Doinb

Doinb
Kim in 2022
Personal information
Name김태상
(Kim Tae-sang)
Born (1996-12-30) December 30, 1996 (age 27)[1]
NationalitySouth Korean
Career information
GameLeague of Legends
Playing career2015–present
RoleMid
Team history
2015–2016Qiao Gu Reapers
2016Newbee
2016Newbee Young
2016–2017Qiao Gu Reapers
2017JD Gaming
2017–2018Rogue Warriors
2018–2021FunPlus Phoenix
2021–2022LNG Esports
Career highlights and awards
  • World champion (2019)
  • Rift Rivals champion (2018)
  • LPL champion (Summer 2019)
    • 4× LPL All Pro First Team

Kim Tae-sang (Korean: 김태상; born December 30, 1996), better known as Doinb, is a South Korean League of Legends player who most recently played for the Chinese team LNG Esports. Spending almost his entire career in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), the highest level of Chinese League of Legends, Doinb was the first player in the LPL to win the title of most valuable player twice; he won the title while playing for Qiao Gu Reapers and FunPlus Phoenix, in 2017[2] and 2019[3] respectively. Doinb won his first international title after he and his team swept G2 Esports in the grand finals of the 2019 World Championship.[4]

Career

[edit]

2015

[edit]

Doinb began his professional career in 2015 when he was picked up by the Chinese team Qiao Gu Reapers as their starting mid laner. In the Demacia Cup, the Qiao Gu Reapers placed third despite being an LSPL (then secondary league to the LPL) team. After winning the finals of the 2015 Spring LSPL, Doinb won his first championship title,[5] and his team qualified for the LPL. The Qiao Gu Reapers went on to defeat Invictus Gaming in their first LPL semifinal,[6] but finished runner-up after losing to LGD in the final.

2016

[edit]

In the 2016 LPL spring playoffs, Doinb and his team were defeated by Team WE in the third-place decider match, placing fourth overall. In May 2016, the Qiao Gu Reapers renamed to Newbee and Doinb was transferred to Newbee Young (Newbee's academy team in the LSPL) due to a conflict he had with the team's jungler, Swift.[7] Newbee Young defeated Young Miracles 3–2 in the 2016 LSPL Summer finals, qualifying the team for the LPL and earning Doinb his second LSPL title. Newbee Young rebranded to QG Reapers due to LPL rules afterthefact.

2017

[edit]

The QG Reapers placed third in the 2017 LPL Spring regular season. However, they were defeated by I May 2–3 in the first round of playoffs. In April Doinb was given the MVP award for the 2017 LPL Spring season. Before the summer season, QG Reapers was purchased by JD Gaming, and Doinb remained on the roster. In the first game of the Demacia Cup, JD Gaming lost to LGD and placed 9th–12th. JD Gaming failed to make the 2017 LPL Summer playoffs after ending with a 6–11 record. In the 2017 National Electronic Sports Tournament finals, JD Gaming lost to Invictus Gaming and finished runner-up. In December 2017, Doinb joined Rogue Warriors. Rogue Warriors lost to Invictus Gaming 1–2 in the 2017 Demacia Championship.

2018

[edit]

In 2018 Rift Rivals, Doinb and his team won the Rift Rivals championship for the LPL, along with Royal Never Give Up, Edward Gaming and Invictus Gaming.[8] Doinb moved to FunPlus Phoenix in December 2018.

2019

[edit]

In the 2019 LPL Spring regular season, Doinb and his team FunPlus Phoenix placed first with a 13–2 record.[9] They then lost to JD Gaming in the semifinals but won to the third-place decider match against TOPSPORTS Gaming.[10] For his performance throughout the 2019 LPL Spring season, Doinb was again awarded the MVP title.[11]

In the 2019 LPL Summer Split, FunPlus Phoenix once again finished first in the regular season and automatically qualified for the semifinals. In the semifinals they defeated Bilibili Gaming 3–1, qualifying them for the finals and the 2019 World Championship, as any result in the finals would allow them to qualify (i.e., a victory in the finals would give FunPlus Phoenix the first LPL seed, a loss would award them enough championship points to qualify by having the most).[12] FunPlus Phoenix then defeated three-time champions Royal Never Give Up 3–1 in the finals, securing their first title.[13]

For the main event group stage of the 2019 World Championship, FunPlus Phoenix was placed in Group B along with Splyce, J Team, and GAM Esports.[14] After defeating Splyce in a tiebreaker match, FunPlus Phoenix qualified for the knockout stage as the first seed in their group.[15][16] In the quarterfinals FunPlus Phoenix defeated Fnatic, which finished runner-up the year prior,[17] and in the semifinals they defeated fellow LPL team and defending world champions Invictus Gaming to advance to the finals.[18] After defeating G2 Esports 3–0 in the finals, Doinb and his team won their first international title and were crowned 2019 Worlds champions.[4]

