Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, the season one world champion and MVP with Fnatic, has died at age 36 following a short battle with cancer. His sister confirmed the news through social media, describing his fight as “short and intense.”
Shushei was an instrumental figure in early League of Legends esports, helping Fnatic capture the first-ever world championship title in 2011 at DreamHack Summer in Sweden. His innovative mid-lane approach and off-meta picks changed the game during a time when the professional League scene was just getting started.
Z głębokim smutkiem przyjęliśmy wiadomość o śmierci Macieja “Shushei” Ratuszniaka – legendy polskiej sceny League of Legends.
— League of Legends Polska (@LoLPL) April 29, 2025
Shushei zdobył tytuł Mistrza Świata podczas pierwszych Mistrzostw League of Legends w 2011 roku i został wybrany MVP turnieju.
Jego osiągnięcia… pic.twitter.com/bHQ82vbz7P
The Polish player gained fame for his creative ability power (AP) builds and unexpected champion choices, including AP Alistar, Gragas, and Maokai in the mid lane. His performance on Gragas was so memorable that Riot Games honored him with a special Fnatic Gragas skin that’s still a big deal in the game today.
After his championship run with Fnatic, Shushei continued his career with teams like DragonBorns and Pulse Esports. He played in the early EU LCS seasons before moving on to streaming, and later worked as a software developer in Poland.
Beyond his competitive success, Shushei was loved for his cheerful personality and the fun he brought to his streams. Fans fondly remember his Gragas cosplay and those hilarious moments when he’d play Alistar while wearing a cow mask.
A legend to be remembered
Shushei’s passing marks the first death among League of Legends world champions, showing just how important he was in the game’s early days. He’s still one of only two non-Korean mid laners ever to win a world championship.
As word gets around, tributes from Fnatic, former teammates, and the wider League community continue to pour in, all celebrating the player whose creative playstyle helped shape the competitive League of Legends scene.
We extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.
