With the championship title of LCK Summer 2021 under the DWG KIA banner, Khan has surpassed the legendary Bengi to become the second player in history to hold the most LCK titles, second only to his former teammate Faker. Dominating the domestic arena, yet at the global stage, this top superstar still struggles to secure any championship titles, with the most regrettable moments being the two second-place finishes at MSI 2018 and MSI 2021.
Therefore, Worlds 2021 holds a special significance for Khan, as this is not only his last chance to participate in an international tournament but also an opportunity for him to fulfill his long-standing dream of becoming a world champion. Recently, in an interview with InvenGlobal, Khan shared some very candid thoughts about his chances of winning at Worlds:
“I think the key to winning the world championship lies in the formula ‘70% luck, 30% skill’. For example, the LCK Summer championship, I must say, had a bit of divine intervention. I worked very hard, but I also made quite a few mistakes this summer. Therefore, I never thought I would achieve such success. This championship combines skill, luck, support from the meta, and the peak performance of the players. The results are as we know them.”
“I have never won an international tournament that I participated in. If I play well, I can win. But there are matches that I cannot control, no matter how well I perform. Every time I participate in an international tournament, I think I can win the championship. In the past, I had countless unrealistic hopes of winning, but now, even when being considered the number one candidate, my confidence is not as high as before.”
According to Khan, the key to finding the championship at Worlds is a combination of individual strength, but largely attributed to luck, peak performance, and also benefiting from updates. It may seem that Khan underestimates the “skill” factor, which might leave many readers feeling unsettled. However, what has transpired in professional League of Legends over the past decade proves that the Great Khan is entirely justified in his views.
A team, even if underestimated, can completely defeat much stronger opponents on a day when all five members perform well and possess the necessary confidence, with Suning 2020 being a prime example.
Meanwhile, the meta or luck factors have also had a significant impact on the professional arena. Numerous players have shone brightly in one season but then immediately “disappear” in the following season due to changes in the meta after Riot Games updates. Therefore, in Khan’s view, the team with the potential to win the championship will be the “team with good skills, capable of adapting to the meta, and all members performing at a high level in the tournament, along with a bit of luck, such as the opponent making mistakes…” If all these factors converge in a season, then that is the name with the highest chance of winning the championship.