Damonte

Early Career and Echo Fox

Tanner Damonte began his competitive League of Legends journey in January 2015, playing in amateur leagues under the names Mini and Mini Me. His first major professional opportunity came in February 2016 when he joined Echo Fox as a substitute player. For much of 2016 and 2017, he developed his skills as the mid laner for Delta Fox, Echo Fox's academy team in the Challenger Series.

Damonte made his LCS debut in May 2017 after being promoted to Echo Fox's main roster. His early tenure was marked by movement between the main and academy teams. After a brief suspension for poor behavior in online ranked matches, he was promoted back to the main roster in July 2018, continuing to build his professional profile.

Breakthrough with Clutch Gaming

In November 2018, Damonte signed a two-year contract with Clutch Gaming. The 2019 season started poorly with a ninth-place finish in the Spring Split. The team's fortunes changed in the summer after a roster change in the bot lane. Clutch Gaming secured a playoff spot and defeated TSM in the quarterfinals before losing to Team Liquid in the semifinals.

After a loss in the third-place decider, Clutch Gaming entered the regional qualifier for the 2019 World Championship. Damonte and his team fought through three rounds, defeating FlyQuest, CLG, and finally TSM to qualify for Worlds. This achievement marked Damonte's first appearance at the international championship.

2019 World Championship

At the 2019 World Championship, Clutch Gaming entered as North America's third seed in the play-in stage. They qualified for the main event after a victory over the Turkish team Royal Youth. Due to group draw rules, they were placed into Group C, which was considered a group of death featuring the leading teams SK Telecom T1, Royal Never Give Up, and Fnatic.

Clutch Gaming was unable to secure a victory in the main event, finishing last in their group and being eliminated. Following the tournament, the organization merged with Dignitas. Although transferred to Dignitas, Damonte was released in November 2019 when the team chose not to exercise the second year of his contract.

Later Playing Career

Damonte joined Dignitas Academy for the 2020 Spring Split. The team started strongly, holding first place for much of the regular season before finishing second and losing in the academy playoffs semifinals. In May 2020, he left to join the Golden Guardians' main LCS roster.

His career continued with a move to 100 Thieves in November 2020, acquired alongside Huhi from Golden Guardians. In July 2021, Damonte became the starting mid laner for Counter Logic Gaming. At the end of that year, he transitioned from player to positional coach for the organization.

Coaching and Personal Initiatives

After his playing career, Damonte moved into coaching. As of the latest information, he serves as an assistant coach for Shopify Rebellion. Beyond competition, Damonte has participated in charitable initiatives. In April 2020, he partnered with professional baseball player Hunter Pence for Verizon's Pay It Forward Live campaign, which raised money for small businesses impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pair played a friendly match together as part of the effort.

Legacy and Playing Style

Damonte's career is notable for his status as a domestic North American mid laner during a period when the LCS mid lane was often dominated by imported talent. His 2019 run with Clutch Gaming, culminating in a World Championship appearance, stands as his competitive peak. He earned a specific reputation for his high level of play on the champion Qiyana, making her a signature pick during his time as a player.

His journey from amateur leagues to the LCS and later into coaching reflects a career spent within the North American League of Legends ecosystem. His involvement in community and charity events also highlights a role beyond just competition.