A strange laugh, a giggle – almost.



It was cheerful and enjoyable, but it held an air of confidence. Following it was a rapid succession of keystrokes. Then another chuckle and, finally, a trademarked smile.



The calling card of any champion is their irrefutable skill, their unparalleled talent, or their individuality. Many players possess one; possibly two of the above. Meet Lee Byung-kwon, a rare exception, who commands all three. He’s better known as KaKAO.



Or maybe ognKakackle.

Lee “KaKAO” Byung-kwon entered Korea’s competitive circuit in late 2012, although he didn’t see much play that year, 2013 would mark the beginnings of a spectacular career. The KT Rolster organisation had bought themselves an invaluable asset, bringing in a face that would rival the kings of the jungle and someone who’d contend for championships. KT Rolster’s history is littered with ineffectual roster swaps and heartache, but a rock in their organisation had always been KaKAO. Famed for his Lee Sin, Kha’Zix, and Elise and infamous for his Nocturne, KaKAO defined aggression. Accused by many as uncalculated and dangerous, his play was anything but. A player with mastery over his role, intelligence in his play, and charm in his smile.

Testing the Waters

KT Rolster, a storied organisation from Korea, entered League of Legends in late 2012. While maybe slower than some, it was quick to make up for lost ground. From the get go, KT Rolster understood what it took to forge a competent team. The original iteration simply screamed it. Ragan, KaKAO, Ryu, Score, and Mafa burst into the scene, scouted from their former home in StarTale, but showed mixed results. Moments of brilliance and some near misses would see the team find its feet. But KaKAO seemed almost uncomfortable. While the prowess of his play is indisputable, the land on which he stood shook for the longest time. His early days were governed by roster swaps as he was thrown to KT A and back again.



But, when it came time to play, KT Rolster showed up. OLYMPUS Champions Winter 2012-2013 saw both KT squads enter the arena, but to the dismay of the organisation, KT A would be knocked out by KT B in the quarterfinals. Taking the best of five comfortably with a 3-1 margin, KT B would show the world they were no “B” team.



Pitted against eventual victors Najin Sword, KT B would be given two chances to take them out. The semifinal format consisted of two best of fives, in which KT B would be dismantled 3-1 and 3-0 as MaKNooN lead his troops to victory in back-to-back performances. Sword would go on to sweep Azubu Frost in the grand finals in a dominant, 3-0 series.



The third and fourth place decider would be between Azubu Blaze and KT B, after Frost teamkilled Blaze in the other half of the bracket. Having shown high levels of composure against Sword, KT Rolster would be granted an almost free win in the first game. Whether through either mistake or arrogance, Azubu Blaze felt no need to ban away Ryu’s Twisted Fate, something they’d attempt to correct for the remainder of the set. Ultimately, it was to no avail, and Blaze was unable to defeat KT, who cleaned up the series and secured themselves a podium finish in a clean 3-0.



Shortly after, KT Rolster would be invited to OGN Club Masters. With teams able to combine rosters from sister teams, the event could clearly have no circuit point implications, but the prestige would keep teams invested. After KT Rolster swept their group 2-0-0, they would have appeared primed to make a finals run. Facing MVP, who had finished their group stage matches at 0-1-1, the odds were stacked in KT’s favour.



In almost historic fashion, KT would yet again be given Twisted Fate in the early stages of the semifinal. Granting themselves a 2-0 lead, it seemed all but over. KaKAO, as always, drew numerous bans and still played amicably.



However, despite dismantling their opponents in the first two games, they’d start to set a trend that would haunt them for seasons to come. Fighting back from 0-2, MVP commanded the next three games and took the series out in the Blind Pick decider.



Again, KaKAO would find himself battling for third place and again he would take it convincingly 3-0. They were denied a finals opportunity by the team that would ultimately win the event for the second time in a row. But if this tournament had shown anything, it was that KT could repeatedly prove themselves a valiant force and worthy of competing at the highest level. Surprisingly, KT Rolster once again felt obligated to rock the boat. Another roster change - but this time, with some merit?



After acquiring the rosters of Blaze and Frost, CJ Entus would lose one of their most prized possessions in the process. Despite losing 0-3 in Champions Winter, cherished jungler inSec could not be understated. A core member of their previous performances, he had already commanded the attention of many. Our young hero, KaKAO, would yet again be shipped off to KT A. The change was an upgrade in the eyes of many, since even though both junglers were coveted for their carry style play and their individual excellence, inSec's prestige momentarily outweighed KaKAO's potential.

