Top 10 Standout Players at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship

Viper is a professional League of Legends esports player, currently playing as a bot lane marksman for Edward Gaming. He began his professional career in 2017 with Griffin.

Rising to prominence while playing for Griffin, Viper gained attention as a prodigy marksman with exceptional mechanical skills and numerous highlight-worthy plays. The young ADC became a phenomenon during the LCK tournament that year, showcasing talent that promised him a bright future as one of the best players in the region. With Edward Gaming, Viper won the LPL Spring 2021 MVP title, the LPL Summer 2021 championship, and most notably, he led his team to a 3-2 victory over the mighty DK to secure the 2021 World Championship title. Viper has truly become a standout talent in the League of Legends global scene. His skill and potential have never been in question, and he is regarded as a key figure in shaping the future of ADCs in the game. HLE Viper is arguably one of the most bittersweet names for fans, considering the player's potential yet-to-be-fully-realized.

Viper is currently a cornerstone of EDG and is hoping to lead his team further at the 2022 World Championship.

Knight, born Zhuoding on May 22, 2000, in Pinghu, Jiangxi Province, China, is a mid-laner for JD Gaming. He shares a history with Yagao, JD Gaming’s current mid-laner, as both met in an internet café and even formed a team to compete in local tournaments. Back then, Yagao played mid lane while Knight played jungle.

By 2020, the name TES Knight was synonymous with one of the world’s best mid-laners. His dominating lane performance, particularly on his signature champion Syndra during the 2020 LPL, stands as a prime example of his skill. During this period, TES Knight was considered one of the top mid-laners globally. TES and Knight were riding high, with Chinese fans hoping for another LPL championship title. Given his exceptional achievements and form during 2020, TES Knight has raised expectations for the 2022 World Championship. This year, his fan base has grown exponentially, leading many to wonder if TES Knight and his team can secure the coveted World Championship title as they are considered favorites for the 2022 title.

Knight has long been hailed as one of the world’s top mid-laners, but it wasn’t until the 2020 Mid-Season Cup that international fans saw his true potential. His performance was so stellar that he was even compared to Faker during his peak years.

Zeus has been T1's top laner since late 2020. Despite his young age, the 2004-born player has quickly risen to prominence in the competitive League of Legends scene in South Korea. Zeus is now regarded as one of the top top laners in the LCK.

With a 2022 LCK Spring Championship victory, a Summer runner-up finish, and a spot at the 2022 World Championship, this will be Zeus' debut at Worlds. Despite his youth, Zeus has been in remarkable form, playing a pivotal role in T1's journey to the semifinals of Worlds 2022. Across nine matches, he maintained a 3.1 KDA and impressive individual stats that outshone many top lane opponents. Notably, before the semifinal match, Zeus changed his in-game name to the famous football star Haaland, drawing parallels between the two: both are young stars in their fields, with excellent performances and an ability to dominate opponents. The nickname 'Haaland', known as 'the monster' in football, sparked speculation that Zeus aims to establish himself as a 'monster' on the top lane in League of Legends. In the finals, Zeus' performances on champions like Camille, Lucian, Jayce, and Kennen were outstanding, with solid KDA across the board.

In Game 3, playing Jayce, Zeus dealt the most damage on his team, with a total of 24.8k damage in 37 minutes, including a crucial escape from a gank that showcased his calm under pressure.

Canyon from DWG is a name well-known among League of Legends fans worldwide. As the jungler for Damwon Kia, Canyon is often hailed as one of the best junglers in the world right now.

With his aggressive playstyle, excellent jungle clear, superior gank potential, and ability to outplay in 1v1 scenarios, Canyon has become a staple of the LCK. He joined DWG in September 2018 as a jungler, and his peak year came in 2020 when he helped lead DWG to a World Championship victory, defeating Suning 3-1 in the final. Canyon has since established himself as one of the top junglers in the world, and fans are eager to see him carry DWG on the global stage at Worlds 2022. Canyon's achievements include three consecutive LCK titles and the 2020 World Championship, and he has accumulated a staggering 1,824 MVP points, with no signs of slowing down. As one of the best junglers in the world, Canyon has earned numerous MVP awards, appeared in the LCK All-Star lineup multiple times, and was named the MVP of the 2020 World Championship final.

