DAMWON Gaming’s Flame announces retirement from pro LoL

The League of Legends competitive scene witnessed another iconic departure as Flame announced his retirement from professional play. This marked the end of an era for one of the game’s most respected top lane specialists.

Through his personal streaming channel, former FlyQuest and DAMWON Gaming competitor Lee “Flame” Ho-jong revealed he would conclude his eight-year professional journey. The veteran player emphasized this decision represented a permanent transition away from competitive League of Legends.

Long time no see. Miss u guys!
I will make an important announcement about me at 12/12 2am PST time.
Adress:
https://t.co/XlMjTQ2Agf
See u then. Thank you 🙂

— Flame (@Flame_KR)
December 9, 2020

Flame’s competitive origins trace back to Azubu Blaze in 2012, preceding the organization’s rebranding to CJ Entus Blaze. His early performances established the foundation for what would become a globally recognized laning prowess.

The 2014 season marked Flame’s transition to China’s LPL, where he competed for LGD Gaming. This move culminated in championship success when his team secured the 2015 LPL Summer Split title, demonstrating his ability to adapt to different regional playstyles.

Flame’s career path took another significant turn when he joined North America’s LCS, making him part of an exclusive group of professionals who have competed across three major regions. Beginning with Immortals in 2017, he later transferred to FlyQuest for the 2018 season. His most notable LCS achievement came with Immortals, where the team finished as runners-up in the 2017 LCS Summer Split playoffs.

For players considering similar multi-region careers, understanding the adaptation challenges is crucial. Common mistakes include underestimating cultural differences in team dynamics and failing to adapt to regional meta variations quickly enough.

Despite maintaining an impressive competitive record spanning nearly a decade, Flame’s international tournament appearances were limited to two World Championships. His teams never achieved breakthrough success on the global stage during these tournaments.

Flame’s professional conclusion came as a substitute player for DAMWON Gaming, the organization that would claim the 2020 World Championship title. Throughout the summer split, he participated in only two official matches but contributed significantly through behind-the-scenes coaching and strategic input.

The transition from active competitor to support staff represents a common path for experienced veterans. Flame’s extensive game knowledge and eight years of professional experience provided invaluable mentorship to the championship roster, particularly in refining laning phase strategies and matchup knowledge.

What role does Flame play in LoL?

Throughout his entire competitive tenure, Flame exclusively occupied the top lane position, developing a reputation for exceptional lane control and extensive champion versatility. During his competitive peak, he was widely regarded among the world’s elite top laners, competing for premier organizations across multiple regions.

His mechanical precision and wave management skills allowed him to consistently generate advantages during the early game phase. This foundational strength enabled his teams to build winning strategies around top-side map control.

Advanced players can learn from Flame’s approach to champion pool development. He maintained proficiency across multiple playstyles—from carry-oriented picks to utility tanks—ensuring draft flexibility regardless of meta shifts. His career concluded with DAMWON Gaming, where he contributed to their 2020 World Championship victory while transitioning into a coaching capacity.

What is a Flame Horizon?

The Flame Horizon represents one of League of Legends’ most respected laning achievements, occurring when a player accumulates a 100-minion kill advantage over their direct lane opponent. This terminology originated from Flame’s consistent ability to establish such massive farming leads through superior last-hitting and wave control.

Achieving this milestone requires exceptional minion management, opponent zoning, and jungle pressure awareness. Modern players aiming for similar dominance should focus on perfecting last-hit timing, understanding wave state manipulation, and coordinating with junglers to secure these advantages safely.

Common mistakes when pursuing a Flame Horizon include overextending without vision, neglecting objective control for farm, and failing to convert the advantage into map pressure.

In contemporary competitive play, achieving a Flame Horizon typically indicates complete lane control and often signals game-winning advantages when properly leveraged.

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