CLG’s long-time mid laner Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun is now a permanent resident of the United States.
Got my Greencard on top of victory today :O . @itswoori did almost everything to help me get it. I appreciate her support so much always 🙂 <3
Can not make a joke about taking import slot finally T.T— huhi (@huhi) July 15, 2018
Huhi would post the announcement right after CLG’s improbable victory against Echo Fox last night. With Huhi getting his US green card, Riot Games will no longer consider him an import player on Counter Logic Gaming’s roster. The Import Rule in the North American LCS only allows teams to have two players from different regions. The other three players must be from North America. Now that Huhi has become a resident of the United States, he does not count towards CLG’s import players. This gives CLG the flexibility to pick another import player, if they so choose. Currently, the team’s only import player is Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin, who joined in November 2017.
Huhi’s Humble Beginnings
In 2014, Choi “Huhi” Jae-hyun began his professional career in Korea, with a team called Bigfile Miracle. That roster would be released after a horrible showing at HOT6iX Champions Summer 2014. Another team, Quvic E-sports would acquire the lineup but soon after, Huhi would leave the team. In the 2015 season, Huhi’s North American career would begin with a former NA team, Team Fusion. Unfortunately, the team would disband, and leave Huhi teamless.
Even though he had not started a game for Team Fusion, CLG would announce that Huhi would be replacing Pobelter for 2016. Long time ADC All-Star Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng would also leave the team, and the team would replace him with Trevor “Stixxay” Hayes. Since then, Huhi has become a pivotal member of the Counter Logic Gaming family. CLG puts a large emphasis on synergy between teammates, and this team has become very close over the years.
Recently, the team lost two of its longest tenured members in jungler Jake “Xmithie” Puchero and All-Star support Zaqueri “Aphromoo” Black. The effect on the team has been significant, as losing one of the most consistent junglers in the league will be a big hit on performance. Also, losing one of the best shotcallers and leaders in Aphromoo has definitely has given this team a huge hurdle to jump.
Huhi is the second LCS player to become a permanent resident of the U.S. Diego “Quas” Ruiz gained the same status in May 2015.
CLG’s Flexibility
With Huhi no longer taking up an import slot on the lineup, CLG now has room to pick up another top-tier import player in the future. For example, many fans look at long-time top laner Darshan “Darshan” Upadhyaya when thinking of a player to replace. To many fans, Darshan has been regressing through the past couple of splits, and could be a potential player to replace.
North American mid laners are actually a hot commodity in the NA LCS. Almost all of the mid laners in North America are imports. Before Huhi became a permanent resident of the States, the only resident mid laners who were considered top class are Eugene “Pobelter” Park and Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg. Pobelter is currently the mid laner for the best team in the region, Team Liquid. Bjergsen has been on perennial North American champions Team Solo Mid since 2013.
What do you think about Huhi becoming a North American resident? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! If you want more League of Legends content, check us out here!
