Han “Peanut” Wang-ho dropped big news on social media yesterday. The veteran jungler announced that his “long journey with the LCK has come to an end.” His message was filled with gratitude and reflection, calling it “bittersweet” and “an honor to end on the Finals stage.”
The 26-year-old didn’t specify his next move. He didn’t mention retirement, streaming, or a potential move to another region. What he did make clear was that his time competing in South Korea’s premier League of Legends league was over.
This announcement comes right after Hanwha Life Esports’ appearance in the LCK Finals, where Peanut started as their jungler. While they didn’t win the title, reaching the Finals gave Peanut a fitting stage for his domestic farewell.
Peanut’s LCK resume reads like a greatest hits collection. Six LCK championships across four different organizations. ROX Tigers in 2016 Summer. SK Telecom T1 in 2017 Spring. Kingzone DragonX in 2018 Spring. Gen.G in 2022 Summer, 2023 Spring, and 2023 Summer. Few players have won titles with so many different teams.
His career stretches back to 2015 when he debuted with Najin e-mFire. But it was with the ROX Tigers in 2016 that Peanut became a superstar. That team’s semifinal clash against SKT at Worlds 2016 remains one of the most legendary series in esports history.
The following year brought his peak moment. Joining SKT alongside Faker, Peanut won both LCK Spring and MSI 2017. His 14-0 Lee Sin performance at MSI became instant legend. They reached the Worlds finals that year, falling to Samsung Galaxy in Beijing.
Even his brief stint in China with LGD Gaming in 2020 saw success. Despite early struggles, they qualified for Worlds through the regional finals and made it to the group stage.
The last tiger standing
With Peanut’s departure, the legendary ROX Tigers roster has no active members left in the LCK. Smeb retired. PraY retired. GorillA coaches. Kuro plays in Japan. The team that defined an era has officially passed into history.
Peanut leaves behind a decade of memories. His aggressive early-game style revolutionized the jungle role. His champion pool ranged from signature picks like Lee Sin and Nidalee to meta tanks when the team needed them. Most importantly, he stayed relevant through countless meta shifts and roster changes.
