The professional League of Legends player community around the world is filled with fascinating stories. Among them, many players possess talents in various fields yet are determined to pursue their dream of professional gaming. Additionally, many have become players due to their passion, supported by their families. However, we also encounter some individuals facing hardships in life, who turn to League of Legends for the ultimate purpose: “Changing their lives.”
If we consider which League of Legends player has the most unfortunate life, the community would likely think of North American ADC Doublelift. This player is determined to pursue his passion based on the call of his heart. He was once kicked out by his parents and became homeless for nearly two years. When he achieved a certain level of success, Doublelift proactively returned home to reconcile with his parents, but happiness did not last long. His family faced a major crisis when his brother fell ill with a mental disorder, losing control of his actions, leading to a tragic situation.
In Vietnam, we also have a player who experienced a very difficult childhood, that is Kiaya from GAM Esports. As a child, Kiaya’s situation was quite unfortunate; the economic conditions were insufficient to sustain life, so his family had to sell lottery tickets to make ends meet. The top laner of GAM Esports had poor health and had to drop out of school after finishing first grade. Therefore, Kiaya faced difficulties in basic things that most people take for granted, such as doing math, reading, writing, etc.
Moreover, Kiaya also has very poor health. He continuously suffered from illnesses such as stomach issues, kidney problems, and respiratory issues, requiring him to take long-term medication. The most influential person in Kiaya’s life is coach Tinikun. Not only did Tinikun guide and improve Kiaya’s League of Legends skills, but he also taught him about interpersonal relationships, providing significant support for Kiaya’s treatment so he could focus on competing. As of now, we have an impressive GAM Kiaya competing in both of the last two World Championship tournaments.
The other day, GAM Kiaya’s story was once again mentioned during the analysis desk of Riot Games. Specifically, 30 seconds before the match between GAM and RGE, analyst Emily Rand spoke about Kiaya’s story as follows: “I want to talk a bit about Kiaya because his story is very interesting. He dropped out of school in first grade, learning to read and write through League of Legends by communicating with others.
When Kiaya started his first professional season, GAM’s roster underwent significant changes, gathering all young players aged 18. At that time, Kiaya was not performing well, and he lost all his confidence. Recently, GAM made a documentary video before participating in the SEA Games, where Kiaya shared his family’s story, which was very engaging. He became the pillar of his family and his parents always provided motivation and belief for him to achieve his career goals. Let’s give a round of applause for Kiaya.”
After that, the audience in the stadium continuously cheered, clapped, and shouted: “Kiaya, Kiaya, Kiaya,…” non-stop. The host Dash was even in disbelief at what analyst Emily Rand had just shared about the GAM top laner. Subsequently, the clip of Kiaya’s biography shared by the analysts was recorded, creating a strong impact within the global League of Legends community. They praised Kiaya’s spirit of overcoming difficulties while expressing admiration for this player throughout his journey with League of Legends. Now, Kiaya is an indispensable pillar of GAM Esports, always meeting the trust of fans as he swims into the vast sea and becomes a strong support for his family.