Out with the Old

Korea’s prodigious son, inSec,was assumed to be an upgrade — but it wouldn’t last. The change would be reverted almost instantly. Two months later, KaKAO returned from his KT A exile and pushed inSec out of the jungle. Shocking many, inSec role-swapped and headed toward the top lane. Looking rejuvenated, KT B would adopt a slightly longer title, now known as the KT Rolster Bullets. Still warranting questioning, ssumday saw himself sent to KT A, despite having given multiple respectable performances. With the amount of raw talent the roster amassed, it was no surprise how KT Rolster Bullets would perform in times to come.



Champions Summer 2013 would be the squad’s debut and a tournament to remember. inSec, KaKAO, Ryu, Score, and Mafa would enter the season fresh and revitalized. Pitted against CJ Entus Frost, Incredible Miracle, and MiG Blitz, they had their work cut out for them. Finishing the group stages second behind Frost, their quarterfinal match would put them head to head with CJ Blaze once again. KaKAO, temporarily relinquished from the confines of KT Arrows, was given his chance to shine. Considering their history, KT Bullets could surely be expected to pull out another easy victory against the lacklustre Blaze side. Alarm bells rang when KT found themselves unprecedentedly behind in a series against Blaze, sitting haphazardly at 1-2.



KaKAO, acclimatized to the intensity of the situation, was given his trademarked Elise. An early invade in the 4th game meant the pressure was applied instantly. Just shy of the 5 minute mark, Helios had found his way into the top lane unnoticed as Evelynn and quickly drew first blood against inSec — only to be answered by KaKAO, who returned the favour and refreshed his double buffs. Pushing the advantage, KaKAO propelled the gold lead to excess of 2k when he took a two-man Dragon uncontested. Going from strength to strength, KaKAO’s continued presence and counter ganks in the top lane pushed them over 6k gold ahead, while KaKAO himself maintained 100% kill participation. To make a case where KaKAO was not the reason KT could turn this series around is pure madness. By 20 minutes, KaKAO was sitting at 4/1/4 on Elise and nearing a 10k gold lead. Our protagonist had done his work. With even the casters predicting a quick and easy closing from Blaze prior to the game's start, it became clear that the KT Bullets had other intentions.



With the momentum returning to KT, Game 5 felt little more than an obligation. Taking the lead quickly, they barely ceded an advantage. Although shaken from their first round, the Bullets would not make the same mistakes twice. Pitted against Frost for the semifinal, they made short work of the other half of CJ Entus, dispatching them in a 3-0 cruise to the finals.



Now, with CJ behind them, they faced a new demon. Arguably nearing the height of their prime, SKT T1 had broken the previous champions in MVP Ozone. This would be a true test for the Bullets. KaKAO is on his 100% win rate Elise. Were they prepared to take on Faker and the might of SKT?

Playing to their strengths, KT yet again brought out their fabled pick composition — a reliable avenue to victory. History continually showed its effectiveness and with KT as the pioneering force behind the style, they more than anyone could pull it off. Bringing out Gragas and Fiddlesticks, coupled with KaKAO on Elise, meant Game 1 would quickly snowball into a KT win. With a consummate performance and chalking up a 5/2/13 score, KaKAO was one step closer to becoming an OGN Champion.



Game 2 rolled around and SKT gifted their opponents a near identical composition. The result, too, was nearly identical. The title was in reach. It’d take a miracle for SKT to turn this series around.



Which, to the distress of KaKAO, was exactly what would unfold. A miraculous individual came in the form of Faker. The calibre of play coming out of the SKT mid laner was unfathomable. Zed to Ahri and back to Zed, he had every answer. By the time the 5th map came around, everyone could already sense the outcome. With Faker and Ryu both taking Zed, there would be a showing of mechanical perfection and a complete understanding of his limits. Faker's 1v1 against Ryu marked a mastery over the game that was simply incomprehensible.



KT Rolster Bullets could not close it out. With the crown inches from their grasp, KT, yet again, couldn’t actualise a finals victory. They would be subdued by SKT T1 and have their championship title torn away.



However, their paths wouldn’t completely diverge yet. Amassing enough circuit points, KT Rolster Bullets would find their way through the Korean Regionals, vying for a ticket to Worlds. And, almost poetically, who else would they face in the finale other than SKT T1. Led fearlessly by Faker, they’d capture the series and stamp out any embers of hope KT Rolster had clung to, suffocating the flames of a World Championship qualification.



This wouldn’t quite be the end of the road for the fabled roster, but it had foreshadowed their demise. Following the Korean Regionals and Worlds, Champions Winter 2013-2014 would see the Bullets fighting once more. Could the KT Rolster Bullets find it within themselves to mount their comeback? To the disappointment of fans and players alike, they would perish in their semifinal against SKT T1 K, relegated to the third/fourth place decider once more. This, irrespective of their triumph over Najin for third, would mark the end of a dynasty. The team praised for their strategy and revered for their innovation could not convert — they weren't champions.

