ROX Tigers
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| ROX Tigers | |||
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| Team Information | |||
| Org Location |  South Korea | ||
| Team Location | South Korea | ||
| Region | Korea | ||
| Sponsor(s) | Hanhwa +Lifeplus 게임이너스 DreamPlus Chicken Sam Newzoo Continue10 | ||
| History | |||
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| Current Roster | |||
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ROX Tigers (formerly HUYA Tigers and later GE Tigers, KOO Tigers, and Tigers) is a Korean League of Legends team.
History
2015 Season
KOO Tigers is a Korean League of Legends team that was founded in November 2014, sponsored by Chinese streaming company YY.[1] The initial roster, announced under the name HUYA Tigers, included former members of NaJin Sword, NaJin Shield, and Incredible Miracle 1: Smeb, Lee, Kuro, PraY, and GorillA comprised the initial lineup, with NoFe as a coach. Shortly after its formation, the team qualified for the Champions Spring Qualifiers, placing first in the group stage over Team Avalanche. They went 2-1 in the final stage and successfully qualified for SBENU Champions Spring 2015. In the Champions Spring Preseason, HUYA Tigers finished tied for third place with KT Rolster, each with 7 points. They renamed to GE Tigers at the start of the Spring Season.
GE Tigers started out as unquestionably the top team in Korea in their first season in the LCK, in first place with a 7-0 match record and a 14-2 game record at the end of week 6 of the spring season. This placement earned them an invitation to the IEM Season IX World Championship in March. However, after defeating Cloud 9 and SK Gaming to win their group, they lost in the semifinals 2-1 to Team WE - who entered the competition as the 12th-place team in the LPL. This led many casters and analysts to label it the biggest upset to date in the entire history of competitive League of Legends. After their return to Korea, the GE Tigers' record worsened, and they dropped sets to both KT Rolster and to SK Telecom T1. They still finished first in the round robin with a 12-2 record, but in the Playoffs they lost to SKT and missed out on the Mid-Season Invitational.
Prior to the start of the SBENU Champions Summer 2015, the GE Tigers were sponsored by streaming company KOOtv and changed their name to the KOO Tigers. KOO ended the regular season of Champions Summer in 4th place.They beat NaJin e-mFire 2-1 and CJ Entus 3-0 to advance to the semifinals where they played a close series with KT Rolster but lost 3-2, ultimately ending in third place. Because SKT won the finals, KOO automatically qualified for the 2015 Season World Championship as the second seed from Korea with the most circuit points.
At Worlds, KOO was placed into a group with Counter Logic Gaming, Flash Wolves, and paiN Gaming. They placed second, ending with a 4-2 record with both losses to Flash Wolves. They beat KT Rolster 3-1 and Fnatic 3-0 to make it to the finals against SKT. However, they finally fell in the finals with a 3-1 loss.
2016 Preseason
After Worlds, Tigers dropped their title sponsor from their team name, and they played in the KeSPA Cup as Tigers. The Tigers played in the KeSPA Cup but they were upset in the first round 2-0 by SBENU Sonicboom. On January 5 they renamed to the ROX Tigers.
2016 Season
During the 2016 LCK Spring Split, the ROX Tigers dominated domestically in similar fashion to 2015. They finished the regular season with a 16-2 match record, losing only to KT Rolster and Samsung Galaxy. Earning first place in the regular season gave them a bye to the finals of the Spring Playoffs, where they faced SK Telecom T1. ROX entered as the favorites this time, but still lost 3-1, earning themselves second place for the spring split.
During the 2016 LCK Summer Split, the Tigers once again placed first in the regular season with an impressive 15-3 scoreline in Bo3s, with two losses to SK Telecom T1 and one loss to Samsung Galaxy. This seeded them in the 2016 LCK Summer Playoffs directly into their third domestic finals, where they eventually met KT Rolster. In an epic series, the ROX Tigers won the set 3-2, claiming 1st place in the Summer Split and giving them Korea's first seed into the 2016 Season World Championship.
