship title, LCK Spring 2021 champion, and a regrettable misstep at MSI 2021 in the finals against RNG. Nevertheless, what ShowMaker and his teammates have achieved is something to be extremely proud of for the Korean Esports scene. This is also what HLE’s mid laner Chovy lacks, which is the titles.
When mentioning ShowMaker, we immediately think of a player with top-tier individual skills in the world. Although his laning ability is not overly outstanding, once he wins the lane in any way (for example: due to champion matchups, jungle support, opponent mistakes,…), the mid lane of DWG can suffocate their opponents and seemingly leave no chance for a comeback. An example would be the clash between G2’s Caps and ShowMaker in Korean Ranked.
It is still too early to say that ShowMaker will replace Faker as the number one mid laner in the world. However, ShowMaker is the most anticipated name to dominate the mid lane like Faker once did. Not only because of his calm demeanor and excellent skills. ShowMaker’s leadership is also evident in his communication with teammates and reading game situations.
Perhaps it is challenging to point out any current weaknesses of ShowMaker, or one might say there are none. If there is, it would only be time—the time for Chovy to mature and stand in a lineup strong enough to compete with ShowMaker. When that happens, we will witness some exciting matchups.