One of League of Legends' greats is stepping out of the jungle and into the next phase of his life. Hung “Karsa” Hao-Hsuan announced his retirement from pro League of Legends in a YouTube video. He also posted a written statement:
"This time, I’m saying goodbye to my career as a professional player.
Time has really flown by. Sometimes when I close my eyes, I can still clearly see the moment I first came to try out for Flash Wolves. Match after match, day after day—before I even realized it, 11 years had passed.
Over these 11 years, there were peaks and there were lows. There were many painful moments, and also many moments of joy.
I want to thank all the teammates and coaches who fought alongside me and gave their all through these years.
And I want to thank every team that believed in me.
It truly meant everything to be able to stand on the battlefield with you.
I also want to thank my mom and my brother. I’m really grateful to have you supporting and helping me every step of the way. I love you so much.
Most of all, I want to thank the fans who have supported me for so many years.
Thank you for cheering for me in the arenas, and for encouraging me even when I was at my lowest.
Every word of support, every moment you waited for me—it’s because of all of that that I can stand here today.
I truly enjoyed every moment on stage.
The thrill of competition, the roar of the crowd, and the joy that League of Legends brought me.
Today, I’m stopping here.
Karsa, the player, is saying goodbye.
But I’ll continue forward with a new identity.
11 years—thank you all for walking this journey with me.
I’m Karsa.
The player may retire, but the story will continue."
Karsa represented Machi 17, Flash Wolves, RNG, Top Esports, Victory Five, Weibo Gaming, CTBC Flying Oyster, and PSG Talon during his decade-long career. He won LPL and MSI titles with RNG, an LPL title with Top ESports, four LMS titles, and made a Worlds quarterfinals and two MSI semifinals appearances with Flash Wolves.
His stints with Victory Five and Weibo Gaming were less impactful. In his retirement video, he mentions the difficulty of not living up to his own standards. What's next for Karsa? He mentioned streaming, but hasn't ruled out contributing as a coach somewhere. His wealth of experience could surely help some squad out there.
Whatever route he chooses, here's hoping he enjoys a well-earned retirement.