At the 2016 Season World Championship, the ROX Tigers were placed into Group A, along with EULCS first seed G2 Esports, NALCS second seed Counter Logic Gaming, and wildcard Albus NoX Luna. Despite becoming the first Korean team in history to lose a professional game to a wildcard, ROX finished the group stage in first place with a 4-2 record. After dispatching EDward Gaming in a 3-0 sweep in the Quarterfinals, the Tigers met their historic kryptonite SK Telecom T1 in the Semifinals match. What followed was one of the most intense and well played series in the history of League of Legends, with an incredible display of performance from both teams. In the end SKT, led by the veteran duo of Faker and Bengi, managed to edge out the series 2-3; even though the Tigers were the second team to bring SKT to a Game 5 in a Worlds series, even being ahead 2-1 after Game 3, their efforts weren't enough to bring down SKT and deny them their second consecutive Worlds Finals.
Timeline
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- April 15, team's roster and LCK spot are acquired by Hanwha Life Esports.[2][3]
- January 5, Tigers renames to ROX Tigers and Peanut joins.
- January 6, Sylph joins as a sub.[11]
- March 9, Cry joins.[12] Sylph is banned from competitive play until February 2017.[13][14]
- April 9, 2nd place in LCK Spring 2016.
- August 6, 1st place in LCK Summer 2016.
- October 22, 3rd-4th place in the 2016 Season World Championship.
- November 19, 1st place in 2016 LoL KeSPA Cup.
- November 25, Smeb, Kuro, PraY, and GorillA leave.[15][16][17][18]
- November 28, Kang Hyun-jong joins as head coach.[19] Cry leaves.[20]
- November 30, Peanut leaves.[21]
- December 12, SSONG leaves coaching role.[22]
- December 18, NoFe leaves coaching role.[23]
- December 21, Lindarang, Shy, SeongHwan, Mickey, Sangyoon, and Key join.[24]
- January 2, HUYA Tigers renames to GE Tigers.
- January (approx.), KangQui leaves coaching role.
- March 14, 3rd-4th place at IEM Season IX - World Championship
- May 2, 2nd place at SBENU Champions Spring 2015
- May (approx.), GE Tigers renames to KOO Tigers.
- May 19, Wisdom joins.[25]
- June 30, SSONG joins as a coach.
- August 21, 3rd place in the SBENU Champions Summer 2015.
- October 31, 2nd place in the 2015 Season World Championship.
- November (approx.), KOO Tigers renames to Tigers.
- December 7, Hojin retires. Wisdom leaves.[26]
Player Roster
Former
| R | C | ID | Name | Role | Next Team | Joined | Left |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Lindarang | Heo Man-heung (허만흥) | Top Laner |  Hanwha Life Esports |
2016-12-21 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Mightybear | Kim Min-su (김민수) | Jungler | Hanwha Life Esports |
2017-02-20 | 2018-04-15 | |
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SeongHwan | Yoon Seong-hwan (윤성환) | Jungler | Hanwha Life Esports |
2016-12-21 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Kuzan | Lee Seong-hyeok (이성혁) | Sub/Mid | Hanwha Life Esports |
2017-12-27 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Lava | Kim Tae-hoon (김태훈) | Mid Laner | Hanwha Life Esports |
2017-06-29 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Sangyoon | Gwon Sang-yun (권상윤) | Bot Laner | Hanwha Life Esports |
2016-12-21 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Key | Kim Han-gi (김한기) | Support | Hanwha Life Esports |
2016-12-21 | 2018-04-15 | |
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Crow | Kim Seon-gyu (김선규) | Sub/Mid | 2017-06-29 | 2018-04-15 | ||
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Shy | Park Sang-myeon (박상면) | Top Laner |  Retired |
2016-12-21 | 2017-12-05 | |
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Mickey | Son Young-min (손영민) | Mid Laner |  Team Liquid |
2016-12-21 | 2017-07-27 | |
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Peanut | Han Wang-ho (한왕호) | Jungler |  SK Telecom T1 |
2016-01-05 | 2016-11-30 | |
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Cry | Hae Sung-min (해성민) | Mid Laner |  EDward Gaming |
2016-03-09 | 2016-11-28 | |
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Smeb | Song Kyung-ho (송경호) | Top Laner |  KT Rolster |
2014-11-14 | 2016-11-25 | |
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Kuro | Lee Seo-haeng (이서행) | Mid Laner |  Afreeca Freecs |
2014-11-14 | 2016-11-25 | |
