Effort

Origins of a Gamer

Lee Sang-ho's path to professional gaming began with a passion for esports. Before League of Legends, he was an avid viewer of StarCraft matches. His admiration for one player in particular was so strong that he adopted his name, becoming Effort in honor of the StarCraft pro Kim EffOrt Jung Woo.

He started playing League of Legends during his first year of secondary school. As he developed as a support player, he found a role model in Lee Wolf Jae-wan, the support for SK Telecom T1 whose success he would later emulate on the same team.

The T1 Trainee

Effort's professional journey is deeply tied to the T1 organization, formerly known as SK Telecom T1. He spent seven months as an online trainee for the team before his talent was officially recognized. SKT announced his signing, and he made his competitive debut at the KeSPA Cup 2017 on November 29, 2017.

His first professional match was against Griffin, where he selected Blitzcrank and secured a victory. This marked the beginning of his career with one of the longest-running franchises in League of Legends history.

Rise to Starting Roster and Championship Success

Effort became the starting support for SKT in the LCK Spring 2018, winning his first league match against the ROX Tigers. The team's results were inconsistent that year, however, finishing fourth in Spring and seventh in Summer, which meant they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Championship.

His breakthrough season came in 2019. After starting the Summer split on the bench, he was subbed in for a match against kt Rolster and broke the team's five-game losing streak. This performance secured his place as the permanent starter. He led the team to the LCK Summer finals, making his first appearance on that stage on August 31, 2019, and winning his first LCK title with a 3-1 victory over Griffin. The win qualified SKT as the LCK's first seed for the 2019 World Championship.

He added a second LCK championship in the Spring split of 2020, as T1 swept Gen.G 3-0 in the finals on April 25.

A New Chapter Beyond T1

After four years with T1, the organization announced Effort's departure on December 1, 2020. He quickly found a new home, with Liiv Sandbox announcing he would join as their new support player for the 2021 season. In a social media post after the season, Effort expressed sincere thanks to everyone who had supported him and Liiv Sandbox that year, as well as his teammates and coaching staff.

His career continued with subsequent moves, and he is currently playing the support role for KT Rolster, bringing his championship experience to another top LCK organization.

Playstyle and Legacy

Effort is best known for his aggressive, playmaking style as a support. He earned a particular reputation for his skill on the champion Pyke, a high-risk, high-reward pick known for securing eliminations. This aggressive approach made him a key part of T1's championship runs during their 2019 and 2020 successes.

As a player who rose from a trainee to a starting support for the most successful organization in the game, his career path serves as a blueprint for development within the Korean esports system. His two LCK titles confirm his place among the successful supports to have played for T1.