SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- The NA League of Legends Championship Series team Phoenix1 began its rookie split last season on the wrong end of a number of one-sided blowouts. Although the team was able to scrape its way back to a respectable position and avoid relegation, the early days of the club, which was founded in May 2016, were colored with its own blood.
Starting out in 2017, though, P1 finds itself in the opposite position, kicking off its spring campaign with a decisive sweep of Echo Fox, capping it off with a quick sub-30 minute Game 2.
No "Arrow" Dong-hyeon, the team's new starting AD carry, played a big part in the team's opening day conquest. Formerly of the KT Rolster organization in League Champions Korea, Arrow transferred to P1 during the frantic offseason, putting himself among the best at the position in the NA league from the beginning. Following the win, the South Korean import was modest, explaining that he made a lot of mistakes and wasn't entirely happy with his performance.
"Next time," he said, when asked if he had anything he'd like to tell his fans. "Next time, [if I do better] I'll have something to say."
The 22-year-old marksman has already made himself at home in America after only being here two weeks. A big fan of American culture, Arrow discussed his love of the food he had already tried, the music, and even the shows on television. "I like American dramas," he admitted. "[I also like] Conan [O'Brien]. I also watched 'Breaking Bad' and 'House.'"
Arrow speaks like he has been in the country for months. Although a translator was present, he only used them to get specifications on questions. He answered fully and confidently in English, explaining his love of Eminem and Rihanna's "Love The Way You Lie" and how he thought In-N-Out Burger was good but "overhyped" from what he was told about it before coming to California.
Carefree, with a goofy grin, Arrow is a player who can change a team's demeanor with his upbeat, good-natured attitude. His individual skills, some of the best in South Korea's premier league last year, make him an almost can't-miss player, even in a subdued AD carry meta.
"In [South] Korea, like [at the] OGN or SPOTV studio, there is a block -- a barrier [protecting us] from the fans," said Arrow, talking about the differences between playing in the two leagues. "We can't hear the fans' voices in the booth. But here, on stage when you play a game, you can hear fans go 'OOOOOOOHHHHH!' and you can hear them. In-game, if we have a kill, it makes me feel excited, so it's good [in that way], but sometimes it's not good, because getting more excited brings more [aggressive] mistakes."
On his relationship with his new support Adrian "Adrian" Ma, Arrow is optimistic. It doesn't feel much different from his days playing with now-Vitality support Ha "Hachani" Seung-chan back on KT. For Arrow, it's all about communication and the chemistry that comes along with it. While Adrian is certainly talented, he and Arrow will need time to develop a seamless partnership before Phoenix1 can reach its full potential. If they can, Arrow feels like he and Adrian can become the best bottom lane duo in the ever-evolving North American LCS.
On Saturday, Arrow won't meet Hachani on Summoner's Rift, but he will face a former KT Rolster teammate, Dignitas' Kim "Ssumday" Chan-ho. Following his departure from KT, where he was the team's ace for the 2016 year, Ssumday joined Dignitas in the offseason, alongside fellow South Korean Lee "Chaser" Sang-hyun to create a formidable attacking force on the top side of the map, at least on paper.
Arrow, who was usually considered the backup to Ssumday on KT, will chase the opportunity to get one over on his friend.
"Maybe our team is [better], I think. We can do better," Arrow said, throwing out a playful challenge to Ssumday the day before the match. "Tomorrow we have combat. Don't use [teleport] bottom, please. [Also] I'll kill you and we'll beat your team. Let's fight, Ssumday, come on!"
A good player can improve a team's performance. A good player with an equally top-notch personality can change an entire team's dynamic for the better. Arrow, smiling and joking around, already proficient in English, is of the latter category.