100 Thieves steal spotlight with their first LCS championship

The same names always echo throughout League Championship Series history -- Cloud9, Team Liquid and TSM. Not only do these teams account for 16 of 18 total LCS titles since 2013, but they’ve also taken the last 10 titles since Summer 2016. Team Liquid looked like the hottest team on the block after defeating Cloud9, TSM and 100 Thieves to make it to the LCS Championship final, but after planning their heist all year, 100 Thieves were ready to steal a place in LCS history.

A swift 3-0 series win against Team Liquid and a ticket to the League of Legends World Championship as North America’s No. 1 seed were unexpected, but it feels just right for this band of misfits to earn not only their first trophy, but 100 Thieves’ first ever LCS title.

100 Thieves started the year strong with strong synergy derived from a roster mainly coming over from the 2020 Golden Guardians, but placed fourth in the Mid-Season Showdown and fell just short of earning first place during the LCS regular season. When 100 Thieves were on, they were electric and looked unbeatable. When they weren’t, fans and pundits alike often slotted them as an “outside” the group of contenders. In a postgame press conference, 100 Thieves coach Han “Reapered” Bok-gyu acknowledged their erratic performances but is confident after defeating Team Liquid.

Read more: 100 Thieves rise to top of LCS with cohesion, camaraderie

“There was a lot of pressure on our team and lots of people doubting us,” Reapered said. “Of course, we slumped in our previous week [against Team Liquid]. It was about cleaning up our plays, and I think it’s clear that we can do a great job on the Worlds stage.”

Later on, Reapered added that he felt their previous loss to Team Liquid in the winner’s bracket was largely due to 100 Thieves playing poorly as opposed to Team Liquid playing well. 100 Thieves’ star of the series, Turkish jungler Can “Closer '' Çelik, echoed this sentiment when asked about his dominant performances on both Viego and Lee Sin. 100 Thieves lost last week, but this time they were more than ready.

“It’s just a team difference and coach difference. We knew that they were going to try to ban me out, and we were ready to answer with our draft, with any champion,” Closer explained. “It didn’t matter what I was going to play. My teammates set me up really good for the plays, and I’m really happy to show off a good performance.”

Photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

For the first time this year, it felt like 100 Thieves had truly figured it out in a dominant display against Team Liquid. 100 Thieves dominated Team Liquid in the draft phase and subsequently dominated the early game with excellent side lane control. At the heart of that dominant side lane control was the long-cultivated efforts of the best bot lane in the LCS, Victor “FBI” Huang and Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun. Both players were far from being touted as star talents at the start of the year, but they’ve never shined brighter.

FBI, in particular, felt like he had something to prove when he made his move to the LCS. As a player from Oceania, this LCS title alongside his LCS All-Pro team honors serve as a statement for the legitimacy of his talent.

“I feel like when I first came here, people would really look down on players from minor regions and especially OCE,” FBI said. “A lot of people were really negative about wildcard regions and I’m glad that me and [Closer] together, could shut them the f--- up”

Read more: A long way from home, Oceania players find opportunity in the LCS

On the other side of the bot lane, Huhi made the transition from mid lane to support over two years ago. Between now and then, he has blossomed into an elite support that far exceeds his previous prowess in the mid lane, where he once played for 100 Thieves in 2019. As the first player to win an LCS title in two different roles, and to do so with 100 Thieves, Huhi is relieved and proud.

“It feels really good and refreshing for me too. My first time with 100 Thieves wasn’t pretty for either side since I got benched,” Huhi said. “When I got the invitation from 100 Thieves as a support, I was scared that that might happen again. It feels really good that the relationship got better and now I gave them the first trophy. It means a lot to me.”

100 Thieves gave Huhi the opportunity to return and prove himself as a support, but ultimately, it was the people involved that fueled his rise to the top. He has always regarded his teammates as friends more than coworkers, and it’s that type of trust that got him here.

“I think … it’s just like the people that I work with [that keep me going],” Huhi said. “When I roleswapped to support with Golden Guardians, it was with Closer and FBI. And when I joined 100 Thieves, it was this roster and coaching staff. The people that I’m working with give me lots of motivation and confidence that we can do it.”

Photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT

As Huhi’s teammate on both Golden Guardians and now 100 Thieves, Closer shares the sentiment.

“I just needed some pieces to work with, and when I saw FBI play, I thought he was crazy good,” Closer said. “Luckily, [Huhi] was in the same team so we ended up creating the pieces and like … I think we knew that we would win the LCS, but the main question was when. This group of people was here at the perfect time to win this trophy.”

When the core of Closer, FBI and Huhi eventually joined up with top laner Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho and mid laner Felix “Abbedagge” Braun, the team truly felt complete. Abbedagge was a rising star in the League of Legends European Championship before coming to the LCS, and Ssumday is often regarded as one of the best Korean top laners of all time. For Ssumday, especially, in his fourth year with 100 Thieves, this title was special.

“I’m really happy that I can get the trophy finally,” Ssumday said in a postmatch interview. “Thanks to everyone, all my teammates and all the coaches. I’m really happy. I know there are fans and haters, but the haters are just haters. The fans have always been behind me and I am really thankful for everyone that has been behind me.”

The players of 100 Thieves not only proved their legitimacy as individual talents but also as the single best team in North America. No one believed that 100 Thieves could take down Team Liquid -- much less in a 3-0 fashion -- but the team has faced doubters all year. That will probably continue into the world championship, where North American teams are generally unfavored, but if today’s performance is any indicator, counting 100 Thieves out sets up an even more exciting heist.

Lead photo credit: Riot Games via ESPAT