On November 10 (Vietnam time), Gen.G Esports (Gen.G) unexpectedly announced the departure of AD Carry Ruler. This news shocked many fans of this team and the global League of Legends (LoL) community. The reason is that Ruler is a veteran AD Carry, representing the remnants of the once-great Samsung Galaxy. Moreover, in the recent 2022 season, Ruler was one of the standout names among the stars of the reigning LCK Summer 2022 champions.
According to information from Gen.G’s CEO and Ruler’s teammates, they were not surprised by this announcement. Specifically, Support player Lehends stated that Ruler had informed the whole team about his potential departure since after the LCK Spring 2022. Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur remarked that he and the management tried to persuade Ruler, but the AD Carry remained firm in his decision to leave.
Furthermore, according to some reports, Ruler is considering whether to continue competing in the LCK or to move abroad to the LPL. Both regions are significant, and undoubtedly many top teams are eager to recruit Ruler. His experience and skill level are particularly crucial for teams aiming to conquer international titles.
Additionally, another piece of information that has garnered audience interest came from Ruler during an interview on the day he parted ways with the team he had long been with. Ruler was asked about the possibility of retiring in the near future. However, the former Gen.G AD Carry did not shy away from this question, candidly admitting that he had considered retiring early.
Specifically, Ruler stated: “I will not retire next year, that is for sure. It would be sad if I had to retire just because my abilities were no longer sufficient to compete. But don’t worry, I will continue to compete next year. That may be in the near future, but I will not shorten my playing time”.
At the same time, Ruler explained the reasons behind his consideration of an early retirement: “I believe my skills will not decline in the coming years. But I don’t want to prolong this life. I made that decision while competing in the World Championship. The world shifts, time keeps moving, and everyone must change. I really sometimes feel very lonely. And if I continue to compete, I will feel this more often. This makes me truly exhausted”.
As of now, Ruler is 23 years old, which is considered the “prime” age in the career of an Esports player. Perhaps Ruler is also aware that he could retire early, so he wants to seize the opportunity to seek new challenges. In the 2023 season, fans may not see Ruler in the familiar Gen.G colors. This will be a significant loss for the LCK champions, but certainly, with any choice, both Ruler and Gen.G will have to accept and strive their best on their respective journeys.