After playing in the league for five years, Doinb became the first foreigner to acquire LPL residency on December 12, 2019, meaning he would henceforth be considered a domestic player.[19][20][21][22]

2020

[edit]

In the 2020 LPL Summer Split playoffs, FunPlus Phoenix was eliminated in the first round by Victory Five.[23]

At the 2020 LPL Regional Qualifier for the 2020 World Championship, FunPlus Phoenix was knocked out by Invictus Gaming in a best-of-five match,[24] barring them from the World Championship; he and his teammates would therefore not be defending their 2019 title.[25]

2021

[edit]

FunPlus Phoenix went 11–5 in the LPL Spring 2021 regular season, finishing fifth and qualifying for playoffs.[26] In playoffs the team reached the grand final, where they were beaten by Royal Never Give Up 3–1.[27] In the summer regular season, they finished first place, going 13–3.[28] In playoffs their first match was a 3–0 sweep over LNG Esports. Their next match, against Team WE, they won 3–0, simultaneously qualifying them for the 2021 World Championship and the LPL Summer grand final.[29] In the latter they were beaten by Edward Gaming 3–1.[30]

At the 2021 World Championship, FunPlus Phoenix started in the Group Stage. Apart from themselves, their group consisted of Rogue, Cloud9, and defending world champions DWG KIA. Along with DWG KIA, FunPlus Phoenix were heavily favored to advance to the Playoffs Stage,[31][32] but after an initial 2–1 performance, they crumbled in the second round robin and finished 2–5.[33][34]

Doinb joined LNG Esports in the offseason following the World Championship.[35]

2022

[edit]

In the LPL Spring 2022 regular season, Doinb—now on LNG Esports—finished 11–5, placing fourth.[36] In playoffs they were knocked out of the tournament in their first match, against Top Esports, who beat them 3–0.[37] They went 8–8 in the Summer regular season, placing lower than before—seventh—but still qualifying for playoffs.[38] Here the team won their first three matches, against Bilibili Gaming, Weibo Gaming, and Victory Five, but were swept 3–0 by JD Gaming in the first-round Upper Bracket and degraded to the first-round Lower Bracket, where they would have to win to advance; they ended up being beaten by Edward Gaming 3–1, ending their Summer Split.[39]

LNG announced the departure of Doinb on 12 November 2022, and he entered free agency. He did not join a team in the offseason, and later clarified that he would be taking a break from professional play, stating that he "lost confidence this year" and was not satisfied with his results in the past two years.[40]

Achievements

[edit]

Qiao Gu Reapers 

[edit]
  • 3rd — 2015 Demacia Cup
  • 1st — 2015 Spring LSPL
  • 2nd — 2015 Summer LPL
  • 4th — 2016 Spring LPL

Newbee 

[edit]
  • 1st — 2016 Summer LSPL
  • 5th–8th — 2017 Spring LPL

JD Gaming 

[edit]
  • 2nd — 2017 NEST

Rogue Warriors 

[edit]
  • 1st — 2018 Rift Rivals

FunPlus Phoenix 

[edit]
  • 1st — 2019 Spring LPL regular season
  • 3rd — 2019 Spring LPL playoffs
  • 1st — 2019 Summer LPL regular season
  • 1st — 2019 Summer LPL playoffs
  • 1st — 2019 World Championship
  • 3rd — 2020 Spring LPL regular season
  • 3rd — 2020 Spring LPL playoffs
  • 5th – 2021 Spring LPL regular season
  • 2nd – 2021 Spring LPL playoffs
  • 1st - 2021 Summer LPL regular season
  • 2nd - 2021 Summer LPL playoffs

Individual awards

[edit]
  • Best New Player in the LPL (2015)
  • 2017 LPL Spring Split MVP
  • 2019 LPL Spring Split MVP
  • 2021 LPL Summer Split MVP
  • 16th player to achieve 1,000 kills in the LPL (February 2019)[41]
  • First South Korean to play 300+ games in the LPL (March 2019)

Personal life

[edit]

Doinb is married to Li Youzi, better known by her in-game name Tang Xiaoyou, and recently now known as Umi Lee; he first met her when he was 18-years-old and still a new player in the LPL.[42] At the time, Li was a professional player and official commentator for the online fighting game Dungeon Fighter Online.[43] Doinb and Li began dating in 2015, but they did not publicly reveal their relationship until 2016. On Doinb's 22nd birthday he proposed to Li, who accepted.[44] On September 8, 2022, Doinb announced that he and Li were expecting their first child; Li announced that she had given birth in February 2023.[45]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ @FPX_Esports (December 29, 2020). "Happy birthday, Doinb🥳! ..." (Tweet). Retrieved May 5, 2021 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ "2017 MVP in LPL". Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  3. ^ "Doinb, the LPL's best player to never make Worlds, won MVP again". Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  4. ^ a b Esuguerra, Tyler (November 10, 2019). "FunPlus Phoenix sweep G2 Esports to win Worlds 2019". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Gosugamersnet. (2019). Doinb LoL profile". Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  6. ^ "2015 LPL Summer Final Stage – Semifinal". Retrieved May 12, 2019.
  7. ^ "QG Reapers respond to Doinb accusations with call for investigation". Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "RNG Xiaohu at Championship Interview: "At this point, we can say that we're the best in Asia."". July 9, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  9. ^ "FunPlus Phoenix tops LPL after beating world champ Invictus Gaming". Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  10. ^ "FunPlus Phoenix 3:1 Topsports Gaming". Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  11. ^ Plant, Mike (September 7, 2019). "FunPlus Phoenix Fly to First LPL Championship". Hotspawn. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  12. ^ O'Dwyer, Samuel (August 31, 2019). "FunPlus Phoenix defeat BiliBili Gaming to secure their first appearance at Worlds". Dot Esports. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  13. ^ Rand, Emily (September 7, 2019). "Doinb earns his place as one of the LPL's best". ESPN. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  14. ^ Endres, Elena (October 17, 2019). "FPX send J Team home to earn a spot in the Worlds 2019 quarterfinals". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  15. ^ Esuguerra, Tyler (October 17, 2019). "FunPlus Phoenix, Splyce top Group B at Worlds 2019". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  16. ^ "Splyce and FunPlus Phoenix battle it out for Group B". ESPN. October 17, 2019. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  17. ^ Endres, Elena (October 26, 2019). "Fnatic eliminated from Worlds 2019". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  18. ^ Endres, Elena (November 2, 2019). "FPX advance to Worlds 2019 finals after a massive throw by IG". Dot Esports. Retrieved November 3, 2019.
  19. ^ Rand, Emily (December 12, 2019). "FunPlus Phoenix's Doinb becomes first foreign player to qualify for LPL residency". ESPN. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  20. ^ Ousley, Parkes (December 12, 2019). "League of Legends: Doinb gains Chinese Residency in the LPL, becoming first player to do so". Inven Global. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  21. ^ Kolev, Radoslav (December 13, 2019). "Doinb first player to secure LPL residency". VPEsports. Archived from the original on December 24, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  22. ^ "Doinb becomes first LPL import player to obtain residency in China". Daily Esports. December 13, 2019. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
  23. ^ "FunPlus Phoenix knocked out of 2020 LPL playoffs by Victory Five".
  24. ^ "Five big names that won't be at LoL Worlds 2020".
  25. ^ Lupasco, Cristian (August 29, 2020). "Invictus Gaming knock FunPlus Phoenix out of LPL Regional Finals". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  26. ^ "LPL Spring 2021 regular season standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  27. ^ Plant, Mike (April 20, 2021). "LoL Week in Review: RNG Reclaim Seat on LPL Throne". Hotspawn. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  28. ^ "LPL Summer 2021 regular season standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  29. ^ Geracie, Nick (August 27, 2021). "FunPlus Phoenix is the first LPL team to qualify for the 2021 World Championship". InvenGlobal. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  30. ^ "LPL Summer 2021 Playoffs standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  31. ^ "Worlds 2021 groups roundtable pick'em: Who will advance to knockouts?". Upcomer. October 9, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  32. ^ "LoL Worlds 2021 - Who will advance out of Group A on Friday?". Esports.net. October 14, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  33. ^ Kelly, Michael (October 15, 2021). "FPX lost 4 of last 5 games at Worlds 2021 after Doinb claimed they 'won't lose one single game'". DotEsports. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  34. ^ "Worlds 2021 Groups standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  35. ^ Kelly, Michael (December 10, 2021). "Doinb joins LNG Esports ahead of 2022 LPL season". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  36. ^ "LPL Spring 2022 regular season standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  37. ^ "LPL Spring 2022 playoffs standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  38. ^ "All teams qualified for LPL Summer 2022 playoffs". ONE Esports. August 4, 2022. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  39. ^ "LPL Summer 2022 playoffs standings". lolesports.com. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  40. ^ Xu, Davide (December 12, 2022). "Doinb explains why he's stepping down and taking a break from professional League". Dot Esports. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  41. ^ "从QG到FPX用4年达成1000杀成就 Doinb无愧关键先生". Archived from the original on May 30, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2019.
  42. ^ "520特辑!Doinb与糖小幽的爱情历程全揭秘!". Retrieved May 24, 2019.
  43. ^ "越磨砺越光芒_DNF人物志元素篇_中国美女解说糖小幽特辑". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  44. ^ "Doinb "Ambition got married in 2017, and got into Worlds that year. That's a buff I need"". Retrieved May 30, 2019.
  45. ^ Umi Lee [@umiokk] (February 22, 2023). "Welcome to my world" (Tweet). Retrieved March 12, 2023 – via Twitter.
[edit]