How Jojopyun’s mindset and work ethic propelled him from Fortnite prodigy to LCS rookie in record time
Starting from the bottom
Joseph ‘Jojopyun’ Joonpyun represents the next generation of North American League of Legends talent, emerging through a developing pipeline that identifies and cultivates young prospects. At just 17 years old, he’s currently the youngest competitor in the LCS, demonstrating how the region is investing in youth development.
In our exclusive interview with Evil Geniuses’ rising mid lane star, we explored his unconventional origins in Fortnite, assessed the competitive landscape of LCS mid laners, and uncovered how a deliberate growth philosophy accelerated his progression through North America’s challenging esports ecosystem.
Jojopyun’s competitive debut occurred just over twelve months ago with the now-defunct Noble Esports organization. His initial professional stint lasted merely four weeks before transitioning to Zenith Esports as a substitute player. This early career instability is common for amateur competitors navigating NA’s semi-pro scene.
Evil Geniuses recognized his potential in 2021, marking the beginning of his accelerated ascent. After only ten months with their academy squad, he received promotion to the main LCS roster—an exceptionally quick transition that highlights both his raw talent and the organization’s commitment to developing young players.
During his tenure with Evil Geniuses Academy, the team’s competitive results were generally disappointing, with fifth-place finishes being the norm. Their sole standout achievement was securing second position in the 2021 Spring Giant Slayer Gauntlet tournament, demonstrating occasional flashes of potential amidst overall inconsistency.
It’s time to unleash @jojopyunlol 🔥 https://t.co/9AvQ2NccCB pic.twitter.com/CYepqY0Ho5
— Evil Geniuses (@EvilGeniuses) November 16, 2021
Despite the academy team’s mediocre record, Evil Geniuses’ management identified exceptional qualities in Jojopyun’s gameplay and attitude. His promotion to the LCS roster occurred on November 15th—just 45 days after reaching the minimum competition age of 17, illustrating both his readiness and the organization’s urgency to integrate him at the highest level.
In his inaugural tier-one tournament appearance, he guided Evil Geniuses to the LCS Lock In championship finals—an impressive accomplishment for any rookie, but particularly noteworthy given his limited professional experience. This early success established him as a player with championship aspirations rather than mere participation goals.
Unconventional origins: From Fortnite to League
Jojopyun’s competitive foundation wasn’t built in League of Legends but rather in Fortnite, the globally popular battle royale title released in 2017. This unconventional background provides insight into the fearless, confrontational style that defines his current approach to competitive gaming.
As an accomplished Fortnite competitor, he developed a reputation for aggressively seeking out established professionals during their live streams, challenging them to direct 1v1 engagements. His most notable confrontation involved Tanner ‘Tfue’ Tenney, a prominent Fortnite content creator and professional player, whom he challenged after encountering him in a public match.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxBc4Ja2E9Y
This assertive self-assurance remains his defining characteristic in interviews and competitive settings. He possesses unshakable confidence in his abilities—a trait some might interpret as arrogance, but which serves as a psychological advantage in high-pressure environments. For young competitors, this level of self-belief can be the difference between thriving and crumbling under scrutiny.
“My initial engagement with competitive gaming was purely recreational,” he reflected regarding his Fortnite experience. “I understood that skilled performance could generate income, recognized my own capabilities, and participated opportunistically without structured career ambitions.”
A friend’s recommendation introduced him to League of Legends, where he replicated his Fortnite pattern of casual enjoyment preceding competitive aspiration. His mechanical aptitude translated seamlessly, progressing from Diamond rank in 2019 to consistently maintaining 1,000+ LP Challenger status throughout 2020 and 2021.
He emphasizes that his ranked ladder advancement wasn’t strategically planned. “Entertainment value fundamentally determines my initial engagement with any game,” he clarified. “Competitive consideration only emerges after I’ve naturally developed proficiency and recognized potential opportunities.”
The grind commences
Transitioning from skilled amateur to professional competitor requires more than mere talent recognition. Jojopyun understood he possessed sufficient ability to attract organizational attention, but recognized that scouting probability increases dramatically with gameplay volume. Thus began his deliberate, intensive practice regimen.
He’s far from unique in dedicating extensive hours to solo queue grinding. Thousands of highly-ranked North American ladder players share similar aspirations, yet remarkably few secure LCS positions within their initial competitive year. This statistical reality underscores how extraordinary his rapid ascent truly is.
Jojopyun credits his psychological approach as the primary catalyst for his development. “Many individuals across various domains encounter improvement plateaus,” he observed. “Sustainable progress requires understanding that meaningful advancement accumulates through minor, consistent increments rather than dramatic breakthroughs.”
