League of Legends Pro Lee “GBM” Chang-seok Transitions into Coaching Role with Griffin
In another surprising move this offseason, another professional player has decided to retire from competitive play and transition into a coaching role. Lee “GBM” Chang-seok, who has played for Turkey’s Galatasaray Esports, Europe’s Team Vitality, and South Korea’s Jin Air Green Wings, has joined Griffin as a coach for the upcoming 2020 season. He will be working closely with head coach Han “H Dragon” Sang-yong.
GBM has had an eventful career as a pro, participating in leagues such as LCK, LEC, LCS, and most recently, the TCL. While he may not have been a standout carry, he has experienced varying levels of success domestically after moving away from Korea. In 2018, he won the TCL Winter Playoffs with SuperMassive Esports, achieved a top-eight placing at MSI, and finished in the top 20 at Worlds that same year.
However, since then, GBM has struggled to regain his former glory, playing for multiple Turkish teams without significant success. This month, he faced controversy when Galatasaray management delayed 50% of his payment, leading him to call out the organization on Twitter. Riot had to intervene to resolve the situation.
Now officially retired as a player, GBM has made the decision to focus on coaching. He is expected to start off slowly and learn from the veteran experience of H Dragon. However, with time, his deep understanding of the game and leadership abilities could help Griffin reclaim their top spot in the LCK. GBM and H Dragon will be taking over from Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho, who departed from the team in September.
League of Legends, GBM, Griffin, coaching, retirement, competitive play, LCK