Melany M. November 13, 2020
2020 World Champion DAMWON Gaming has announced Kim "kkOma" Jeong-gyun as its head coach for the 2021 season.
DAMWON is making moves ahead of the 2021 season in the newly franchised LCK, and keeping things exciting even before the start of free agency with the addition of the heavily credentialed coach. No other head coach in the world has a resume like kkOma’s, with the former T1 head coach owning eight LCK titles, two Mid-Season Invitationals, and three World Championships. Now, kkOma will look to add more trophies to his case with a squad that is already proven World Champion material.
Signing with DAMWON marks the return of kkOma to the LCK. After parting ways with SKT in 2019, the coach moved overseas and join LPL’s Vici Gaming for an entire year. Unfortunately, Vici Gaming couldn't qualify for the LPL playoffs in either split and opted for a fresh start without kkOma. kkOma, who recently welcomed a daughter into the world, is ready for a glorious return to his region and couldn't have found a better home.
Will DAMWON stay strong in the 2021 LCK season?
DAMWON is the first Korean team to win Worlds since 2017 and established itself as the strongest team in the world with a strong performance at the event. All eyes are now on the LCK as the league enters into a new era defined by the transition to a franchised league. It’s too early to say if this will inspire a renaissance for the LCK similar to years past, where multiple teams dominated the international stages. It could be exactly the opposite, with only one team looking strong and the rest of the teams fighting for second place.
DAMWON is yet to confirm its roster for the new season. The biggest question mark right now is top laner Jang "Nuguri" Ha-gwon, whose contract is expiring soon. Ideally, the team will keep Nuguri for a couple of years. Releasing Nuguri now that teams have access to larger budgets might be a huge mistake for DAMWON.
Free agency begins next week and fans of DAMWON will find out if the championship team will remain intact then.