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PraY | Kim Jong-in (김종인) | Bot Laner |  Longzhu Gaming |
2014-11-14 | 2016-11-25 | |
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GorillA | Kang Beom-hyeon (강범현) | Support | Longzhu Gaming |
2014-11-14 | 2016-11-25 | |
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Sylph | Lee Jae-ha (이재하) | Sub/Mid |  Suspended |
2016-01-06 | 2016-03-03 | |
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Hojin | Lee Ho-jin (이호진) | Jungler | Retired |
2014-11-14 | 2015-12-07 | |
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Wisdom | Kim Tae-wan (김태완) | Jungler |  Giants Gaming |
2015-05-19 | 2015-12-07 |
Organization
Former
| C | ID | Name | Position | Next Team |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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OnAir | Kang Hyun-jong (강현종) | Head Coach | Hanwha Life Esports
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Emperor | Kim Jin-hyun (김진현) | Coach | Hanwha Life Esports
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Xero | Sin Hyeok (신혁) | Coach |  bbq Olivers
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NoFe | Jeong No-chul (정노철) | Head Coach | EDward Gaming
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SSONG | Kim Sang-soo (김상수) | Coach | Longzhu Gaming
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KangQui | Kang Sung-hyun (강승현) | Coach |  Energy Pacemaker
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Tournament Results
- This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.
As Tigers
- This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.
As KOO Tigers
- This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.
KOO Tigers Tournament Results - Show Prize as (Local • USD • Euros) Date Pl Prize Event Last Result Roster 2015-10-31 2 $ 250,000 
World Championship 2015
Smeb,
Hojin,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFe2015-08-29 3 ₩ 30,000,000 
Champions 2015 Summer Playoffs
Smeb,
Hojin,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFe,
SSONG2015-08-13 4 Champions 2015 Summer11 - 7
RR
Smeb,
Hojin,
Wisdom,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFeTotal Prize: USD 250,000 • KRW 30,000,000
As GE Tigers
- This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.
GE Tigers Tournament Results - Show Prize as (Local • USD • Euros) Date Pl Prize Event Last Result Roster 2015-05-02 2 ₩ 60,000,000 Champions 2015 Spring Playoffs
Smeb,
LEE,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFe2015-04-11 1 Champions 2015 Spring12 - 2RR
Smeb,
Lee,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFe2015-03-15 3 - 4 $ 15,000 
IEM Season 9 World Championship
Smeb,
Lee,
kurO,
PraY,
GorillA,
NoFeTotal Prize: KRW 60,000,000 • USD 15,000
As HUYA Tigers
- This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.
HUYA Tigers Tournament Results - Show Prize as (Local • USD • Euros) Date Pl Prize Event Last Result Roster 2014-12-20 4 Champions 2015 Spring Preseason2-1-1RR
Smeb,
Lee,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillA2014-12-07 1 
International e-Culture Festival 20142 - 0RR
Smeb,
Lee,
kurO,
PraY,
GorillA2014-11-22 Q Champions 2015 Spring Promotion2 - 1RR
Smeb,
Lee,
Kuro,
PraY,
GorillATotal Prize:
Highlight Videos
Interviews
- 2018
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- March 21, ROX Sangyoon: "As if our head coach had taken drugs, when we're feeling down, he acts crazy and brightens the mood" with Kyeongbeom "Its" Kim and Woo "Ready" Hyun on Inven Global
- September 19, Korean BBQ with ROX Tigers: The Perks of Worlds in NA - Sound Booths - Twitter Wars with theScore
- October 10, ROX Tigers coach says ANX might be best wild card team in history with Slingshot Esports
- October 7, KOO Tigers discuss growing as a team and the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents in Group A with theScore
- November 21, Interview with NoFe, Coach of the HUYA Tigers (Korean) (English) with OnGameNet
Videos
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- May 16, The Top 10 Most Dominant League of Legends Rosters of All-Time by theScore Esports on theScore Esports
- August 20, The day ROX Tigers won their first ever LCK title with theScore Esports
- February 3, Team Fight Breakdown with Jatt: SKT vs ROX (2016 LCK Spring Week 3) (4m06s), by LoL Esports.