As the 2022 World Championship approaches, fans are hoping Canyon will once again showcase his legendary skills and lead DWG to the top, making the tournament even more thrilling to watch.

Lee “Faker” Sang Hyuk is a professional League of Legends player, widely recognized as one of the greatest to ever play the game. Born on May 7, 1996, in Seoul, he is not just a player but a national icon in South Korea, often referred to as one of the country's four national treasures.

Faker is the founder of Team SKT T1, where he has become one of the most influential figures in esports. His remarkable skill and ability to dominate on the world stage have earned him a reputation as one of the best League players worldwide. His career highlights include leading SKT T1 to victory in the 2013 World Championship and other prestigious tournaments. Faker has also received the title of Best Mid-Lane Player at the Korean e-Sports Awards in 2013.

Known for his exceptional mechanics and game knowledge, Faker has played a variety of champions like Gragas, LeBlanc, Riven, Zed, Ahri, and Orianna. One of his most iconic moments came during a professional match when he played LeBlanc and ended with a perfect KDA of 12-0. Many in the esports community, including journalists and other professional players such as Thorin, Alex Ich, and Maknoon, regard him as the best player in League of Legends, with Maknoon even comparing him to Lionel Messi in the world of esports.

As Faker continues his journey into the 2022 World Championship, he remains one of the most anticipated and respected players in the competitive League of Legends scene. Fans eagerly await his next performance, and his name continues to strike fear into his opponents.

Gala is steadily proving himself to be the ideal successor to fill the void left by Uzi's retirement. After the legendary marksman Uzi decided to retire from professional play, his departure left a massive gap in RNG's roster. However, in the 2021 season, RNG finally found the perfect replacement for their bot lane in Gala.

This young marksman made an impressive showing at the 2021 MSI, earning the title of Finals MVP. Not only did he shine, but Gala also secured the most kills in the tournament. Since joining RNG in 2020, he has made remarkable progress, especially playing alongside veteran players. In the 2021 LPL Spring Split, Gala had the most kills with a total of 302. At MSI 2021, Gala continued his excellent performance, recording 156 kills in 26 games and consistently being the standout performer for RNG. In the final match against DWG KIA, Gala again showcased his skill, outplaying the reigning world champions with his dominant lane performance. Together with Ming, he controlled the bottom lane, pushing back the duo of Ghost and BeryL. During team fights, Gala always knew how to position himself to deal maximum damage, surprising his opponents.

With such incredible skills and achievements, it's clear why Gala's name is impossible to overlook in the 2022 World Championship. He is truly a formidable marksman, and one to watch closely at the upcoming tournament.

Đỗ Duy Khánh (Levi) was born in Bắc Ninh Province and currently resides and works mainly in Ho Chi Minh City. Duy Khánh (Levi) is ranked 1362nd globally and 5th among famous gamers. He previously played for Hanoi Skyred but took a break from professional gaming due to health issues. Upon his return, his skills have grown exponentially, earning him impressive achievements.

Levi is a proud figure in Vietnam's League of Legends scene. After his success at the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational in Brazil, the name Levi illuminated the Southeast Asian and Vietnamese League of Legends communities. Duy Khánh and GAM's team will forever be a point of pride for the nation’s esports scene. Duy Khánh is the jungler for the League of Legends team Gigabyte Marines (GAM). He began his career in 2015, but it wasn’t until he joined Boba Marines (now GAM) in 2016 that he truly shone. Duy Khánh made an impressive mark in the 2016 All-Star event and went on to win the 2017 MDCS Spring Split. He continued to impress with outstanding skill performances at the 2017 Mid-Season Invitational and World Championship. Many of Duy Khánh's skillful plays are often considered some of the best at major tournaments.