“Mastering one minor concept daily might feel insignificant initially,” he elaborated. “But consistently accumulating these micro-improvements generates substantial, observable growth over extended periods.”
His commitment to ranked practice persists despite professional responsibilities including scrims and official matches. As of February 23rd, he maintained the highest rating on North America’s Champion’s Queue ladder—a specialized competitive environment designed for elite players.
Champion’s Queue represents Riot Games’ structured initiative providing professional and aspiring competitors from North American and LATAM regions enhanced solo queue conditions. This invitation-only server requires formal application and hosts concentrated talent, creating higher-quality practice environments than standard ranked queues.
Now we’re here: Adapting to the LCS stage
Cumulative minor improvements yielded disproportionately significant competitive outcomes, yet Jojopyun maintains the improvement-focused mentality that originally propelled his rapid ascent. Competitive stakes have intensified dramatically, but external pressure from North American audiences and LCS expectations hasn’t visibly impacted his composure.
“Stage competition energizes me,” he confessed. “The atmospheric intensity amplifies, creating tangible significance that enhances competitive focus and performance.”
His youth presents no psychological barrier despite competing alongside veterans like former world champion Jeong ‘Impact’ Eonyoung. He asserts confidence in communicating effectively with experienced teammates, acknowledging that his vocal presence contrasts sharply with typical rookie hesitancy.
“I’ve never struggled with in-game communication,” he stated frankly. “If anything, observers frequently characterize my communication style as exceptionally vocal and assertive.”
This forthrightness extends beyond team environments. When evaluating North American mid lane competition, he expressed firm confidence in his standing among LCS peers. Pressed for specific ranking, he declined conservative estimations in favor of ambitious self-assessment.
“Claiming top position might appear arrogant,” he conceded. “But honestly, I believe I’m the region’s premier mid laner—even if that conviction risks perception as unrealistic. Ultimately, competitive results must validate any such claims.”
Regional dominance represents merely an intermediate objective. Like numerous young North American professionals, his ambitions extend globally toward World Championship competition—the ultimate validation for any League of Legends competitor.
The confidence trick: Balancing self-belief with results
The path toward international competition appears challenging currently, with Evil Geniuses occupying eighth position following a surprising 2-4 Spring Split commencement. Jojopyun’s performances have exhibited increased caution compared to his explosive Lock In tournament displays, temporarily lacking the aggressive flair that defines his preferred playstyle.
However, his Champion’s Queue dominance confirms unwavering dedication. Evil Geniuses head coach Peter Dun publicly praised his exceptional work ethic, noting his combination of natural talent with unparalleled commitment.
I know champions queue isn’t everything, but he has more games than almost anyone else, at almost the highest win rate. This is alongside all the vods he studies, and other grinding he does.
I’m not going to tell him to stop being who he is.
— Peter Dun (@pcdv8r) February 21, 2022
Current competitive outcomes may not reflect his intensive preparation, but he’s demonstrated the psychological resilience and systematic approach necessary for elite performance development. Even immediate results haven’t matched external expectations, his foundational attributes remain intact.
Despite formidable self-assurance, he remains developmentally young. Occasional setbacks are inevitable, but his response pattern—immediate return to rigorous practice—illustrates the persistence required for sustained competitive excellence. The pursuit of undisputed North American mid lane supremacy continues daily through concentrated effort.
Practical insights for aspiring competitors
Jojopyun’s trajectory offers actionable lessons for gamers pursuing professional pathways:
1. Embrace incremental progress: Rather than seeking dramatic overnight improvement, focus on mastering one micro-concept daily. Consistent minor advancements accumulate into significant competitive advantages over time.
2. Maintain play volume: Scouting probability correlates directly with gameplay exposure. While talent is essential, visibility through consistent ranked participation dramatically increases professional opportunities.
3. Develop strategic confidence: Self-belief functions as a competitive multiplier, but must remain grounded in demonstrable skill. Balance assertive communication with respectful team dynamics.
4. Leverage specialized environments: Utilize structured competitive systems like Champion’s Queue when available. These optimized practice conditions accelerate development more efficiently than standard ranked play.
5. Persist through setbacks: Early professional struggles are normative. Sustained work ethic during challenging periods often distinguishes ultimately successful competitors from those who plateau.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » EG Jojopyun says he’s one of NA’s best mid laners; now he just has to prove it How Jojopyun's mindset and work ethic propelled him from Fortnite prodigy to LCS rookie in record time