The Crownless King of China is recognized as one of League of Legends’ all-time greats.
League of Legends welcomes another member to their Hall of Legends: Jian “Uzi” Zihao, China’s iconic ADC player who defined how you play an entire role. LoL esports announced Uzi’s inclusion after a majority of votes picked him to be the Hall of Legends’ second inductee.
“Uzi’s legacy goes beyond his titles and achievements; he changed the way we view the bot lane role and left a permanent mark on League of Legends Esports,” said Chris Greeley, Global Head of LoL Esports in their announcement.
Just like with Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok last year, a special in-game event celebrating Uzi’s achievements will accompany his induction starting June 11. Uzi will be formally included to the Hall of Legends on June 6 with an induction ceremony held in Shanghai, China.
A Lasting Legacy
Uzi’s inclusion in the Hall of Legends is well deserved as his name was synonymous with the bot lane. He was hailed as a prodigy for his role, similar to Faker for the mid lane. In his prime, Uzi could dominate his games with mechanical skill and was able to outplay even the toughest situations. Entire teams were built around protecting him as they knew he’d be able to clutch it out in the end.
The biggest blemish to Uzi’s legacy was that he was unable to translate his domestic success to the international stage. Despite participating in numerous tournaments, his only international trophy is the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational. Many were hoping that he’d be able to at least win one World Championship. Unfortunately, mounting health issues towards the end of his career forced him to retire from pro play, making a World Championship forever out of reach.
Still, Uzi’s influence to League of Legends as a whole is undeniable. He was the bot laner that every pro and fan wanted to be. Uzi’s inclusion to the Hall of Legends shows that it’s not the accolades that matter. It’s about your impact on the game and its players that truly make you legendary.
Banner photo from LoL Esports.