12-time LJL champion Evi announces retirement

After 11 years of professional play and 12 titles in the LJL, toplaner has announced his retirement from professional League of Legends. Still, while the Japanese legend is now closing an important chapter of his life, his announcement suggests that he could remain active within esports in some capacity, potentially in a coaching role, although nothing has been confirmed for now.

It is today undeniable that Evi, at his prime, has through history been one of the most significant figures of Japanese League of Legends esports, if not of all esports. While the crowds may sing the stories of victors on the international stage, the story of Evi is one of resilience and courage, one of a player who never gave up and stood tall through the eras to push Japanese esports onwards.

Sitting alongside other legends such as AD Carry Yuta "Yutapon" Sugiura or even midlaner Kyohei "Ceros" Yoshida, the now 30-year-old player has throughout his career stepped on the biggest stages and represented his country before millions of viewers. May it be with or , he instilled the aura of a wildcard into his opponents, grasping victories when they expected it least.

Evi's career was not limited to Japan, however, as the toplaner became a regular face on the international stage. Through his years, he represented the LJL at multiple World Championships and Mid-Season Invitationals, facing some of the best teams and players in the world.

While Japan was often considered an underdog against the major regions, Evi and his teams regularly managed to put up a fight and create memorable moments on the international stage. This eventually culminated in Evi making history in 2023 by becoming the first and only ever Japanese player to be imported into a major region when he joined and competed for in the LEC. During his time there, he managed to achieve a fourth-place finish in the Summer Playoffs. While his time in the LEC lasted only one season, it added another important chapter to an already lengthy career.

Following his year in the LEC, Evi returned to Japan, joining SHG, where he has spent the past three years. However, his return to the region has not produced the same results as earlier in his career.

Though he attended Worlds in 2024, his results since the creation of the LCP the next year never could match his previous pedigree. Since the merge, Japanese teams have struggled to make a dent against the region's strongest competition, with the league largely dominated by teams from Vietnam and Taiwan. This year, Evi and his team ended their season with the team finishing in last place of Split 3.

While Evi has not directly linked his retirement to these recent struggles, the difficult final chapter of his career comes after years of success in Japan and could potentially have played a role in his decision to step away from professional play.

Now, Evi seems to be looking towards coaching. In his post, the Japanese player states, “I want to pass on the skills and experience I have built up over the years to younger players, and in my own way, I hope I can continue contributing to League of Legends in Japan.”

In what form he will continue on remains unknown, though with years of experience both regionally and internationally, he should easily prove a strong asset to guide the future generations of Japanese esports.