#11 - Deft

Riot·Sep 12, 2014·0 votes·56,741 views

As part of our Countdown to Worlds, lolesports.com, we celebrate the Top 20 players of the World Championship.

#11 - Deft

Team - Samsung Galaxy Blue Region - Korea Position - AD Carry Signature Champions

Meet the #1 player on Korea’s Challenger ladder: Samsung Blue’s Deft. Nicknamed ‘Samsung Alpaca’ for his likeness to the fluffy mammal, Blue’s AD Carry might not wow you in the laning phase with his mechanics, but all you have to do is to wait until the late game for the Alpaca Carry to takeover. Unlike Imp on Samsung White, Deft is usually not a player that will get ahead early in the laning phase. He can fall behind in CS, get pushed around in lane, and might even give up a needless kill if things aren’t going his way. But, for all his shortcomings in the early part of the game, there is no AD Carry in the world that can control team fights in the late game the same way Deft does. His kiting, maneuverability alongside his teammates, and knowing the timing to get in and out is what sets Deft apart from his counterparts. Blue’s insane late-game and ability to make mammoth comebacks are linked to Deft and Dade’s top notch team fighting and turning the tides of battle. His main champion of late has been Kog’maw, using the champion’s long range ability to snipe from the backlines while the rest of his team cleans up in the chaos of battle. His stat line not be the prettiest when the ten minute mark rolls around, but don’t fret -- Deft thrives in the late game. Check out the other players on the list! Who do you think is #10 on our list of the 20 greatest players at #Worlds? Tweet @lolesports or comment below to let us know!

54 Comments

WreckognizedSep 12, 201433 votes

Rekkles is going to be above Imp AND Deft....what kind of sick joke is this?

supercow376Sep 13, 20143 votes

you have to remember that when Rekkles is way more important to his team than both of them are. Rekkless literally is the Fnatic team.

JMGeeKing fRSep 14, 20147 votes

Eh plz, don't forget xPeke & Yellowstar, just the 2 best players since the first world championship. Yeah, Korea fck them, but Rekkles isn't alone in FNC.

KatChiuSep 12, 201423 votes

Riot's Ranking: 11th | Actual Ranking in Korea: 1st

Boy, whoever's first must be miles past Korea's Challenger division.

Phille BotSep 12, 20149 votes

People need to realize that all of these players are very close in term of raw mechanical skills. The main reason why Korea is better than all the regions is because of their framework, ability to maintain mental focus, macro strategy and consistency as a team.

MakkabiSep 12, 20149 votes

Well why is deft with like three accounts in the top 30 of KR Challenger and placed Number 1? Isnt soloq all about mechanical skill? Deft is really far up in Korea mechanicswise. I dont know if their are even 10 players above him at the worlds tournament.

Shadow AuraSep 25, 20141 votes

Deft is the god of teamfighting, mechanics isn't everything. Some people (like Yellowpete) climbs through game knowledge.

Dear NameSep 13, 20148 votes

So you are saying that Rekkles is better player then deft in his mechanical skills? I find that also questionalable

HatezSep 13, 20145 votes

Turtle 3 accs in NA challenger placed below sneaky (which is definitely right). Get your shit together, fanboys. It's not soloQ.

Raizon d EtreSep 13, 20144 votes

Close to mechanical skills to be beaten by SKT botlane at allstars. Doesn't really prove your point.

ZerobyDividedSep 13, 20142 votes

and if you keep track of the korean ladder, he i no longer #1, and faker all the way from diamond a few weeks ago is already #4 .

ArdinSep 13, 20141 votes

he is number 1... http://www.op.gg/ranking/ladder/

ZerobyDividedSep 13, 20142 votes

he is number 2 Bang is number 1 and faker is number 3 check your facts.

ZerobyDividedSep 17, 20141 votes

now he is number 3 and faker number 2

Chase The SunSep 12, 201417 votes

Are you serious that the best adc of Korea is only ranked #11? Someone hasn't done his research I guess. What comes next? xPeke #1?!