Notable international gamers have frequently mentioned Levi with great respect in online discussions. His name is one to watch in this year’s biggest global tournaments, and it is an honor for Vietnam to have such a talented representative.

Chovy is a professional League of Legends player who currently plays as the mid-laner for Hanwha Life Esports. Chovy began his professional career in 2017 when he was discovered by coach CvMax during a youth talent search.

Chovy is regarded as one of the most talented prodigies in the history of League of Legends. His skills are undeniable, and for a time, he was considered the heir apparent to Faker. However, Chovy's journey has been full of struggles. Despite being in his prime and possessing top-tier skills, Griffin's disbandment and Hanwha Life Esports' underperformance have hindered his career. Chovy, despite his high skill level, has yet to claim a championship title. From Griffin to DragonX and now Hanwha Life Esports, Chovy has consistently proven himself as one of the top mid-laners of his generation, playing an essential role in every team he joins. Even against stronger opponents, Chovy rarely loses his lane, contributing significantly to team fights with his high effectiveness. Alongside ShowMaker, Chovy has been one of the two top-tier mid-laners in the LCK in recent years, but unlike his teammate, Chovy has yet to win any major titles.

While with Griffin, Chovy placed second three times in a row in regional tournaments. After the team’s disbandment, Chovy searched for new opportunities with DragonX and Hanwha Life, but the rosters of these teams were not on par with top teams like DWG KIA or Gen.G. However, this tournament presents an opportunity for Chovy to reclaim his former glory.

Kanavi is a professional League of Legends player, currently the jungler for JD Gaming. Known for his versatile champion pool, Kanavi excels with heavy carry champions, particularly those with a strong offensive presence like Graves, Taliyah, and Kindred.

At the start of the 2022 LPL Summer Split, few expected JDG to win the championship. However, thanks to Kanavi's outstanding performance, along with the rise of Yagao and 369, the team achieved the impossible. This year is shaping up to be one for junglers and AD carries, and Kanavi is poised to be the brightest star in the LPL, carrying high expectations from fans. His solid and calculated playstyle helps explain why coach cvMax still holds him in such high regard. Kanavi is excellent at playing around mid-lane, setting up for objectives, and forcing the enemy into a reactive position. In the third game of the JDG vs. TES finals, Kanavi completely outplayed veteran Karsa, forcing him to be largely absent during the match and only losing to the brilliance of knight and JackeyLove. This performance earned him the MVP of the LPL Spring Split and secured JDG's title.

Kanavi is also the first player to win both the MVP award and the LPL championship in the same season. Now, he’s set to showcase his exceptional skills at the World Championship, where he will be looking to claim his first major international title.

One of the most talented ADCs in the history of League of Legends, Ruler has added another achievement to his illustrious career. The Gen.G marksman was named the best player of the LCK Summer 2022 season, voted by 40 commentators, players, coaches, and media partners of the league. This marked Ruler's first MVP in nearly seven years of professional play. Back in 2017, Ruler was honored as the World Championship Finals MVP after helping Samsung Galaxy defeat SK Telecom T1 3-0.

In the 2022 LCK Summer, Ruler was one of the standout players leading Gen.G to the championship. Heading into the 2022 World Championship, Gen.G, with Ruler at the helm, was widely considered one of the top contenders for the title. Not only is Ruler a key pillar for Gen.G, but he's also the only player on the current roster to have experienced the thrill of winning a World Championship. His experience will be crucial for Gen.G in this tournament. Whether Gen.G clinches the title or not, Ruler's journey through all the highs and lows of Worlds makes him a unique player in the esports world. In 2016, as a rookie, Ruler finished as a World Championship runner-up. In 2017, he and Samsung Galaxy (now Gen.G) exacted revenge by winning the title. In 2018, however, Ruler and his team were knocked out in the group stages, marking the lowest performance for an LCK representative at Worlds.

At the 2022 World Championship, Ruler may once again take the crown. Regardless of the outcome, he has undoubtedly earned his place as one of the legends of League of Legends in Korea and the world.