As the 2023 season comes to a close, fans are beginning to share their assessments and evaluations of another year in the professional League of Legends scene. It can be said that, especially in 2023, many viewers have formed new opinions after T1 won the 2023 World Championship. The championship for Faker and his teammates was a journey from the depths of expectation to the pinnacle of glory. Notably, players like Zeus and Oner have undergone remarkable transformations to help T1 become the new world champions.
Recently, the LPL audience released a ranking of the best top laners in League of Legends history, which immediately sparked controversy. According to this ranking, TheShy is considered the best top laner in League of Legends history, placed above a slew of other renowned names like Zeus, Nuguri, and MaRin and Flandre. TheShy’s position is easily understandable as he has one of the largest fanbases in the LPL region. Additionally, TheShy is one of the pioneers of the “top lane carries team” playstyle that many players, such as Bin and Zeus, are currently learning from.
However, Zeus’s position above several superstars like MaRin, Nuguri, and Flandre has caused significant debate. After all, Zeus’s peak performance may have only occurred in 2023, particularly at the World Championship. However, when it comes to his influence on the playstyle of T1, Zeus may be important but is hard to compare with MaRin. This is because the former SKT T1 star was not just a top laner but also the captain and leader of the team. Among these five players, only MaRin has held that extremely crucial role.
As for Zeus, it cannot be denied that he had an exceptionally outstanding World Championship season. However, in the absence of Faker, not only Zeus but also his teammates like Gumayusi, Keria, and Oner have not been themselves. And as mentioned, it is certain that at this moment, Zeus has not yet been able to take on the leading role, both in terms of expertise and mentality, as MaRin did in the past.
Perhaps, Zeus will eventually become one of the greatest top laners in the history of SKT T1/T1, as well as in LCK or the world of League of Legends. But for now, placing the young star born in 2004 above legends like MaRin seems a bit premature.