TripleV FoxSep 12, 201412 votes

So, rekkles, froggen,and and bjergsen will be higher than imp...umm ok So there are 8 more spaces for other players. namei, uzi, dade,pawn, meta, cool,dandy,insec?i would surprised if any of those players are not be in the list

OMG HedilamSep 12, 201411 votes

rank NO.1 in Korea, he should be in top 10 at least

KemySep 12, 20148 votes

#2 on Korean solo queue being closely behind #1 and being the best teamfight ADC how is Deft only #11. Riot if you place Froggen, Bjergsen, Rekkles, Hai above Deft you guys need to hand in your resignation for Esports writing because THIS RIGHT HERE is not journalism. It's fanboying.

Random EnoughSep 12, 20141 votes

if riot resigned lol would cease to exist genius......

KemySep 12, 20145 votes

Riot is known for bias on Western teams always overrating them. When you are writing journalism you can't let your bias effect your writing. Riot has continually failed in Esports journalism. They need to stop and leave it to the professionals who are a lot better. (Ongamers)

Riot jaywaySep 12, 201418 votes

As fan of watching OGN, there is no doubting Deft's ability to close-out teamfights. But you are missing intangibles as an important factor when Riot is determining these rankings such as importance to team (which I think a lot of fans are missing). Can you imagine Alliance without Froggen? I think there's an argument you can make that Froggen is more important to Alliance than Deft is to Blue.

Same argument for imp. I think DanDy and Mata's playmaking ability far outweigh imp's contribution to White. If you watch the 2v2's of piglet/pooh vs imp/mata at regionals and in Champions, it's very clear that Mata is carrying that lane which lets imp shine later.

Raizon d EtreSep 13, 20144 votes

Well obviously you haven't seen any of the miraculous teamfights that Blue comes up with. Deft is the key to these teamfights that overturn 8000 global gold differences with his close to perfect positioning and the mechanical ability to dodge skillshots. I don't see any other marksmen in this whole tournament coming even close to that level of positioning and the ability to deal damage.

EohorSep 13, 20141 votes

Following your statement, let's say the leader of dark passage is the best player in the world, because he's the leader, the best in his team, the shotcaller, because he did clutch plays on his turkey ladder and because he's consistent at his low level

HatezSep 13, 20142 votes

You're missing a point. As stated, Deft is the best ADC when it comes to lategame positioning and stuff. However his early game is really slippery. You can't be the no. 1 in this ladder if you lack the early game presence. Deft is getting carried hard in the early game which is quite shameful. If you're talking all about mechanics, early game also matters (a lot actually). Look at Froggen for instance. That guy solocarries the team no matter what. He doesn't need Shook to carry his ass early game to simply dominate his opponent when it comes to CS and lategame. Moreover, Froggen excels in shotcalling which Deft is not known for at all. Seriously, this ladder is not about "who has more OP plays". It's a generall ladder.

HatezSep 13, 20141 votes

Ah, also Sneaky was stated to be the best ADC in NA while Turtle has 3/4 ACCs in the Chalenger (placing both 1st and 4th the last time I checked). Pros in LCS already stated that the soloQ is all about grinding your way rather than pure mechanics otherwise there would be players better than the ones in LCS just because they play more soloQ.

RabidLawnGnomeSep 14, 2014

ur name is SKT T1 GeeGee, how is that not fanboying?

T0EKNIFESep 16, 20141 votes

Well it would be if he was the one trying to write an objective article but he is not.

EohorSep 12, 20146 votes

So they call themselves analysts, and they dont even put people like deft.. spirit.. imp, in top 10. Dyrus #1 Gogo, your credibility is already GONE

MakkabiSep 12, 20145 votes

Well i guess now, their should be no more none koreans except maybe cool, namei and uzi to be seen. Like Deft has gone this far for a reason. I dont see any western player getting close to even the level of save.

PlaysFerDaysSep 12, 20145 votes

Normally I just ignore this shit about the rankings and stuff like that but let me just say this to everyone talking shit about froggen not deserving places in the top 10 which we all know he will receive. Froggen is currently being hailed as the real deal over in Korea by some of the best mid laners in Korea. They are actually hyping him more so then what ever spot riot places him at. So to all those hating on Froggen saying the Koreans are better. Well guess what you can say riot hasn't done their research but it is you my friends because Froggen is being hailed as one of if not the best mid laner currently playing in Korea before the tournament by those Koreans you so idolize.