Shooting for the Stars

With the empire crafted by the Bullets laying in ruin, KaKAO’s weapon of choice changed one last time. KT Rolster Arrows. With Zero, previously the mid laner, transferring to support, a void had been left in the Arrows mid lane. Although no one could have predicted it, his successor would create a pairing that could contest for one of the most vicious mid/jungle synergies the world would ever know.



Introducing Song “RooKie” Eui-jin, the newest star of the Arrows. KaKAO, respected and feared alike for his aggressive tendencies and control of the game would meet a player who not only could match and mold around that — but thrived with it. Rounding out their roster would be the familiar face in ssumday and two fresh players in Arrow and Hachani. Together, they’d do what the Bullets couldn’t.



Champions Summer 2014 would host one of the greatest upsets in Korea’s narrative. Breezing through to the quarterfinals, they’d meet a tough competitor in Najin White Shield. Dropping the open two games, KaKAO found himself in the face of defeat. Flicking some metaphorical switch, Games 3 and 4 simply astonished the robust Najin lineup. KaKAO, on both sides of the Elise vs. Nocturne matchup, found himself capable of solo killing watch effortlessly.



He was untouchable. Energetic assaults across the map routed a perplexed Najin. KaKAO, so used to falling from the lead in the series, fought his way back into the fray. It would come down to the blind pick; Lee Sin against Lee Sin. With his partner in crime on Yasuo, he and RooKie outmuscled, outmanoeuvred, and outplayed. Najin White Shield were no match for the pernicious play of the Arrows.

With a close call in their opening round, they advanced through to the semifinal feeling invulnerable. Sitting on the arguably easier side of the bracket, they witnessed the Samsung Blue vs. White teamkill after another close victory over SKT T1 S. Now, with a finals berth in sight, KaKAO was on centre stage again. Considering the time period and the bracket they’d advanced through, Samsung Blue appeared unconquerable. Their prolific lineup had time and time again taken out sister team White, the only team on the circuit with a leading record over them. So, with everything on the line, KT shot forward – propelled by their arrowhead, KaKAO.



As if to only make the story better, they started the night with a surprising early lead. Going up 1-0 against the titanic Samsung Blue squad, KaKAO’s Kha’Zix would synergise flawlessly with Arrow’s Corki, creating a solid poke comp. To round it out, a brutish frontline of Maokai and Ryze meant they would select the fights they wanted and avoid those they didn’t.



With Game 2 on the horizon, Samsung Blue reminded everyone who they were with vengeance. Their insidious attack on the Arrows settled the scores 1-1 and the margin for error became even smaller. With the pressure mounting, a mixture of decisive play and some clever calculations would let Blue leap ahead, ready to close out the night sitting in the lead at 2-1.



But, if KaKAO had proven anything over his career, it was that he would not go down without a fight. Despite the pressure asserted in Game 1 with the Kha’Zix, Games 2 and 3 obviously left something to be desired from KaKAO. Switching things up, he’d fall back on a fateful champion he methodically deconstructed Shield with earlier in the bracket stage - Nocturne, a true carry. Closing it out in 35 minutes, effectively 10 minutes shorter than any other game thus far, KaKAO brought the series back to 2-2 after going 9/2/10. But nothing was decided yet.



As per tradition, the KT Arrows took their 2014 Champions Summer run to a 5th game. An all or nothing game littered with mirror matchups across top, mid, and support. It’d be up to KaKAO and Arrow to distinguish themselves from Blue.



And that they did. If the quick destruction in 35 minutes was impressive, finishing in even less time to dictate the 2014 Champions Summer victors was even more so. KT Rolster Arrows eradicated a seemingly composed Samsung Blue. At 32 minutes into the game, the Arrows got a neat engage onto Blue in their redside jungle, with KaKAO flanking on Lee Sin. The members of Samsung dropped left and right. One, then two. A third and fourth. Finally, the ace.



He’d done it. The sea breeze carried the chants of fans across the beach up onto the stage, the KT Arrows leapt with excitement and joy. With a championship to his name and sitting at an impressive 4.50 KDA for the season, he, too, was granted the MVP award. Having racked up 1050 MVP points over the course of Champions Summer, his play was as ebullient as ever and completely beyond compare.



KaKAO embraced the moment in true KaKAO fashion. With an efficacious smile.

A New Era

After their fairytale run through Champions Summer 2014, KT and KaKAO had climbed to the pinnacle of Korean esports. KaKAO and RooKie, along with a myriad of other professional players would continue their career internationally. Entirely inseparable, RooKie and KaKAO would make their way to China, both playing under the Invictus Gaming flag.



And, although their season is not over, it would be a rare prediction to hear for anyone who believed iG would finish atop of the ladder.



But, as KaKAO chuckled to himself, no one would’ve predicted anything he’d done thus far in his career, why start now?