Peanut and Teammates Disappoint at 2024 World Championship
Entering the 2024 World Championship as the number 1 seed from LCK, HLE was seen as a major hope for the region to claim the world championship title. This belief was reinforced after the Swiss stage when HLE achieved a convincing 3-1 record, securing a spot in the Quarterfinals. Even before the match against BLG, Peanut and his teammates were considered the “favorites” as the LPL representatives struggled during the Swiss round.
However, what HLE delivered to fans in the Quarterfinals was a profound disappointment as they suffered a 1-3 defeat to BLG. After winning the first game, HLE was completely overwhelmed by their opponents in the remaining three games, losing in every aspect from laning to skill execution and team fights. Peanut seemed to lose himself after the first game and was almost completely “invisible” for the rest of the match. Leaving the tournament with such a lackluster performance has left HLE fans and the LCK community disappointed in this team.
Peanut Expected to Retire Soon, HLE to Face Major Changes
With the 2024 World Championship nearing its end, transfer rumors have been circulating continuously in recent days. According to reports from various LPL news outlets, HLE is set to undergo significant roster changes as two members, Peanut and Doran, are expected to announce their departure from the team soon. Doran is currently in negotiations behind the scenes to find a new team for the 2025 season.
Meanwhile, Peanut does not have any such negotiations as he is reportedly expected to retire shortly after the conclusion of the 2024 World Championship. Notably, Peanut is still under contract with HLE, but he has chosen to retire and not compete any longer. Therefore, the only option left for the team is to announce the termination of Peanut’s contract in the near future.
If these rumors prove to be true, Peanut’s professional career will end with much regret. Especially since Peanut’s dream of the World Championship remains unfulfilled, as he has continuously failed to conquer this title despite playing for Gen.G, T1, and most recently HLE. Furthermore, the prospect of ending his career after suffering a heavy defeat to BLG makes Peanut’s farewell feel like it is happening in a “deep disappointment.”
Of course, these rumors are still at the level of speculation and have yet to be confirmed by HLE or Peanut. We hope that this veteran player will think carefully about the timing of his retirement to provide a more fulfilling conclusion to his career. For a seasoned player who has contributed so much like Peanut, it would be truly sad if he were to end his career after such a disappointing 2024 World Championship campaign.