Breaking the Mold

Outside the Chase Center on an overcast Saturday in San Francisco, DeObia Oparei's shining smile radiated an aura of love and warmth. His muscular 6-foot-6 frame donned a colorful costume reminiscent of a Wakandan warrior, carrying two seven-foot-long teal Ntofos — sheathed swords used for both blocking and striking.

Ntofos are K’Sante’s weapons of choice, and he is the newest character from League of Legends, the uber-popular video game made by Riot Games.

Oparei’s commanding presence and confident personality sparkled in our three-minute conversation, as the former “Game of Thrones” star voice acted as the mythical monster hunter from Nazumah.

Within minutes of Oparei’s arrival at his meet-and-greet at this year’s League of Legends World Finals, droves of passionate fans from around the world flocked to welcome Oparei into the “League” community and shower him with affection.

Oparei happily accepted their invitation, and his perspective on gaming was forever changed.

“This is my first time doing something like this, so seeing how everyone's so emotionally invested, especially in the character I play, has just been so heartwarming,” Oparei said.

Throughout his successful acting career, Oparei has portrayed various powerful figures, such as Areo Hotah in “Game of Thrones” and Dikembe Umbutu in “Independence Day: Resurgence.” The British actor has appeared in many more notable films and TV shows, such as “Pirates of the Caribbean” and Marvel’s “Loki.”

Before he signed on with Riot Games, Oparei had little knowledge of esports, a multi-billion dollar global industry, or League of Legends — one of the most popular games of all time. Over the past decade, both esports and League of Legends have penetrated pop culture and exploded in popularity, and by 2030, the market size of global esports is estimated to reach upwards of $12 billion.

Played by over 150 million people worldwide, League of Legends is an intricate online MOBA, or multiplayer online battle arena, known for its split-second strategy and endless knowledge. Players battle using characters called champions, each possessing a distinct set of abilities, a unique playstyle and a meaningful story.

“League” pins two teams of five against each other with one common goal, taking out the enemy’s base, and while “League” is easy to play, it’s challenging to master.

At the highest level, it requires extreme mental fortitude and robot-like mechanical prowess; both traits overflowed at the 2022 World Finals in San Francisco, one of the biggest esports events of the year.

K’Sante opened Oparei’s eyes to an unforgettable world of intense passion, tight community and fierce competition — the world of esports.

The love and energy among the 18,000 fans at the Chase Center in San Francisco were contagious. Thousands of people traveled from around the world for this event, as so many recognized this “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity.

Yee Song was one of those fans.

Song jumped at the chance to attend the World Finals in San Francisco. Despite having a midterm the following week, he did not care about sacrificing valuable study time for this adventure.

Originally from Shanghai, Song had wanted to attend the World Finals but was repeatedly heartbroken after plans in recent years were derailed due to COVID and visa problems — this year was different since he was already in the United States.

Song embarked on a 10-plus hour journey from college in Columbus, Ohio to experience the event. He wanted to express his devotion to League of Legends and his appreciation for the professionals.

“Pro players show their passion. They show they are something special,” said Song. “They do the impossible during their matches, and it's so great. I'm amazed by that.”

Song is part of a massive group of fans who love “League” and esports out of admiration of professionals and their skills — exactly how kids fall in love with basketball after watching LeBron James soar through the air for a monstrous dunk.

But for others, their passion extends beyond just the professionals, all the way to the in-game champions themselves. There are more than 160 champions in “League,” each possessing a distinct theme, story, and allure that players connect with.

Matt Nguyen is from Daly City, less than 10 miles from the Chase Center. The Bay Area native is a long-time “League” player and loves the champion Lucian, a merciless gunslinging hunter. Lucian was the first champion he ever played.

In anticipation of the World Finals, Nguyen spent over six months recreating Lucian's armor, weapons, and aesthetic down to the most minute detail. On the day of the event, he proudly adorned Lucian's cybernetic armor and was showered with love and respect for his hard work.

“I’ve waited years for this opportunity,” Nguyen said. “It took me a really long time to recreate Lucian, but it was so worth it. I’m just so glad to be here.”

