In the 2021 season, FunPlus Phoenix and Nuguri went through a pretty disappointing stretch. In Spring 2021, FPX finished second and missed out on MSI 2021. Then in Summer 2021, they again took second place despite being heavily favored over EDward Gaming. At Worlds 2021, they made history as the first LPL team to lose all four second-round group stage matches (including the tiebreaker), leading to a heartbreaking elimination for their fans.
All FPX players shared responsibility, but the three most criticized were Nuguri, Tian, and Doinb. Lwx and Crisp faced some criticism too, but since FPX’s strategy focused on the top lane, those two were somewhat spared from blame.
LPL fans were more forgiving of Tian since he was dealing with injuries and only returned out of necessity. Doinb faced heavier criticism for not living up to the resources invested in him and failing to adapt to the meta, especially during the two group stage matches against DWG KIA where he was completely outplayed.
Nuguri’s case was different. He joined FPX as the reigning 2020 World Champion and a key player for Damwon Gaming’s championship-winning style. However, he failed to meet the high expectations from LPL fans, especially FPX supporters, who hoped he would bring glory both domestically and internationally.
Over the past season, Nuguri’s performance was solid but lacked the game-changing plays he was known for. In some matches, both in the LPL and at Worlds 2021, he didn’t clearly outperform his lane opponents. While Tian didn’t often camp top, Nuguri himself didn’t create enough impact to justify his teammates funneling resources to the top lane and boosting his power.
On November 14 (Vietnam time), Nuguri wrapped up his final stream on Huya. He thanked his viewers and wished them good health. With his likely departure from the LPL, this may have been Nuguri’s last stream as FPX’s top laner.
Although Nuguri didn’t meet expectations, he shouldn’t bear full blame for FPX’s failures. Some LPL fans wished him well and hope he finds a strong new team soon.
– Find a good team.
– Nuguri will perform well next year, stay happy.
Still, a portion of LPL fans continue to criticize him, urging Nuguri to return to Korea as soon as possible.
Regardless, Nuguri will almost certainly return to Korea after a rough stint abroad. His next team is unknown, but it will likely be a top-tier squad capable of reuniting him with close teammates Canyon and ShowMaker, and competing for future titles.
As for LPL fans, their reaction is understandable. The LPL is a tough environment where winning titles is everything. Even legends can fall from grace if they fail to meet expectations and end the season with disappointment, as Nuguri and FPX did at Worlds.