- March 17, Team Fight Breakdown with Jatt: SSG vs ROX (2016 LCK Spring Week 9) (4m56s) by LoL Esports.
- March 24, Team Fight Breakdown with Jatt: SKT vs ROX (2016 LCK Spring Week 10) (5m50s), by LoL Esports.
- April 23, ROX Tigers cover "Lies (거짓말)" (originally by Big Bang) with Hojin for OGN
Articles
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- February 21, The Tigers are dead, long live the Tigers: an IEM preview by Emily Rand on Oracle's Elixir
- January 29, The Difference a Jungler Makes: ROX Tigers by Aaron on League eSports Talk
- February 18, All-Engage: an in-depth look at the Rox Tigers by Emily Rand on TheScore
- March 15, A closer look at ROX Tigers’ first loss by Colin "CD-Mangaka" Nimer on Slingshot Esports
- June 11, Silver Tigers: The unsatisfying story of Korea’s second-best team by Tim "Magic" Sevenhuysen on theScore.
- September 15, An evening with the ROX Tigers by Emily Rand on theScore.
- September 21, Road to Worlds: Rox Tigers by Adam Newell on GAMURS
- September 28, Third Time's the Charm: The Rox Tigers Victorious Summer by SmashLoL on GAMURS
- November 26, Celebrating the History of Rox Tigers by CD-Mangaka on Esports Heaven
- January 4, UNDERSTANDING AND ANALYZING KOREA 2.0; THE BAD. from Esports Heaven
- April 30, GE Tigers prepare to win Korea from LoL Esports
- July 23, KOO Are You? The Tigers' Summer Streak from LoL Esports
- September 8, World Championship Preview: KOO Tigers from EsportsTalk
- September 10, Preparation and determination: The KOO Tigers from LoL Esports
- September 22, The Road to Worlds: an in-depth look at the KOO Tigers from theScore
Gallery
ROX Tigers logo<(2016-2016)
KOO Tigers logo()
2nd version of KOO Tigers' logo
GE Tigers logo
2nd version of GE Tigers' logo
Former "HUYA Tigers" Logo
GE Tigers 2015 LCK Spring Roster
KOO Tigers 2015 LCK Summer Roster
ROX Tigers 2016 Worlds Roster
ROX Tigers 2017 LCK Spring Roster
See Also
External Links
References
- ↑ Chinese giant YY picks up a Korean team. ongamers.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ Hanwha Life Esports' Facebook Post (Korean) facebook.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ KeSPA's Tweet twitter.com
- ↑ 2017 LoL 케스파 컵 로스터 공개, '쿠잔' 이성혁-'블레스' 최현웅 제외 fomos.kr
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Tweet twitter.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ Official Roster List program.interest.me
- ↑ ROX, ‘크라이’ 해성민 영입...”다양한 방향으로 발전” (Korean) fomos.co.kr
- ↑ 2016년 제 1차 e스포츠 제재 leagueoflegends.co.kr
- ↑ "What Slyph did was: He used an auto/bot program in co op vs ai so that he could get a level 30 account thus got a ban until 2017 Feb 25" bnununu at twitter.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post (Korean) facebook.com
- ↑ Kuro's Facebook Post (Korean)
- ↑ PraY's Facebook Post (Korean)
- ↑ GorillA's Facebook Post (Korean)
- ↑ ROX Tigers's Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers's Facebook Post (Korean) facebook.com
- ↑ Peanut's Facebook Post
- ↑ 롱주 게이밍, 전 ROX 출신 '쏭' 김상수 코치 영입 (Korean) fomos.kr
- ↑ EDward Gaming's Weibo Post (Chinese) weibo.com
- ↑ ROX Tigers' Facebook Post facebook.com
- ↑ OGN Status interest.me
- ↑ Tigers' Facebook Post (Korean) facebook.com
- ↑ 롤챔스 선발전 '다크호스' 탄생, HUYA 타이거즈 창단 (Korean) inven.co.kr
- ↑ Chinese giant YY picks up a Korean team. ongamers.com
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