Former Worlds winner Nuguri reportedly returning to DWG KIA

William Davis Published 09/04/2022

A familiar face might be returning to DWG KIA for the next split, as top laner Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon is reportedly signing with the team for the upcoming 2022 LCK Summer Split. 

As per reports from Korizon Esports, the Korean top laner is set to return to the professional stage starting next split. He will be rejoining his former team in DWG KIA, playing with the likes of Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu and Heo “ShowMaker” Su once again.

Nuguri has been on a break from competitive League of Legends this split after playing under FunPlus Phoenix during the 2021 season. Before going to China, Nuguri played a big part in DWG KIA’s success in 2020 when he and the rest of the team won the Worlds trophy. If the rumors of his return are true, then he may be able to deliver a comeback in the scene that his fans have been hoping for.

What happened to Nuguri?

Nuguri’s time with FPX in China wasn’t as successful as many would have hoped for, despite placing second in both splits last season. These domestic results got FPX to the 2021 World Championship, where the team ultimately collapsed completely. Nuguri and the rest of FPX finished at the bottom of their group, resulting in an early exit. 

There are now some question marks surrounding Nuguri due to last split and his break from professional play. With that said, Nuguri was always known for his aggressive playstyle and ability to carry from the top lane. This is something DWG KIA has been needing this split so a return for Nuguri could make great sense. 

In a return, Nuguri would be replacing the likes of Noh “Burdol” Tae-yoon and Yoon “Hoya” Yong-ho, who have been splitting time in the top lane for DWG KIA this split. Burdol has been the go-to player for the top lane but hasn’t had quite the impact that a team of DWG KIA’s standards could have hoped for.

DWG KIA finished the 2022 LCK Spring Split in third place after being knocked out by Gen.G in a five-game thriller. Now, DWG KIA is missing out on the 2022 Mid-Season Invitational and will have a good amount of time to evaluate the split and potentially pick up Nuguri for good. 

Nuguri playing for DWG KIA next split isn’t official yet, but could be announced at any time before the next split starts.

Read Also

League of Legends

League of Legends 2026 MSI preview: Teams, schedule, rewards Hannan Mundia 2026’s MSI is on the horizon, with cash prizes and a guaranteed spot at this year’s World Championship on the line. Some favorites have proven their skills, as well as underdogs that have a chance to cause an upset. This preview highlights the tournament’s teams, schedule, and potential rewards for those who perform well. Eleven teams have qualified for this year’s MSI, but that doesn’t mean that every team is ...

Esports Betting

Why is the League of Legends MSI the LPL’s tournament? Wasif Ahmed In League of Legends, South Korea almost always wins the World Championship. However, it’s the LPL that has won more than half of the Mid-Season Invitationals since their launch in 2015. So why is MSI the LPL’s tournament? And what can we expect for the 2026 Mid-Season Invitational next week? First off, let’s have a look at the history and stats for the two regions at the LoL Worlds and ...

League of Legends

Fnatic founder denies rumors of organization being sold Hannan Mundia Fnatic founder and CEO Sam Mathews denied that the organization is set to be sold in the coming weeks. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say that Fnatic has seen much better days. The team’s League of Legends and CS2 rosters have been seeing multiple recent changes, and the VALORANT team’s performance has been mixed this year. Considering the team’s performance, it didn’t surprise many when reports that the organization was ...

League of Legends

Hanwha Life Esports defeats T1 to qualify for MSI Hannan Mundia After a surprisingly one-sided match, Hanwha Life Esports defeated the reigning champions T1 to qualify for MSI at the 2026 LCK Road to MSI. The LCK is by far considered the strongest League of Legends region. While T1 and Gen.G’s rivalry is iconic, it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that recent roster changes put HLE on the same playing field as the two giants. The addition of Zeus and ...

Esports Betting

T1 vs Gen.G 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI Hannan Mundia The 2026 LCK Road to MSI is almost over, with T1 and Gen.G having one last rematch in this split to determine which team qualifies for MSI. Both teams are in excellent shape, though T1’s recent loss against Hanwha Life Esports may put it at a disadvantage. Gen.G is looking extremely strong currently, and the clean sweep against KT Rolster proves that the team means business. Tournament: 2026 LCK Season ...

Esports Betting

Bilibili Gaming vs Team WE: Best betting odds and picks for the LPL Split 2 2026 Wasif Ahmed Bilibili Gaming faces Team WE in the LPL Split 2 playoffs, with neither team expected to be in the lower final. Everyone thought that BLG would go through the upper bracket and that WE would lose in the first round. Yet Team WE were the ones who knocked BLG down to the lower bracket. Now, the two teams rematch for the LPL’s final spot at Mid-Season Invitational. Tournament: LPL Split ...

Esports Betting

Gen.G vs KT Rolster 2026: Best betting odds and picks for LCK Road to MSI 2026 Hannan Mundia The 2026 LCK Road to MSI split is in full swing, with Gen.G and KT Rolster about to face off in round four to determine which team competes for a chance to qualify for MSI. Gen.G may be one of the strongest professional teams in the region, but KT Rolster has taken down the fan-favorite last year at Worlds when the stakes were higher than ever. The looming question here ...