Preparation and determination: The KOO Tigers

After many first-rate Korean players migrated to China and other regions in early 2015, the first Korean team to rise was not the now famously dominant SKTelecom T1. Instead, it was an assembly of mostly unwanted, slightly used, ex-NaJin players: the KOO Tigers.

The KOO Tigers immediately made noise in Korea. Not only for their fantastic play on the Rift, but also for their unique style and quirky sense of humor off the Rift. As a group of players passed on by other, larger teams, the KOO Tigers' Spring success story was a reminder for Korea that, even with a presumed lack of comparative talent, coordination and preparation will always yield something exciting.

The Play

As early as champion select, the Tigers are chameleons. They adapt to what their opponents are known for, attacking their weak points and focusing on shutting them down. This is all while ensuring that their own weaknesses are covered. Priority is placed on finding strong champions for the Tigers' players -- especially mid laner KurO, top laner Smeb, and AD carry PraY. Both of KOO's junglers are relatively weak, and any pressure they create is organized alongside support GorillA's opportune roaming and vision control.

At their best, the KOO Tigers beat opponents soundly in the draft, and follow up with in-game execution and excellent team-fighting. As shown above, they're masters of coordinating and counter-initiating. Against KT Rolster, they did their best to control minion waves, keeping dynamic KT support Piccaboo shackled to his lane. When Piccaboo and his AD carry Arrow try to jump on PraY, the Tigers are quick to react. Smeb Teleports to the bottom lane and the Tigers knock off three KT members for none of their own.

A Humbled Approach

With their focus on planning for their adversaries, the KOO Tigers rose like a phoenix in Champions Spring 2015. They swept through the first half of the season without dropping a single series. The Tigers' coordination and preparation seemed unbeatable. Even if they fell behind early, the Tigers' mid and late-game decision making inevitably overwhelmed opponents, netting KOO the victory.

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Of course, the thing about preparation is that it only works if you know what you're preparing for. Enter Team WE at IEM Katowice. KOO likely never anticipated facing WE, a team that was not expected to exit Group B and make it to the Semifinals bracket. KOO paid the price for their arrogance and returned to Korea humbled. They were humbled again in the Champions Spring Final by SKTelecom T1, suffering a crushing 0-3 defeat.

Strong roster synergy between a stable group of five was no longer enough to win, and the skill ceilings of their individual players held them back. KOO added jungler Wisdom from Incredible Miracle in an attempt to breathe life into the old roster, but he suffered from similar champion pool issues as Hojin. After an inconsistent Summer season, many expected KOO to fall in the first Playoffs round to NaJin e-mFire: an equally uneven team with two prodigious talents in top laner Duke and AD carry Ohq.

Surprisingly, KOO stepped up by leaning into what made them great in Spring, out-drafting their opponents and finishing them off with excellent team-fighting and objective control. Returning to their strengths, the Tigers once again proved through careful preparation that they too, could be a top Korean team.

Talk of the Rift

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Above all else, the KOO Tigers are a team first, and individuals second. Many questioned the decision of former NaJin White Shield star support GorillA to stay in Korea at all, never mind join an upstart team like the Tigers over a more established organization.

Citing the potential for disagreements within NaJin under the new one-team rule and subsequent merging of teams, GorillA shared in a pre-IEM interview why he chose to stay in Korea. "There were offers as well from China, but right now the strongest (or highest level of play) is the Korean LCK, and I wanted to continue to compete in the LCK."

In weathering their many ups and downs, the Tigers' members have all reflected this attitude at one point or another.

"I want to prove that the Korean League of Legends gaming teams are the best in the world once again...It’s true that we currently have no right to make these claims so easily, but if anyone is going to work towards regaining [Korea's] reputation, I want my team to be that instrument of redemption," said KOO's top laner, Smeb​.

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