Former Worlds MVP MaRin retires from professional play

After a five-year career filled with domestic and international success, top laner Jang “MaRin” Gyeong-hwan has announced his retirement from professional play.

“I’m retiring,” MaRin wrote while streaming, as translated by Twitter user @iCrystalization. “The life as a pro player has ended.”

Many fans will best remember MaRin during his time on SK Telecom T1, specifically in 2015 when they won the World Championship. MaRin was awarded the World Championship MVP title that year, becoming arguably the best player in the world at that moment in history.

Following his World Championship victory, MaRin jumped from team to team. MaRin joined LGD Gaming in 2016, only to return to South Korea one year later to become a part of Afreeca Freecs’ 2017 rebuild. MaRin spent the entire 2017 season playing for Afreeca, before once again leaving for China to play in the LPL under Topsports Gaming.

MaRin’s future plans are unknown at this time. MaRin streams regularly on Twitch, but hasn’t revealed if he’ll try to become a full-time streamer. Last month, fellow legacy player Kang “Ambition” Chan-yong also announced his retirement from professional play—and he’s become a streamer on Twitch, garnering thousands of viewers each broadcast.  

There’s also a possibility MaRin will complete his mandatory military service, if he hasn’t already done so prior to his professional debut in 2013. Jungle legend and MaRin’s former teammate, Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong, took a hiatus from coaching this year to begin his mandatory military service.