Stars eventually lose their light. However, until that moment, they shine brilliantly, decorating the night sky, and remain as stars for a long time. Kim Hyuk-kyu, or the name 'Deft,' is also similar to this. Having lived as a professional gamer for over 10 years, he has never lost his light for a moment. Even in defeat, even in despair, he has stood up with an unwavering spirit and continued his endless challenges.
The phrase that best describes him would be 'what matters is an unwavering heart.' During the World Championship victory in 2022, this phrase, which resembles his journey, was deeply engraved in the hearts of many people beyond the game. Deft maintained focus until the last moment, even in matches where victory was uncertain, ultimately creating a drama of reversal.
His appearance shone from the very beginning. In 2013, with the nickname 'crazy high schooler,' Deft entered the e-sports stage and received much expectation. Among many prospects, he shone like a comet. He went on to record thousands of kills, establishing himself as one of the best players of his time, and reached the pinnacle of his career with the 2022 World Championship victory. However, he still dreams of new challenges. He wishes to keep that light until the moment the star disappears.
In fact, the reason student Kim Hyuk-kyu started League of Legends (LoL) was simple. During the winter vacation at the age of 16, spending a normal school life, he lightly played LoL to relax with friends. Initially, he couldn't perform as well as his friends, but after a couple of months, he became known as one of the best among his peers. He mentioned that seeing himself continuously rise in ranks even when new tiers were added made him think he might have a talent for this game.
"In fact, at first, I was the worst among my friends. But I could see my skills improving quickly. Watching my rank keep rising made me think, 'Ah, I am at least reasonably good at this game.'"
At the moment when he reached the highest tier, Platinum, and was contemplating retirement, a new tier called Diamond was introduced. He reflected that he thought, 'I'll just hit Diamond and quit,' but he kept playing and has come to this point. Eventually, he received an offer from a professional team and moved from a 'local PC room' to a larger stage called an 'e-sports league.'
However, the path of the professional was not smooth. In particular, his parents strongly opposed it. His mother, who was a civil servant, hoped her son would have a stable job. Additionally, the unfamiliarity of the profession of a professional gamer worried his parents.
"At first, my parents misunderstood that I didn't want to study. So they strongly opposed it. But I found reasons to persuade them. I showed them my rankings in the game to let them know I had talent. Then, I gradually gained recognition by showing impressive performances in my debut match."
However, the wall of professionalism was high. In his rookie year, he did not achieve the expected results, and his parents suggested he should return to academics. But he challenged himself again, and his performance began to improve from the second year, solidifying his path as a professional gamer. Perhaps the habit of never giving up was cultivated from that time.
Afterward, Deft has walked his own path, moving between the LCK and LPL. He has set the personal record for the most kills and achieved significant success in various competitions. However, he emphasized that the team is more important than individual records. He believes that a team must perform well to win.
He also had a victory that stands out the most in his memory, namely the 2022 World Championship. He finally lifted the trophy on the stage he had admired 10 years ago.
"Honestly, even until the last moment, it didn't feel real. After we secured the victory, the only thought I had was, 'Wow, this really happened?'"
As time passed, he faced another turning point: military enlistment. He mentioned that he feels vaguely about the military but is not afraid. He just hopes to come back safely. However, when asked whether he would retire after his military service, he firmly drew the line. He wishes to continue his activities as a professional gamer if the circumstances allow after discharge.
"I don't know how much the game will change in two years, but right now I think my competitiveness will still be sufficient after I return. Moreover, considering the experiences I will gain with various teams and players, I also hope to try being a coach or director someday."
However, when asked how he wants to be remembered after his athletic career, he replied, 'A player who finds ways, no matter what.' He hopes to be remembered as someone who never give up until the game is over. Here too, we can confirm his 'unwavering heart.'
Clearly, as a star player, Deft has entered the latter half of his lifespan. Perhaps the light that only a bright star can possess has dimmed a little. However, it cannot be asserted that this is the end. Sometimes, stars like the capable giants shine their brightest light before they die. Deft, too, may illuminate a new light once again.
What we do know is that there will be no quitting for him. Perhaps someday, when he stops shining, we will finally be able to say that Deft's journey has come to an end.
―Please introduce yourself briefly.
"I am Kim Hyuk-kyu, who recently worked as a long-range dealer for KT. I am better known as Deft in League of Legends."
―I'm curious about how you started playing LoL and what your first champion was.
"It was around the winter vacation when I was 16. I started my professional career at 17. I thought I would quit after reaching the highest rank, Platinum, but when Diamond was introduced, I just kept playing and came this far. My first champion was Kog'Maw. I chose it simply because it was free at the time, without even knowing the concepts of long-range dealer or support."
―What do you think is the charm of LoL?
"The biggest charm is that it's not just one person, but several people working as a team. I have always liked team sports like soccer since I was young. It's also attractive that each person has their assigned role."
―What position do you think you would have chosen if not an ADC?
