Riot Games has announced the second esports professional to be inducted into the League of Legends Hall of Legends: Jian Uzi Zihao. The news was shared on the official game website and featured in a special trailer released on YouTube.
Uzi began his professional LoL career in 2012, playing as the AD Carry for Royal Club. He spent the majority of his career under the Royal Never Give Up tag, securing four championships in the Chinese LPL league. Throughout his career, he participated in the World Championship six times, with his best performance being a runner-up finish at Worlds in 2014 while representing Star Horn Royal Club (against Samsung White). Zihao is particularly renowned for his play on champions like Vayne, Kai`Sa, and other mobile carries such as Lucian and Ezreal.
Uzi took breaks from competitive play on five separate occasions due to health concerns. In 2023, while competing for Edward Gaming, he announced his retirement. Following this, he focused on improving his health, lost weight, and successfully ran the Paris Marathon in 2024.
To celebrate Uzi`s induction, League of Legends will feature a themed in-game event, including a special battle pass and commemorative cosmetic skins. The event is scheduled to begin on June 11, while the official induction ceremony for Zihao will take place on June 6 in Shanghai. As part of the honors, Uzi will receive a unique Mercedes-Benz G-Class with EQ technology, valued between ₽29 million and ₽35 million.
Riot Games established the Hall of Legends in 2024 to recognize esports figures who have made a significant impact on the professional League of Legends scene. The inaugural inductee was the legendary current T1 player, Lee Faker Sang Hyeok. A battle pass with unique skins was also released to honor him, which led to community controversy regarding the price of the full bundle, reportedly costing $450.
Finley Holt