Games

Dopa returns to League of Legends, already in Korean Challenger

BBG News

Dopa has returned to the League of Legends scene.

2023 found me bidding farewell to one of the gaming greats, Jeong “Apdo” Sang-gil. After 18 months serving his country in the ROK Armed Forces, Jeong is back and streaming once more on YouTube and CHZZK. Just a few short weeks post his return, and after a year and a half away from the game, he’s almost there – just a little League of Legends rank apart from Challenger in Korean solo-queue.

He’s mostly playing his classic picks, including Twisted Fate and Orianna.

Who is Dopa? The man who finished League of Legends

Dopa is often spoken of as a legendary character, yet much about him remains shrouded in mystery and debate. Beyond his notable play in the game League of Legends, there isn’t extensive information available on Dopa’s professional career.

Originally a top-tier League of Legends pro player who has now retired, this individual primarily gained widespread recognition from his soloqueue gameplay. His preferred role was the midlane, but he proved proficient with almost any in-game position up to a professional standard. Across multiple accounts, he’s managed to climb as high as Challenger rank, dozens – if not hundreds of times, each time assuming different roles. Eventually, he transformed his pastime into a lucrative career by starting a successful boosting service.

For those unaware, a League of Legends (LoL) boosting service is a company that increases the rank and level of LoL accounts, which they later sell at a profit. Dopa was so consistently skilled at this, he could have single-handedly managed the entire business – all he needed to do was create a new account, reach the Challenger tier, and then sell it. For an average player, achieving a lifetime’s worth of accomplishments would be a significant feat; for Dopa, it was just another ordinary day.

Towards the close of 2014, as Dopa ventured into the professional gaming scene, it was discovered that he had been involved in boosting, leading to a ban that prevented him from playing at a professional level. His career in the competitive world took an abrupt end due to this offline suspension; however, he persisted with boosting and playing solo-queue in live streams.

In Korean and Chinese gaming servers, he managed to overcome numerous difficulties and secure the top spot within a single month on separate servers. He excelled at each one with ease.

Banned for 1,000 years

As a dedicated fan, it’s safe to say that Apdo is arguably the most accomplished League of Legends player I’ve seen. Initially, he used elo boosting as a means to finance his college education. Later, he assembled an amateur team and was penalized for the boosting activities that helped him clear his financial burdens. After serving a two-year suspension, Apdo returned to boosting until the Korean server handed down a 999-year ban.

Was it unfortunate that he was indeed banned, yet somehow this ban and the ensuing controversy seems to have propelled his boosting business and streaming platform? It’s intriguing to note that his rapid surge into popularity occurred with every new smurf account he created, ultimately leading him to the Chinese League of Legends scene where he bagged 500,000 Yuan after securing the top rank in Chinese soloqueue.

Rapidly establishing himself as one of the greatest players in League history due to the controversy, his talent quickly caught the eye of streaming company Huya. In response, they provided him with an apartment, a translator, and assistance in China, enabling him to continue streaming seamlessly.

Dopa prefers to keep personal matters private, and the details of his financial status are somewhat unclear. Currently, he no longer engages in boosting as he has a steady income through agreements with Huya and Koo, plus his own investments.

Following my time serving in the Korean military, I find myself with an appealing opportunity to return to higher education. Back then, I was a student at Hongik University, a name known far and wide. Now, with some savings, I can revisit those halls and finally earn that degree I left behind.

Unlike many League of Legends (LoL) professional players, Dopa’s career stands out. While most retired pro-gamers are often found streaming, Dopa has been an exception, choosing a more relaxed approach even after his retirement. Unlike them, he may not have pursued college education extensively since he began his contractual commitments during his late teens. Remarkably, Dopa’s career resembles the fantasy we, as kids, had – playing video games and earning a living from it.

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2025-04-29 16:41

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