Meet the Players
Top: 369
In 2019, 369 had an impressive debut in the LPL, earning second-team all-pro in his first split. However, his play style was known for being unpredictable. Despite some inconsistency, when 369 is on his A-game, he is considered one of the best top laners in the world. After a disappointing summer in 2021, he was acquired by JDG for the 2022 season. While he struggled in the spring split, he had an outstanding summer split, earning first-team all-pro and being hailed as the best top laner globally.
Jungle: Kanavi
Kanavi’s career took a hit due to mismanagement during his time with Griffin. However, since joining JDG, he has proved himself to be one of the top junglers in the world. He won the MVP award in the spring split of 2020 and has consistently been named to the first-team all-pro since then. Kanavi favors carry junglers and relies on strong laners to farm up and dominate games. In 2022, he continued to shine, earning another first-team all-pro in the spring split and a second-team all-pro in the summer split. His exceptional performance has solidified his position as one of the best junglers and shows no signs of slowing down.
JDG, Worlds 2022 (Photo by David Lee/Riot Games)
Mid: Yagao
The longest-serving member of JDG, Yagao, joined the team in December 2017 and has been their midlaner ever since. While he hasn’t reached the elite status of some midlaners, Yagao has consistently shown strong performances over the past five years. He excels with his pocket pick Zoe, often considered one of the best Zoe players in the world. While not expected to carry games, Yagao’s contributions can make a significant difference for the team.
ADC: Hope
Hope joined JDG this year after spending four years in the EDG system, where he struggled to secure consistent playing time. JDG recognized his potential and decided to upgrade at ADC, bringing in Hope. Since his arrival, Hope has been a reliable presence in the bot lane, stepping up whenever his team needs him. Although his laning numbers may be below average, his selfless play allows JDG to focus on their carries.
Sup: Missing
After several years as the support for WE, Missing joined JDG and had some of his best performances, earning his first all-pro team nominations. In the spring split, he was named to the third team all-pro, and in the summer split, he made it to the second team. Missing has shown versatility in playing various support champions, elevating the entire team’s performance. His synergy with Kanavi, the exceptional jungler, has been instrumental in JDG’s success this year.
Year in Review
In the spring split, JDG showcased glimpses of their potential. Kanavi continued to dominate as a jungler, finishing the split with the second-highest number of series MVPs and earning a spot on the first-team all-pro in the LPL. However, 369’s lackluster performances posed a challenge for the team, especially in crucial matchups. Although he improved towards the end of the split, his contributions were not extraordinary. Nonetheless, the rest of the team remained solid, helping JDG secure a third-place finish in the regular season. In the playoffs, they won their first game but suffered defeat against RNG and V5 in consecutive matches.
In the summer split, JDG had a newfound determination to prove themselves, and 369 emerged as the catalyst for their success. He showcased his full potential and reestablished himself as an elite top laner. The entire team performed exceptionally well, finishing the split in second place with an impressive 14-2 record. Kanavi maintained his excellent form, while Yagao and the bot lane consistently ranked among the top five players in their respective positions throughout the split. 369 earned the first-team all-pro recognition for the LPL, with Kanavi and Missing making it to the second team. JDG’s spectacular performance continued into the playoffs, where they reverse swept Top Esports in the winners’ finals and defeated them once again in the grand finals, securing the LPL’s first seed at Worlds.
Entering Worlds, JDG was considered one of the tournament favorites, and they have lived up to the expectations thus far. Kanavi and Hope have been standout players, finishing with the fifth and sixth highest number of kills in the group stages, respectively. 369 has continued to impress with strong laning numbers, boasting the second-highest gold difference at 10 minutes among top laners and the second-highest damage per minute among all top laners. Despite weaker laning numbers, Yagao has contributed significantly to the team’s damage output, ranking in the top 20 players in the entire tournament. JDG only suffered one defeat against Damwon Gaming and secured first place in their group with an outstanding performance by 369 in the tiebreaker.
Now JDG is set to face Rogue, a team regarded as one of the weakest to advance from the LEC. JDG remains one of the favorites to win the entire tournament and has consistently proven themselves as a top-tier team. Since the start of the summer split, JDG has been on a mission, and their momentum shows no signs of slowing down.