Former League of Legends World Champion Cyanide Dies Aged 31
The Finnish jungler, who won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship with Fnatic in 2011, died on July 31.
Former League of Legends world champion Lauri 'Cyanide' Happonen died on July 31, 2026, at the age of 31.
Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported the death on October 26 after receiving confirmation from Finland's Digital and Population Data Services Agency, known as the DVV.
The cause of death has not been disclosed, and no explanation was provided for the nearly three-month gap before the news became public.
Happonen was 16 when he helped Fnatic win the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011, which the organization said made him the youngest player ever to win the title.
"He leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten," Fnatic wrote in a tribute on X.
He went on to win three European league championships with Fnatic in 2013 and 2014 and reached the semifinals of the 2013 World Championship.
His former teammate Bora 'YellOwStaR' Kim paid tribute, writing, "Lauri was so much more than a teammate."
"He was one of the kindest, most genuine souls I've ever had the privilege of knowing," YellOwStaR wrote.
YellOwStaR recalled seeing Happonen at a League of Legends Classic showmatch in July, days before his death.
"We saw each other again at the showmatch in July, and he was still full of dreams, plans, and projects for the future," he wrote.
YellOwStaR said they had spent more than two and a half years as teammates, a relationship that went beyond professional results.
Happonen played for Fnatic from 2011 to 2014, later joining Origen to play alongside former teammate Enrique 'xPeke' Cedeño Martínez before retiring from professional competition.
His victory in 2011 helped establish Fnatic's standing in European competitive gaming and the early competitive reputation of League of Legends.
One fan described Happonen as an important figure during the early years of League of Legends competition and a major part of Fnatic's history, writing, "31 is devastatingly young."
He is the second member of Fnatic's 2011 championship-winning roster to die, following Maciej 'Shushei' Ratuszniak, who died in April 2025 at age 36.
Born on November 15, 1994, Happonen was known to esports audiences by the competitive name Cyanide and made his reputation as a jungler during the formative years of professional League of Legends.
