Today League of Legends watched the retirement of one of its first competitive players.
Team SoloMid top laner Marcus “Dyrus” Hill played his final game of League of Legends today. When Team SoloMid fell to LGD Gaming, their tournament was over, and Hill, who made it clear this would be his last effort with the team months earlier, left the stage with tears in his eyes. Shortly after the loss, Hill stood with Riot Games hostess Eefje “Sjokz” Depoortere for one final interview, all while fans cheered him on.
“I have nothing but my respect and my thanks to everyone,” Hill said to Depoortere, as the crowd shouted his praises. “I know that everything that is there, it’s been done and now it’s time to open a new book. And even with me gone, I want everyone to support TSM and all of my teammates. And I’m really, really thankful for how we’ve brought esports this far… I have nothing but gratitude to you guys and I wish the best of luck to my teammates in the future.”
The emotional Hill tried to take responsibility for his team’s disappointing result, but the crowd backed a player who has meant more to League of Legends than almost anyone who has ever entered the Summoner’s Rift.
Hill has been an integral part of the North American League of Legends scene since mid-2010. His first splash into the scene was with Epik Gamer, a team ran by Dan Dinh, the brother of Team SoloMid owner Andy “Reginald” Dinh. He then moved in with Team SoloMid and shortly after Christian “TheRainMan” Kahmann resigned from the team, Hill entered the lineup.
Since then he’s served as a rock for Team SoloMid during over three years as the most successful team in North America.
It’s no surprise to fans that Hill is deciding to move on. He made it clear earlier this season that this was his final campaign with the team and that he would be hanging up his boots after the 2015 World Championship. And now, that sad day has come, a few weeks short for Hill and fans of his team.
When Team SoloMid next takes the Summoner’s Rift, in December at IEM San Jose, they’ll have a top laner different than Dyrus for the first time since 2012.
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr
