Famed League of Legends world champion Shushei passes away at 36 years old, leaving behind a significant legacy as one of the initial titans of the game.
Farewell to Esports Icon and Pioneer Maciej 'Shushei' Ratuszniak
In an unexpected turn of events, the League of Legends community is mourning the loss of one of its earliest, most influential figures, Maciej 'Shushei' Ratuszniak, who passed away at just 36 years old. The news of his demise has left a gaping hole in the hearts of his fans, teammates, and fellow competitors across the globe.
Shushei rose to prominence as a member of the legendary Fnatic team that clinched the very first-ever League of Legends World Championship back in 2011. This incredible win served as the beginning of the Fnatic LoL fandom for countless fans and put Shushei on the map as a force to be reckoned with in the competitive scene.
Riot Games, in recognition of his accomplishments, invited Shushei to choose a champion that would receive a special tribute skin. His choice? Gragas, and the Fnatic Gragas skin is still available in the game to this day as a testament to his legendary status.
Throughout his career, Shushei racked up a number of impressive wins, including Season 6 of the Intel Extreme Masters with Fnatic and IEM Hannover with team myRevenge in 2011. In 2013, he decided to hang up his competitive boots, leaving behind a rich legacy in the League of Legends world.
"Yesterday, we lost a legend in Shushei," reads a post from the official Fnatic account. "Our thoughts are with his friends and family. Shushei was a part of the incredible Fnatic team that won the first-ever League of Legends World Championships back in 2011 that began the Fnatic LoL fandom for so many of our fans."
Esports journalist and former caster Richard Lewis also weighed in on the loss, writing, "Very sad to hear about the passing of Maciej 'Shushei' Ratuszniak. He was instrumental in the rise of early League of Legends, bringing personality and likeability to an esport that needed those characters to propel it forward."
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Lewis further posted an interview he had with Shushei back in 2012 for those who haven't seen it yet, saying, "Rest in peace, Shushei, one of the first greats of our game."
"Tough to hear the news about Shushei," wrote Stephen Ellis of Zygomedia. "I hadn't spoken to him in over a decade, but many fond memories of the stupid shit we got up to as kids traveling the world."
Rich Stanton, a games journalist with 15 years' experience, took to Twitter to share his condolences, stating, "Rest in peace, Shushei. One of the first greats of our game. Way too young to go."
Shushei's impact on the League of Legends community was far-reaching, influencing both team strategies and individual meta-game adaptations. The esports community continues to celebrate his legacy, and his influence can still be felt in-game today.
If you're interested in learning more about the impact Shushei had on the League of Legends competitive scene, make sure to check out this comprehensive analysis. Rest in peace, Shushei. Your indelible mark will never be forgotten.
Honorary Mention: Shushei's playstyle, characterized by unconventional champion selections, pushed the boundaries of what was possible for mid laners. In particular, his AP Alistar became a game-changing tactic, and his innovations served as a blueprint for future meta adaptations. Shushei will be remembered as a strategic trailblazer who helped reshape the competitive scene forever.
Sources:
[1] Esports Insider[2] Reddit - The Legacy of Shushei[3] IGN[4] Twitch[5] Riot Games
- The legendary Fnatic team member, Maciej 'Shushei' Ratuszniak, who won the first-ever League of Legends World Championship, has sadly passed away at the age of 36.
- Riot Games commemorated Shushei's accomplishments by creating a special tribute skin for Gragas, a champion picked by Shushei himself.
- Throughout his career, Shushei secured impressive victories, including Season 6 of the Intel Extreme Masters and IEM Hannover in 2011.
- In 2013, Shushei decided to retire, leaving behind a long-lasting legacy in the world of League of Legends.
- Esports journalist and former caster Richard Lewis mourned the loss of Shushei, who brought personality and likeability to early League of Legends, and played an essential role in its growth.
- The 'unconventional' playstyle of Shushei, particularly his AP Alistar game-changing tactic, influenced team strategies and individual meta-game adaptations, solidifying his status as a trailblazer in the League of Legends competitive scene.
