LNG Esports Team

History of Formation

LNG Esports is a Chinese esports team, best known for their performances in League of Legends. The team was founded in 2019, but its roots go much deeper, tracing back to Snake Esports, which was established in 2013. Snake Esports competed in the Chinese professional league LPL for many years, but after several disappointing seasons, the organization underwent rebranding. This gave birth to LNG Esports, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the team.

The new name, which stands for Li-Ning Gaming, came from sponsorship by the famous Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning. This move symbolized the team’s ambitions to reach a new level and claim its place among the top teams in China and globally. With the rebranding, the team gained more attention and secured financial and media support.

First LNG Esports Roster

The first official LNG Esports roster was relatively modest, though it included experienced players such as:

• Flandre (top laner) — one of the most stable top laners in the Chinese scene, known for his mechanical skill and wide champion pool.
• SofM (jungler) — a talented and aggressive player from Vietnam, who gained attention with his unique and unconventional playstyle.
• Maple (mid laner) — a seasoned Taiwanese player who had previously shined on the international stage with Flash Wolves.
• Asura (AD carry) — a promising marksman who showed solid individual performances.
• Duan (support) — an experienced support who helped Asura on the bottom lane.

This roster was built with the goal of balancing young talent and veteran experience to achieve consistent results.

Best Moments

For a long time, LNG Esports remained in the shadow of China’s top teams, such as Royal Never Give Up, Top Esports, and Invictus Gaming. However, 2021 was a breakthrough year for the team. In the LPL Summer Split 2021, LNG Esports did what no one expected — they fought their way through the Play-In stage and reached the playoffs. They shocked many by defeating one of China’s strongest teams, Top Esports, in a best-of-five series, which became a massive upset and cemented their reputation as a team capable of challenging the top dogs.

This success earned LNG a spot at the 2021 League of Legends World Championship, where they once again surprised fans, advancing through the group stage and reaching the quarterfinals. Although they lost to Gen.G, their journey through the tournament garnered respect and admiration from fans worldwide.

In 2023, LNG solidified their success, becoming one of the top teams in the LPL. They delivered consistent performances throughout the year, thanks to the stellar contributions of players like Scout and Tarzan. In 2023, LNG reached the finals of the LPL Summer Split and once again qualified for the World Championship.

Key Players

• Scout (mid laner) — 2021 World Champion with EDward Gaming, joined LNG and immediately became one of the team’s key players. His lane dominance and ability to contribute massively in team fights made him one of the best mid laners in the world.
• Tarzan (jungler) — a Korean player known for his excellent game sense and ability to dominate the jungle. Since joining LNG, the team has become much stronger and more consistent.
• Zika (top laner) — a promising top laner who has been performing well in recent seasons.

LNG Esports has undergone a significant transformation, evolving from Snake Esports into one of China’s leading teams. Through smart player management, strategic transfers, and relentless hard work, the team has not only secured its position in the LPL but has also made a name for itself on the international stage. With stars like Scout and Tarzan, LNG remains one of the most dangerous teams, poised for more victories in the future.