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League of Legends star Nuguri returns to DWG KIA

After a year out in China and a split-long break from competitive play, Nuguri has returned to Korea to once again compete in DWG KIA colours

League of Legends Nuguri returns to DWG KIA: Nuguri while playing for Damwon Gaming in 2020
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League of Legends LCK 

League of Legends top lane maestro Jang ‘Nuguri’ Ha-gwon has today been announced as DWG KIA’s starting toplaner for the 2022 LCK Summer Split. The move sees Nuguri return to the Worlds 2020-winning squad after a stint in China and a break from competitive play.

Nuguri’s return – initially reported by Korizon Esports on April 8 – was officially confirmed via DWG KIA’s socials, welcoming him back to the organisation. With Nuguri presumably taking up the mantle as the team’s starting toplaner, the futures of Noh ‘Burdol’ Tae-yoon and Yoon ‘Hoya’ Yong-ho are now up in the air.

Nuguri originally took home the Worlds trophy with DWG KIA after a dominant year with the team in 2020, before setting his sights on a new adventure in the LPL. However, after a poor showing at Worlds 2021 which saw FunPlus Phoenix crash out in the Group Stage, Nuguri parted ways with the organisation to take time away from the professional scene altogether.

Now, after nearly six months away from competitive play, Nuguri has reunited with former teammates Kim ‘Canyon’ Geon-bu and Heo ‘ShowMaker’ Su.

With Nuguri back in the team, DWG KIA may now have that extra bit of star power required to push the likes of Gen.G and T1 in the Summer, and cement itself that all-important LoL Worlds spot.

Aaron has been with The Loadout since 2020 - their inaugural venture into the industry. Their writing chops were honed throughout their Digital Marketing MA, which have been utilized to great effect covering the latest PS5 and Xbox news for the best games like Stellar Blade, Honkai Star Rail, and Baldur's Gate 3. Aaron's passion for console gaming was stoked from a young age, having commandeered their dad's PS1 alongside FIFA 98, Toy Story 2: Buzz Light Year to the Rescue, and Resident Evil 2. From there, Aaron spent most of their adolescence flipping between PlayStation and Xbox across the generations, experiencing the peaks and troughs of iconic franchises like Gears of War, Call of Duty, and Assassin's Creed, alongside a slew of AA and indie hits as they grew into adulthood. An enjoyer of the best RPG games, Aaron's favorites from across the years are Kingdom Hearts 2 and Persona 5. Nowadays, when they aren't theorycrafting builds for the upcoming Hades 2, you'll find Aaron running from zombies in Call of Duty MW3, or reliving their Sunday League glory days in FC 24. Rumor has it they're actually three otters in a trench coat, though this has yet to be confirmed. (He/They)