Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu (김혁규) is a veteran of the League of Legends (LoL) scene in South Korea and China. He has a decade of experience in the pros, and actually became an esports player while he was in high school. Since his initial stint with MVP Blue in 2013, Deft has continued climbing the ranks in Riot Games’ beloved MOBA.
Join us as we take a deep dive into the LoL esports career of Deft, including his team history, biggest wins, favorite champions, and other exciting details.
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Who is Deft?
Deft’s mechanical skills and determination make him a frightening force in Summoner’s Rift as the current bottom laner for Dplus KIA. Throughout his 10-year career, he has become synonymous with top-tier South Korean and Chinese League of Legends esports, playing AD Carry (ADC) and Bottom roles and thriving in both.
Deft has proven that no matter how the meta shifts or who his opponent is, he can adapt and overcome. He has claimed several S-Tier event trophies, and he is only continuing to hone his craft.
How Old is Deft?
At the time of writing, Deft is 26 years old. The LoL star was born on Oct. 23, 1996. He has spent more than a third of his life as a League of Legends pro, with just over a decade of experience.
Deft’s Team History
Throughout his career, Deft has played on a number of teams in the Chinese and South Korean regional finals leagues. Check out the full rundown below:
- MVP Blue (Feb 2013 – Sept 2013)
- Samsung Blue (Sept 2013 – Oct 2014)
- EDward Gaming (Nov 2014 – Nov 2016)
- KT Rolster (Nov 2016 – Nov 2018)
- DRX (Nov 2018 – Nov 2020)
- Hanwha Life Esports (Nov 2020 – Nov 2021)
- DRX (Dec 2021 – Nov 2022)
- Dplus (Nov 2022 – present)
Deft’s contract with Dplus expires on Nov. 20, 2023.
Where Does Deft Play Now?
Deft currently plays for Dplus KIA. The South Korean esports organization was formerly known as DWG KIA and DAMWON Gaming. You’ll find all the players in the current Dplus KIA lineup below:
- Kim “Canna” Chang-dong (Top)
- Heo “ShowMaker” Su (Mid)
- Kim “anyon” Geon-bu (Jungle)
- Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu (Bot)
- Kim “Kellin” Hyeong-gyu (Support)
Deft joined Dplus KIA in November 2022, shortly after his Worlds 2022 win with DRX.
What Role Does Deft Play in LoL?
Deft has played multiple League of Legends roles. While his storied career began with the ADC role for MVP Blue, Deft currently plays as the bot laner at Dplus KIA.
Who is Deft’s Favorite LoL Champion?
Deft has not confirmed his favorite LoL Champion. However, we believe Kai’Sa is Deft’s favorite Champion in the current meta, especially considering he has performed exceptionally well during important matches with this Champion.
Deft’s Other Most-Played Champions
Across his storied career, Dept has played as a ton of Champions. Based on pro match stats and win rates, Deft’s most-played champions are:
- Xayah
- Kai
- Zeri
- Jinx
- Ezreal
- Lucian
With Deft’s bottom role, the most-played Champions for the South Korean star will likely change in the coming years.
Deft LoL Biggest Wins
Deft is a seasoned pro with several big LoL esports wins. His first significant tournament win was Champions Korea Spring 2014 with Samsung Blue, beating NaJin White Shield 3-1 in the grand final. Below, you can learn about Deft’s five biggest wins.
2022 World Championship Win
Competing for DRX at the time, Deft played a pivotal role at the Worlds 2022 playoffs. In the quarterfinals, DRX went 2-0 down against EDward Gaming. The team then made one of the greatest comebacks in recent history, clawing their way back for a 3-2 win.
DRX took down Gen.G Esports 3-1 in the semifinal. In the grand final of Worlds 2022 in front of a roaring crowd at the Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif., Deft lifted the Summoner’s Cup after DRX’s dramatic 3-2 win against T1 and the GOAT of LoL esports, Faker. Nine years into his career, Deft became a world champion for the first time.
LCK Summer 2018 Win
With KT Rolster, Deft won the League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) Summer 2018 event in style on Sept. 8, 2018. Fans watched as KT Rolster first topped the group stage. And then, in the grand final, KT Rolster took down Griffin in a back-and-forth match, which went the distance with a scoreline of 3-2 as Deft claimed another trophy.
LPL Summer 2016 Win
In the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) Summer 2016 event, we saw Deft compete with EDward Gaming against the best teams in China. In front of the Shanghai Hongqiao Performing Arts Center crowd, EDward Gaming proved unstoppable. The team narrowly beat WE Gaming 3-2 in the semifinals of LPL Summer 2016 before decimating Royale Never Give Up 3-0 in the grand final. And Deft’s fantastic performance in the series played a major role.
MSI 2015 Win
In front of a roaring crowd at the Donald L. Tucker Civic Center in Tallahassee, Fla., Deft showed his big-match temperament with EDward Gaming. The Mid-Season Invitational 2015 was one of the most intense competitions imaginable. EDward Gaming demolished Ahq e-Sports Club in the semifinals with a 3-0 before facing the final boss, T1 (SK Telecom T1). In the grand final on May 11, 2015, LoL fans watched as EDward Gaming and Deft managed to beat the favorites 3-2!
LPL Spring 2015 Win
On Apr. 26, 2015, we saw Deft lift his first LPL trophy with EDward Gaming against fierce competition in Shanghai, China. In the LPL Spring 2015 playoffs, the squad fought tooth and nail against Team WE to achieve a narrow 3-2 win, then smashed Invictus Gaming 3-0 in the semifinal. To close out LPL Spring 2015 and claim victory, EDward Gaming beat the Chinese powerhouse squad, LGD Gaming, with a 3-2 score in the grand final.
So, How Many Worlds Has Deft Won?
Deft has won one League of Legends World Championship. Apart from his Worlds 2022 win with DRX, Deft has come close early in his career. He placed 3rd/4th at Worlds 2014 with Samsung Blue, and lost 3-0 to Samsung White in the semifinals. Samsung White beat Star Horn Royal Club 3-1 in the grand final.
How Much Money Does Deft Make From LoL?
Deft earned approximately $518,261 in prize money from esports winnings across 49 tournaments. Unfortunately, data for player salaries and money from sponsorships are not officially available, so this total is an estimation.
Does Deft Stream?
The South Korean star does stream on Twitch, but not very often, and he doesn’t appear to have a specific weekly schedule. Deft’s Twitch account is ilku1023, and if you want to catch one of his streams, we suggest turning on notifications for his channel. You can also follow Deft on Facebook and Instagram.
