If we were to talk about what caused the earthquake at Worlds 2022, it would undoubtedly be Deft and his DRX teammates. The team entered this season with many doubts and was underestimated compared to other opponents. Besides being the fourth seed in the LCK region, DRX also lacked many standout players in terms of skill and achievements. Except for Deft, all other members are quite young and do not have much experience in large international tournaments. Even Deft himself, as the eldest, had never lifted a world championship trophy before.
However, it was precisely these doubts and skepticism that fueled DRX to play freely and fully commit to their battles. Just look at the way this team has fought and gradually won at Worlds 2022 to see this clearly.
DRX began their journey at Worlds 2022 from the Play-in stage in Group B against opponents like RNG, MAD Lions, SGB, and two lesser-known representatives from the Wildcard region. On the very first day of competition, Deft and his teammates delivered a thrilling match against RNG. After intense skirmishes, DRX emerged as the superior team and claimed victory.
Following their significant victory against a strong opponent from the LPL, DRX became more invigorated and began a series of demolitions against the other teams in the group. They continuously defeated SGB, IW, Isurus, and MAD Lions, all suffering bitter defeats at the hands of DRX. The key players responsible for these victories were Deft and Zeka. Their seamless cooperation helped DRX confidently secure the top position in the group and a slot in the Main Event in Group C.
Deft continued to steer the DRX ship in their journey at Worlds in Group C, facing three teams: Rogue (LEC), Top Esports (LPL), and GAM Esports (VCS). This was considered a challenging group for DRX as their opponents were all strong teams with closely matched skill levels.
But surprises occurred right from the first round when TES suffered consecutive defeats against RGE and DRX. The second round of Group C was even more explosive, where TES was devastated by Levi’s Karthus combo of 16 stacks alongside GAM. GAM’s victory stirred the entire League of Legends community. Additionally, TES’s loss paved the way for DRX, as Deft and his teammates won two consecutive matches against RGE and GAM. In the subsequent tie-breaker match against RGE, DRX also excelled and claimed the top spot in Group C.
With their peak performance, Deft and DRX entered the Quarterfinals to face EDG. Once again, the victory favored the fourth seed from the LCK. In fact, Deft cried on stage after this emotional win. This was the most meaningful birthday gift for the DRX star as he turned 26.
Moving on to the Semifinals against regional rivals and reigning LCK champions Gen.G, DRX, while considered the underdog, made a successful comeback. With this victory, Deft and DRX officially advanced to the Grand Finals, facing his peer Faker. Will Deft continue to write the fairy tale, or will Faker secure his fourth world championship trophy?
The miraculous journey of Deft and DRX at Worlds 2022 has truly captured the attention of the League of Legends community. Deft himself did not set the goal of winning the championship this season, but perhaps this very approach has helped him play more comfortably and perform better than ever.