DWG KIA drops Nuguri, Burdol and three members of coaching staff
Korean esports team DWG KIA have dropped toplaners Noh "Burdol" Tae-yoon and Jang "Nuguri" Ha-gwon, as well as Athletic Director Kim "kkOma" Jeong-gyun, Head Coach Yang "Daeny" Dae-in, and Coach Lee "Zefa" Jae-min, according to social media announcements on Nov. 15.
DWG KIA were the fourth seed from League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) at the 2022 League of Legends World Championship, where they were eliminated by fellow LCK squad Gen.G in semifinals. The organization won Worlds in 2020 with Nuguri in top lane, Daeny as coach and Zefa as head coach.
Nuguri, 23, elected to go to free agency. He made his pro debut in 2018 after he signed with DAMWON Gaming the previous year. In 2021, he left DWG to play Chinese organization FunPlus Phoenix in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL), who were eliminated in Groups at Worlds 2021. After taking the 2022 LCK Spring Split off, Nuguri rejoined DWG and split time with Burdol before he eventually reclaimed the starting role before Worlds.
Burdol also elected free agency. The 18-year-old came up as a T1 prospect before a brief stint as Gen.G's substitute toplaner in 2021. He joined DWG in December 2021 and split time with two different toplaners in 2022: Yoon "Hoya" Yong-ho in spring and Nuguri in summer. However, after LCK Summer Playoffs, Burdol only played one game in Regional Finals, and he didn't go to Worlds with the rest of his team.
kkOma, 36, coached SK Telecom T1 to three world championships in 2013, 2015 and 2016 before joining the LPL's Vici Gaming as head coach for the 2020 season. He joined DAMWON as head coach after their 2020 championship, and his role changed to general manager/athletic director in December 2021. His contract with DWG expired this week.
Daeny, 29, and Zefa, 34, both joined DWG in 2020, left DWG between November 2020 and July 2021 to coach T1, and rejoined DWG for the 2022 LCK Summer Split. Their contracts were both mutually terminated.
Nuguri and Burdol's departure may open up a spot for hyped 18-year-old DWG KIA Challengers toplaner Park "Thanatos" Seung-gyu to make his major league debut for DWG in 2023.
Featured photo by Bruno Alvares/Riot Games.