Rain fell at the Olympic Subsidiary Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. Dark clouds filled the southern sky behind the nearby Seoul Olympic Stadium, but sun reflected off of skyscrapers on the north side of the Han River. Spectators arranged neatly in folding chairs on the Subsidiary’s track field squinted and the rain disappeared into the sun at a distance in their eyes, dissolving into a humid haze. It drummed on their white ponchos and fan-signs-turned-hats, beading and forming rivulets that made their way to the ground.

A crowd of approximately 10,000 was gathered when OnGameNet’s Jeon Yong-jun took the stage in a white single-breasted suit with blue lapels. Raindrops bounced off of his glasses. After opening the event, Caster Jun stepped back and Korean pop group Yellow took the stage in white outfits.

“I’ve taken my dues. Time after time.”

Accompanied by the crackling of raindrops on sound equipment and a slightly botched opening lyric, Queen’s “We Are the Champions” began to blare from the stage. SK Telecom T1 and the KT Rolster Bullets made their way onto the field.

“I’ve had my share of sand kicked in my face, but I’ve come through.”

Both teams entered the field to a shower of confetti. They lined up neatly, standing in the rain behind the crowd while Yellow crooned.

“We are the champions. We are the champions. No time for losers ‘cause we are the champions. Of the world.”

Rain and confetti continued to fall, sticking to chairs, umbrellas, and the members of SK Telecom T1 and the KT Rolster Bullets. Even the most outgoing and bubbly players were quiet, looking blankly ahead. As the final notes of “We Are the Champions” faded, fireworks boomed from the mainstage.

Four hours and forty minutes later, SK Telecom T1 destroyed the Bullets’ Nexus in Game 5, their first of many championship titles to come. The series itself matched both the dark clouds over the southern sky and the sun to the north.

One of the most iconic series in League of Legends history, the 2013 OnGameNet Champions Summer Finals are a permanent fixture in the hearts of Korean LoL fans.

Yoo “Ryu” Sang-ook’s face filled Inven boards and Reddit threads. After losing a 1v1 duel to SKT’s Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, the KT Bullets mid laner’s somber expression was immediately affixed in fans’ memories for years to come. When Game 5 was over, he buried his head in his hands.

The sun had long since set over the Seoul Sports Complex. Fans surged towards the stage as members of SKT raised the Champions trophy above their heads. The KT Bullets filed onstage next to them, the runner-up of 2013 OGN Champions Summer. They stared into the crowd where a few remaining KT fans cheered loudly in an attempt to raise their spirits.

At the center of the lineup was Go “Score” Dong-bin. The KT Bullets AD carry had spent 2013 OGN Champions Winter and much of Spring as “The Immortal.” His 9.81 KDA in Champions Winter remains one of the most impressive statistics of that time. This nickname raised questions about his AD carry performances. His teamfight prowess was turned into accusations of being a “KDA player,” caring about statline before team.

In a world with NaJin Black Sword’s Kim “PraY” Jong-in, SK Telecom T1’s Chae “Piglet” Gwang-jin, CJ Entus Blaze’s Kang “Cpt Jack” Hyung-woo, and MVP Ozone’s Gu “imp” Seung-bin Score lived in the shadow of his flashy Champions counterparts. At the 2013 OGN Champions Summer Finals, Score struck first with a sublime Game 1 Ezreal performance, but it was Piglet who owned the Rift and later, the championship trophy. Faker’s Zed outplay is the highlight that the community still reveres, but Piglet was the star of the SKT show. Although he was an instrumental part of the Bullets’ Game 1 and Game 2 victories, Score was somewhat cast out of fan’s minds, an above-average AD carry in Korea. Nothing more and nothing less.

Throughout the entire trophy presentation and an interview with his coach Lee Ji-hoon, Score stared blankly into the crowd. His shoulders were slumped, head bowed slightly, with an awestruck look on his face as if he didn’t believe the outcome.

It was okay. He, and KT Rolster, would receive other opportunities.

View photos KT Rolster’s Go “Score” Dong-bin after the 2013 Summer Finals (OnGameNet/Twitch) More

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