You don't grow by playing against people you've already beaten.
At the close of a championship year, Jang Ha-gwon — known as Nuguri — chose to leave the familiar ground of South Korea and cross into the competitive wilderness of China's LPL, joining FunPlus Phoenix for 2021. Two consecutive world champions now share a roster, a convergence that speaks to the restless ambition that defines elite competition. His decision was not merely transactional but philosophical — a deliberate search for the friction that produces growth, even at the cost of comfort.
- Two back-to-back world champions uniting on a single roster has sent a current of anticipation — and skepticism — through the global esports community.
- Nuguri faces the compounding pressures of a foreign language, a new culture, and a league stacked with elite top laners ready to test every weakness.
- He is leaning on FPX mid laner Doinb, a fellow Korean, as his cultural anchor while he races to find his footing in an unfamiliar environment.
- The prospect of facing LPL rivals like Suning's Bin — opponents who already pushed him at Worlds — fuels his hunger rather than his hesitation.
- His stated goal is measured and deliberate: not to immediately conquer, but to return to the Worlds stage wearing FPX colors by the end of 2021.
Jang Ha-gwon, the top laner the world knows as Nuguri, closed out 2020 as a World Champion — and then immediately chose to complicate his life. In late December, he announced he would leave South Korea to join FunPlus Phoenix in China's League of Legends Pro League, a move that carried a striking historical footnote: FPX had won Worlds in 2019, and Nuguri had won it in 2020. Two consecutive champions, now teammates.
When asked why FPX specifically, Nuguri described something harder to quantify than money or prestige. The organization had felt genuine — aligned with him on the roster they were assembling, the legacy they carried, and the passion of their fanbase. He'd always known an overseas stint was part of his career arc. The timing simply arrived sooner than expected.
He was clear-eyed about the difficulties ahead. A new country, a language barrier, the quiet weight of distance from home. His primary lifeline would be FPX mid laner Doinb, a Korean player who could help him navigate the cultural and communicative gaps. Beyond the logistics, though, what animated him most was the competition itself — particularly the prospect of testing himself against the LPL's best top laners. Suning's Bin had already left an impression on him at Worlds, and Nuguri spoke of that matchup with a mix of nerves and appetite.
When the conversation turned to legacy — was 2020 the Year of Nuguri? Was he the world's best top laner? — he deflected both questions with quiet grace, crediting teammates and acknowledging the depth of talent around him. His goal for 2021 was simply stated: make it back to Worlds with FPX. Not a coronation, just a return to the stage where it matters most.
Jang Ha-gwon, known to the League of Legends world as Nuguri, had just finished the best year of his career. He'd won the 2020 World Championship as a top laner—the player responsible for controlling the top side of the map, one of the most demanding positions in competitive play. Now, in late December, he was about to leave South Korea entirely. His destination was China, where he would join FunPlus Phoenix for the 2021 League of Legends Pro League season.
The move carried symbolic weight that rippled through the esports community. FunPlus Phoenix had won Worlds in 2019. Nuguri had won it in 2020. Two consecutive world champions, now on the same roster. It was the kind of union that made fans wonder what might be possible—or what might go wrong. Before he boarded his flight, Nuguri sat down for an interview to explain the decision.
Why FPX, when other teams had surely called? He described the organization's approach as genuine in a way others weren't. They'd aligned on what mattered: the roster they were building, the legacy the organization carried, the depth of the fanbase. It wasn't just about money or prestige. It was about fit. He'd always expected to play overseas at some point in his career. The timing had simply arrived faster than he'd anticipated.
But he wasn't naive about what awaited him. The obstacles loomed large in his mind—the foreign environment, the language barrier, the simple friction of being far from home. He knew he'd have to adjust quickly. One advantage: FPX's mid laner, Kim Tae-sang, was Korean. Doinb, as he was known in esports, would be a lifeline, someone who understood the culture and could help him navigate the transition. Nuguri was counting on that support.
What excited him most was the competition itself. The LPL housed some of the world's best top laners. Suning's Bin stood out in his mind—they'd faced each other at Worlds, and the matchup had left an impression. Nuguri spoke of nervousness, yes, but also hunger. He wanted to test himself against these players. He wanted to see how he'd perform in a completely new context. The challenge wasn't something to fear; it was the point.
When asked if 2020 had been the "Year of Nuguri," he deflected with characteristic humility. He'd been fortunate, he said. His teammates were the ones doing the heavy lifting. He was simply doing his job. And when pressed on whether he was the best top laner in the world—a question he'd dodged before—he laughed it off again. There were still many very good top laners out there, he said. The answer was no answer at all, delivered with the kind of grace that suggested he understood the difference between confidence and arrogance.
His goal for 2021 was straightforward: reach Worlds with FPX. Not win it—not yet. Just make it back to the stage where it mattered most. He closed by thanking the fans who had supported him, promising to grow as a player through the trials ahead. It was a measured, respectful goodbye to one chapter and a careful step into the next.
Citações Notáveis
Out of all the foreign teams that reached out to me with an offer, they seemed the most genuine. We were on the same page when it came to various topics, and based on their player roster, the organization's legacy, and its fandom, I felt that they had the most to offer.— Nuguri, on why he chose FunPlus Phoenix
I was only able to make it this far because of the incredible support that I received from the fans. I'll make sure to grow even more as a player through competing against the various LPL teams and their top laners.— Nuguri, in closing remarks to FPX fans
A Conversa do Hearth Outra perspectiva sobre a história
You had just won the world championship. Why leave that success behind?
Because I'd always wondered what I could do somewhere else. The timing felt right, and FPX felt like the right place to find out.
Were you worried about the language barrier, the distance from home?
Of course. Those were the two things keeping me up at night. But having Doinb there—someone who speaks Korean, who understands where I'm coming from—that made it feel possible.
The LPL has some of the best top laners in the world. Did that intimidate you?
It made me nervous, yes. But that's exactly why I wanted to go. You don't grow by playing against people you've already beaten.
Do you think you're the best top laner in the world?
There are a lot of very good top laners. I'm just trying to be the best version of myself.
What would success look like in your first year?
Getting to Worlds. That's the goal. Everything else flows from that.