DRIVE: The GBM Story
Chang-suk "GBM" Lee's career in Korea started as a back-up plan. He entered the LCK as the 6th man for CJ Entus Frost -- at the time, the most successful team in Korean League of Legends. The roster was filled with legends such as Hyun-woo "CloudTemplar" Lee, Min-Sung "RapidStar" Jung, and Min-gi "MadLife" Hong. You might think playing with these stars would be a dream for a rookie player. But it was the organization’s pedigree and the high expectations that came with it, that kept him from ever finding his footing on the team.
In his first season with CJ Frost, GBM was fortunate enough to play every match in the Group Stage, leading Frost to a 5-1 record in the regular season, including a remarkable win over the powerhouse KT Bullets. Once the single-elimination Playoff stage rolled around however, GBM found himself without the confidence of his team and, more importantly, without a starting spot. GBM could do nothing but cheer on his brothers-in-arms as they were eventually toppled 3-0 by the same KT Bullets that GBM had defeated in the Group Stage previously.
Frost would field GBM in the 3rd place consolation match against Ozone, which culminated in the moment that would forever mark GBM's career. In Game 5, GBM’s failure to dash over the Baron pit wall set off a chain reaction of blunders by CJ which opened the door for a Baron steal, one that ultimately cost Frost the game and sent Ozone to the Season 3 World Championship.
The memory of that season, one where he was unable to earn the trust of his team, stuck with GBM. By the end of the following Champions Winter, when it became clear that he was Frost’s second-string mid laner, GBM asked to be placed with another team.
GBM landed on the Jin Air Green Wings' roster, but it wasn't until Jin Air combined their sister teams in 2015 that GBM hit his stride. Jin Air had such confidence in GBM that they built the Green Wings signature poke and siege playstyle around him. With GBM at the helm, the Green Wings became one of the most meticulous and strategic teams in the world.
Some of his most exciting moments with Jin Air actually came from his inspired assassin play, notably his Ahri duels against SKT T1's Sang-hyeok “Faker” Lee. Few players get to go head-to-head with Faker in style the way GBM did -- and no one else has done it in a bow tie.
GBM and the Green Wings never quite found the top 3 finish they were looking for, and in the Summer, they brought on a new rookie mid laner. Since his time with CJ, GBM had not been partial to sharing the mid lane, but not for the reasons one might think. RapidStar, his counterpart on Frost, said that the friendship and camaraderie between the two mid laners actually hurt their performances, whereas a rivalry would have pushed the two to perform at a higher level. Rather than competing with a teammate, GBM pursued an opportunity abroad as the starting mid laner for NRG, one of several new teams in the NA LCS.
Since his arrival in NA, GBM has already won over new fans. Whether it's with his Baron steals, fringe picks in the mid lane, or his killer fashion sense, GBM is making a name for himself in the LCS. Aside from an early surge in the Spring of 2016 though, NRG has yet to separate itself from the pack in the standings. However, with a strong roster on paper, including former world champion Impact, this might be the team that finally gets GBM over the wall.
