TheShy is one of the most renowned players in the world of League of Legends. His incredible mechanical skills and aggressive playstyle have made him a fan favorite and a force to be reckoned with on the Summoner’s Rift. But there’s more to this top lane prodigy than meets the eye. Let’s dive into ten fascinating facts about TheShy that you might not know.
1. From Riven One-Trick to World Champion
TheShy’s journey to becoming a world-class top laner began in an unexpected way. Before his professional career, he was known as a Riven one-trick player. For those unfamiliar with the term, a “one-trick” refers to a player who specializes in playing a single champion.
As a young streamer, TheShy gained recognition for his mechanically insane Riven gameplay. He would dominate high Elo players in both the Korean and Chinese ladders, showcasing his skills on streaming platforms like afreecatv and panda.tv. His Riven montages became popular on YouTube, catching the attention of League enthusiasts worldwide.
This early specialization in Riven laid the foundation for TheShy’s exceptional mechanical skills, which he later translated to a wide array of champions in professional play. It’s a testament to his ability to adapt and expand his champion pool while maintaining his signature aggressive playstyle.
2. The Elo Boosting Incident
In 2016, TheShy found himself in hot water due to an elo boosting incident. For those unfamiliar with the term, elo boosting is when a highly skilled player plays on a lower-ranked account to artificially increase its ranking. This practice is frowned upon in the competitive gaming community and can lead to severe penalties.
The incident came to light when TheShy’s girlfriend posted a picture of her account going 37/3 with Nidalee in the jungle. This raised suspicions as she was known to be a support main. When questioned, she revealed that TheShy had been playing ranked games on her account.
TheShy quickly admitted to his mistake and took responsibility for his actions. Unlike some other high-profile cases of elo boosting, TheShy’s case was treated relatively leniently. This was likely due to the casual nature of his actions, as opposed to running an elo boosting business for profit.
This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity in competitive gaming, even outside of professional matches. It also highlights TheShy’s willingness to own up to his mistakes, a quality that has earned him respect both in and out of the game.
3. The Unconventional Path to Pro Play
Unlike many professional players who climb through amateur and semi-pro leagues, TheShy’s path to professional play was quite unconventional. After gaining recognition as a streamer, he joined Team WE, not as a player, but as a streamer.
This position allowed TheShy to get closer to the competitive scene without immediately jumping into professional play. During this time, he continued to showcase his skills not just on Riven, but also on champions like Nidalee and Yasuo.
It wasn’t until 2017 that TheShy made his professional debut with Invictus Gaming (IG). Interestingly, he started as the secondary top laner, sharing stage time with Duke, who was already a world champion. Despite the competition, TheShy’s talent shone through, and he quickly established himself as a formidable force in the top lane.
This unique journey from streamer to pro player highlights TheShy’s exceptional skill and adaptability. It also shows that there’s no one-size-fits-all path to becoming a professional gamer.
4. The Hand Injury That Almost Derailed His Career
In 2018, just as TheShy and Invictus Gaming were hitting their stride, disaster struck. TheShy suffered a hand injury that sidelined him during a crucial part of the season. This injury forced him to miss the LPL Spring Playoffs, where IG ended up losing in the semifinals.
For a player known for his mechanical prowess, a hand injury could have been career-ending. However, TheShy’s mental fortitude and determination saw him through this challenging period. He worked hard on his recovery and came back stronger than ever.
This setback makes TheShy’s subsequent achievements even more impressive. Despite missing a significant portion of the spring season, he and IG went on to have an incredible summer split and eventually win the World Championship later that year.
This incident serves as a reminder of the physical toll that professional gaming can take on players. It also highlights the importance of proper care and management of injuries in esports, a topic that TheShy has since become an advocate for.
5. The World Championship Performance
TheShy’s performance at the 2018 World Championship was nothing short of spectacular. It was here that he truly cemented his status as one of the best top laners in the world. His aggressive playstyle and ability to dominate lane matchups were key factors in IG’s championship run.
One of the most memorable moments came in the quarterfinals against KT Rolster. In a nail-biting five-game series, TheShy faced off against Smeb, who was considered one of the best top laners of all time. TheShy not only held his own but often outperformed Smeb, showcasing his ability to compete with and surpass even the most respected veterans in his role.
Throughout the tournament, TheShy consistently pushed his champions to their limits, creating pressure and making game-changing plays. His performance helped change the perception of the top lane role, showing that it could be a carry position capable of heavily influencing the outcome of games.