Chase The SunSep 12, 20145 votes

Seriously, your English is that bad even though you play on NA? And stop dreaming, girl. No Korean pro ever said that he's the best midlaner in the world... They think that he is the only real threat from the western world but he still isn't even close to any of the top Korean midlaners. I'd call you a fanboy but you're more like a fangirl, sorry.

12talesSep 13, 20141 votes

Context - that comment was made during a period in which Alliance was scrimming 9th-12th place Korean teams. So, he's the real deal to the likes of GBM, Frozen and kuro.

Not implying that he's bad, of course - I do think that Froggen is the only westerner that could at all realistically be put in the top 10 - but that InsideKLoL tweet is incredibly deceptive without the proper context of who said it.

starting11Sep 13, 20145 votes

I can understand other rankings. (Sneaky deserves to be on Top 20 and so does XiaoWeiXaio.... But seriously? Deft on #11? He is currently ranked #1 in KR SoloQ and arguably the best mechanical adc in the world (I personally consider Namei, Deft, Imp to be Top3 and Rekkles somewhat close to them). Deft should have been at least Top5 in my opinion. I didn't like this list when they put one of the best Top laners in China and World, GoGoing on 17th, but this is just ridiculous. I like your new method of hyping up for S4 Worlds, but at least be reasonably realistic please.

Fat of the LandSep 12, 20144 votes

Don't fool yourselves, any one of these players at Worlds could be #1 on the ladder if they really wanted to be.

MakkabiSep 12, 20146 votes

Not trying to rate them down, but i dont think sneaky is as talented as imp, namei, dade or pawn

Raizon d EtreSep 13, 20142 votes

Not really. There can only be one #1 genius.

zardrasSep 13, 20141 votes

oh hey, captain obvious he said "Don't fool yourselves, any one of these players at Worlds could be #1 on the ladder if they really wanted to be." and with discipline he is right.

IanBealeNavySealSep 12, 20142 votes

Still waiting for froggen, bjergsen and hai

KemySep 12, 20146 votes

honestly those players don't deserve top 10 except arguably Froggen. However, Pawn and Dade is still better than him and arguably Ggong. Save, Deft, Imp definitely deserve top 10 but Riot's on weird drugs as always when it comes to journalism

HatezSep 13, 20143 votes

Why the fuck would you cherish Deft, Save and Imp so much. You have never seen them facing the pros from other regions. Yet you've noticed how each of them struggles in particular phases of the game. Froggen just doesn't know the word "struggle". Early/mid/late - he doesn't care, because the team will be on his back anyways. I'm not saying Froggen is the Best player at Worlds, but stop thinking that anything in Korea is better because it's not.

Sycksh1tSep 12, 20142 votes

Noone said ranked number 1 in korea it was number 1 in Korean challenger ladder which is a big difference which I hope doesn't have to be explained

RabidLawnGnomeSep 14, 20141 votes

Because you don't know how to explain it?

ZXDYKioaMxSep 13, 20142 votes

The Riot journalists aren't the fanboys here, its the kids in these comments. Too many people think there is a blueprint somewhere that says "#1 in Korea = #1 in World". It isn't true guys. Korean players know the Korean strategies, European players know European strategies. A team will always do better against a strategy they know.

And until these teams actually play against each other stop making things up like "Korean players have way more individual and team skill". That's bull. At the level these teams are playing at it comes down to team skill and pretty much team skill only. There is only so skilled you can get solo and most of these players are at the "almost perfect" level. Some are a tiny bit better than others but they are all way too close individually to say an entire regions is just way better. You cannot get infinitely good at league, u have 4 skills, a flash, some actives.

If you ask the best Korean mid laner to perform a high level mechanical play and dodge 2 skill shots, flash over an ultimate and follow up with a kite-kill do you think an EU or NA player like Froggen, Peke, Bjerg, Hai can't do the same thing?

CT GanziSep 17, 20142 votes

Just wait for the KR teams to send the EU and NA teams home.. :)

AeriluxSep 13, 20141 votes

Rankings are quite questionable but the only reason I can think of is the 'importance to team' category listed for the ranking criteria. In Korea, everybody is godly so I'm guessing the team isn't so reliant on one player. For example, if Bjerg or Froggen had horrible games, there would be no hope of a win while Korean teams can probably win even with two people having horrid performances. Just a guess...