"I think I would have chosen support. There is no big reason; when I was younger, my computer wasn't very good, so I often played LoL at PC rooms, but when playing at home, I mainly played support. My win rate wasn't that bad either."
―You have recorded thousands of kills in the LCK and LPL and are one of the players with the highest kill records among ADCs. I'm curious about your thoughts on that.
"In fact, I think records related to most kills or firsts can ultimately be broken by players like me who have been professionals for a long time. So, I feel that winning tournaments is more meaningful than personal records."
―If there is a victory that stands out in your memory, what would it be?
"The 2022 League of Legends World Championship. The World Championship was where I first saw professional players as well. Naturally, winning Worlds became my professional goal. I think it took a long time to achieve it, so that made it even more emotional. It was not an easy victory, so when I finally won, I was blank. My thoughts at the time were, 'Wow, this really works,' and 'Is this for real?' Looking back at the last set, there were turning points when our team gained momentum, but strangely, I couldn't ease my tension until we destroyed the final Nexus."
―If you compare your early debut play to now, what do you think?
"During my debut, I relied on individual play instead of the team due to my youth. Since LoL is not a game played by machines, the synergy between team members is crucial. I think that was lacking when I was young. Prioritizing my emotions, my teammates naturally tended to look toward me a lot. However, during my professional career, I met good teams and teammates like KT, which refined me a lot. If I were to meet a player like my young self again, I would know how to approach them."
―If you could say something to yourself at the beginning of your career, what would it be?
"Knowing the future would make it less fun, so I wouldn't want to give specific advice (laughs). However, I would like to comfort my younger self by saying you are doing well. At that time, everything felt uncertain, so I was pouring my heart into it. I would want to give them a hug and say they were doing well."
―If you were to rate your play out of 10, what would it be?
"Honestly, I think I can be evaluated in two ways. One is my performance in the game, and the other is my overall impact on team play. I think I have done quite well in the latter, except for my debut. In terms of that influence, I would rate myself about 8 to 9 points. However, I feel that the remaining part is lacking, so overall I would give myself a 7."
―If you have to choose your all-time best match and the one you regret the most?
"The finals of the 2022 Worlds was my best match. In contrast, last year's final match was the one I regretted the most. Because I couldn't achieve what I intended."
―You said that if you can play one perfect game, you could retire without regrets.
"If I count the games I've played so far, it must be over 10,000 games. But I haven't even come close to having that kind of game yet. I feel a bit regretful about every game. However, if it were perfect, there shouldn't be any regret. In fact, I thought that winning Worlds would take away my lingering feelings about League of Legends. Instead, I ended up with more ambition. Now, after achieving something, I question whether it's realistically possible to retire."
―If you were to name your all-time all-star team?
"I think it's meaningful to be evaluated not as an individual player but as a team in LoL. The teams I would select as the best are Samsung White from 2014 and T1 from 2015-16."
―You've spent the longest time at KT; I'm curious about your thoughts on that.
"I apologize for not providing satisfactory results despite winning during the three years I spent there. Regardless, I have nothing but grateful memories of KT fans. There is a unique energy that only KT fans have. When I first joined KT and even when I returned, I was incredibly thankful. The emotions and moments I experienced in the arena will never be forgotten for a lifetime."
―Do you have a pre-game routine?
"I don't eat anything before the game starts. I dislike being distracted by other factors during the match. Even when I drink water, I would feel weird and a little anxious after going to the restroom. Ah, aside from that, my favorite food is seasoned chicken. (laughs)"
―You've made a deep impression on the general public with the term 'unwavering heart.' Is this in line with your usual philosophy?
"I really dislike losing. Every time I lose a match, I try to keep my spirits up by thinking, 'This is not the end.' Someday, I will meet the opponent again. Can't I just win then? I believe that while one can lose in the moment, there is always 'next time.'"
―Many fans are disappointed about Deft's military enlistment. I'm curious about your future plans.
"One of my strengths is being able to view things objectively. I still think I have competitiveness. I believe that I can still compete on stages like Worlds. There are about two years left until I get discharged, but it's true that I don't know how the game will change afterward. However, I don't want to think about that just yet."
―If you could say something to those dreaming of becoming professional gamers?
"Personally, I don't think I possess immense talent, but I am confident in my 'persistence.' I hope that unless one has overwhelming talent or perseverance, they think carefully. Looking back, I practiced the most no matter which team I was on, and I was always in the practice room during vacations. For instance, when I set goals like hitting a certain rank or achieving a certain number of wins, I would stay up for two or three days until I achieved them. However, I'm not sure if that's an effective method. (laughs)"
―Please say a few words to your fans.
"As I grow older, many fans have watched me for a long time. Some have gotten married or started jobs, but these are the fans who remain most memorable to me throughout my professional career. Thank you for being my motivation, and I hope that whether I continue as a player or transition into a coach or director, we can develop a supportive relationship that positively impacts each other."