6. The Unorthodox Champion Pool
One of the things that makes TheShy such an exciting player to watch is his unorthodox champion pool. While many top laners stick to meta picks, TheShy is known for bringing out unexpected champions and making them work.
Over the years, he’s played everything from standard top lane bruisers to mages and even marksmen in the top lane. His Kalista top, for instance, became infamous for its ability to dominate lane and create immense pressure.
This willingness to experiment and push the boundaries of what’s possible in the top lane is a key part of TheShy’s playstyle. It makes him unpredictable in champion select and forces opponents to prepare for a wide range of possibilities.
Moreover, TheShy’s success with these unconventional picks often influences the meta, inspiring other players to try new strategies and expanding the diversity of champions seen in professional play.
7. The Calculated Aggression
While TheShy is often praised for his mechanical skills, what many people don’t realize is the level of calculation behind his aggressive plays. In interviews, TheShy has emphasized that his seemingly risky moves are actually carefully planned.
When TheShy goes for a 1v2 outplay or a tower dive, it’s not just because he thinks he can outplay his opponents mechanically. Instead, he’s thinking several steps ahead, analyzing potential outcomes and making decisions based on his predictions.
This calculated aggression is what sets TheShy apart from many other aggressive players. He’s not just relying on his reflexes or mechanics, but also on his game knowledge and ability to read situations. This approach allows him to push his limits without being reckless, resulting in the high-risk, high-reward plays that he’s famous for.
8. The Language Barrier
An interesting aspect of TheShy’s career is how he’s navigated the language barrier in his teams. As a Korean player in a Chinese team, TheShy primarily communicates in Korean, while most of his teammates speak Mandarin.
To bridge this gap, TheShy relies heavily on his mid laner, Rookie, who is bilingual and often acts as an interpreter. This unique communication dynamic adds an extra layer of complexity to the team’s interactions, both in and out of the game.
Despite this potential obstacle, TheShy has thrived in the LPL. His ability to perform at the highest level despite communication challenges is a testament to his game sense and the universal language of League of Legends gameplay.
This situation also highlights the increasingly international nature of professional League of Legends, where players from different countries and linguistic backgrounds come together to compete at the highest level.
9. The Record-Breaking Deaths
In a surprising twist for a player of his caliber, TheShy holds some less-than-flattering records in the LPL. During the 2020 LPL Summer season, he set the record for the most deaths in the league at 155. In the Spring season of the same year, he came in second with 161 deaths.
These statistics might seem alarming at first glance, but they’re actually a reflection of TheShy’s playstyle and role within his team. As an aggressive top laner, TheShy often takes risks to create pressure and open up opportunities for his team. Sometimes these risks don’t pay off, resulting in deaths.
What’s remarkable is TheShy’s mental resilience in the face of these deaths. Even after dying multiple times in the laning phase, he continues to make clutch plays later in the game. This ability to bounce back and remain a threat regardless of his scoreline is a key part of what makes TheShy such a formidable player.
10. The Ongoing Battle with Nervousness
Despite being a veteran player with numerous accolades, including a World Championship title, TheShy still battles with nervousness before matches. In interviews, he’s mentioned that even after five years in the LPL, he still feels nervous before games.
However, TheShy’s approach to dealing with this nervousness is noteworthy. Instead of trying to eliminate it completely, he focuses on accepting it. This mindset allows him to acknowledge his feelings without letting them negatively impact his performance.
This ongoing battle with pre-game jitters humanizes TheShy, reminding us that even the most accomplished players deal with mental challenges. It also serves as an important lesson for aspiring players: nervousness is a natural part of competition, and learning to manage it is crucial for success.
Conclusion
TheShy’s journey from a Riven one-trick streamer to a World Champion and one of the most respected top laners in League of Legends history is filled with fascinating details. From his unconventional path to pro play to his calculated aggression and mental resilience, TheShy continues to captivate fans and analysts alike.
His story is one of talent, hard work, and adaptability. It shows that success in esports isn’t just about mechanical skill, but also about mental fortitude, strategic thinking, and the ability to overcome challenges both in and out of the game.
As TheShy continues his career, he remains one of the most exciting players to watch in professional League of Legends. His aggressive playstyle, unorthodox champion pool, and ability to make game-changing plays ensure that he’s always a threat, no matter the state of the game.