Who is the best LoL player of 2019? | Dexerto Awards

2019 was an unpredictable 12 months for the top League of Legends teams. While no team dominated, there were some outstanding individual performances throughout the year, making it tough to choose the best LoL player of 2019 in the Dexerto Awards.

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It was an exciting season for League of Legends fans, alright. One with perhaps more uncertainty about who the supreme forces around the world truly were than ever before. After South Korea were finally dethroned in 2018, China looked set to take their place – but then it was Europe’s G2 Esports who claimed the MSI title.

Until they were denied at the final hurdle by FunPlus Phoenix, the European titans looked set to complete the grand slam – both domestic titles, MSI, and Worlds in the same season – for the first time ever. Meanwhile, Team Liquid looked like NA’s most credible international side to date, and the looming threat of both veterans and young blood from South Korea remained throughout the season.

Amid so much uncertainty, narrowing down a player of the year remains incredibly tricky, with plenty of candidates making a compelling case. Ultimately, though, the following four players deserve to make the shortlist. Check them out and cast your vote!

Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković

Perkz initiated perhaps the most shocking roster move of the pre-2019 offseason when he role swapped to make space for Caps in G2’s mid lane, but the change has proved to be more successful than anyone could have imagined.

• Read more: Perkz explains why G2’s “crazy year” lessens the pain of Worlds failure

By the end of the year, Perkz was more than holding his own on the international stage, both innovating in the role with unconventional picks from his time as a mid laner, and playing traditional marksmen at an elite level. He was even hailed by many as the best Xayah player in the world.

Gao ‘Tian’ Tian-Liang

FPX proved a worthy successor to Invictus Gaming, dominating the domestic seasons of LPL and even going one step further than the iG team of 2018 by winning the LPL Summer title ahead of their Worlds victory.

While Invictus were a team led by dominant laners, FPX leaned heavily on their more supportive elements, and perhaps none more so than jungler Tian, who ultimately claimed the MVP award at Worlds.

Kim ‘Doinb’ Tae-sang

While Tian was the MVP at Worlds, it’s impossible to ignore the presence of Doinb on FPX, whose unorthodox style of mid lane play and reputation as a shotcaller have been credited as major factors in FPX’s success.

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While he may not be a mechanical god, some would argue that the presence of Doinb is fundamental to a team who are now World Champions.

Kang ‘TheShy’ Seung-lok

After making an explosive statement at the 2018 World Championship, TheShy’s 2019 certainly didn’t end on such a high note.

• Read more: Thorin’s Take: The Shy – Tyrant of the Top Lane

Nevertheless, he remains arguably the best player in his role with a peak that few in any position can match, and while consistency wasn’t always a hallmark of his season, when Invictus Gaming were at their most dangerous it was usually TheShy at the tip of the spear.

So, who gets your vote? Have your say, if you haven’t already, in our Twitter poll.