Nguyen partook in cosplaying, a popular form of performance art, by wearing a costume and accessories to represent a specific character.

His outfit was truly a work of art, and his emulation was the ultimate display of passion for the game and his deep connection to Lucian.

Like Nguyen, Noah Smalley and Kenny Martinez attended the World Finals cosplaying as some of their favorite characters. The two met online playing “League,” and while Smalley already lived in San Francisco, Martinez traveled from Miami to accompany his good friend.

Despite being grown men in their 20s, Smalley dressed up as Gwen, a hallowed seamstress, and Martinez as Sivir, a battle mistress. Their connection to “League” and each other drove them to break the confines of gender, and the community loved it.

“You actually get to bond with people, and they are so nice. Everyone has that one common interest, and you can connect with anyone,” said Smalley. “It's one of my favorite feelings.”

Smalley and Martinez show how the global community fosters millions of meaningful relationships, but when playing League of Legends, the strength of the community is not always apparent.

“League” is usually played alone and can sometimes feel isolating — events like the World Finals at the Chase Center remind gamers that they are never alone.

“Obviously, you play League of Legends in your room, and you don't see other people playing at the same time,” said Wisconsin native Nadia Talbi. “But when you’re here together, it's like, wow. This is actually a massive community.”

Like many others, Talbi went to the World Finals with her best friends, including her older sister, Rkia. Not only did they cosplay different champions, but they traveled from the midwest and east coast, making plenty of friends along the way.

“Everyone relates to the same thing. We're just so inspired and connected by the same environment,” Talbi said.

Talbi, her friends and her older sister were like a family — exactly how Eulises Orellana from Charlotte, North Carolina described his group. Orellana and his “family” of four friends traveled to every stage of this year's playoffs in New York, Atlanta, and finally, San Francisco.

“We have this love for something that in theory, is not a tangible object. We’re all subscribed to an idea,” Orellana said. “Something so unique and so beautiful.”

Orellana’s “family” attended the World Finals together six years ago when it was last held in the United States. It was only right they got the gang back together in 2022.

“The amount of people here together, connecting over a mutual passion. It’s magical.” Orellana said.

This magic was evident among the thousands of energetic fans at the official Fan Fest outside the arena, and inside the packed Chase Center, which sold out in under five minutes.

League of Legends and esports serve as a platform to connect fans globally, uniting individuals across cultures and borders from thousands of miles away.

Esports journalist John Popko attested, saying how amazing it was to see people from “all walks of life” united under one passion. “These are always the most special events of the year, having every facet of people that love gaming,” Popko said. “That's what's truly the most special to me.”

The League World Finals affirmed the love and support within the global community of League of Legends and esports.

Everyone could share in their passion together.

Competition is the most fundamental principle at the core of esports, and no bigger stage exists than the League of Legends World Finals.

This year’s finalists were T1 esports and DRX — the perfect David & Goliath matchup.

T1 entered the finals as the heavy favorite, while few expected DRX to make it to the playoffs, let alone the World Finals. Furthermore, T1’s captain is Faker — the greatest professional League of Legends player ever. He battled against his high school friend and rival on DRX, Deft.

The storylines were almost too good to be true, and the series exceeded expectations.

The series was back and forth, with both teams refusing to give an inch. Over 18,000 fans inside the Chase Center and millions more worldwide witnessed displays of individual skill and team coordination.

In the end, the series went to the maximum five out of five games. The atmosphere in the stadium felt like Game 7 of the NBA Finals — the noise was deafening. Deft and DRX ended up conquering Faker and T1, completing the Cinderella story and extinguishing years of demons and doubts.

This matchup was the perfect example of how at the highest level, the competition is fierce; however, for the average gamer, the fast-paced nature of “League” quenches the adrenaline rush many crave.

“League” is demanding, requiring quick reactions and constant focus. Like a quarterback reading a defense, League of Legends calls on a wealth of knowledge to inform split-second decision-making.

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, Koen Barlay has been playing “League” for over six years. Barlay regularly attends local tournaments, craving that competitive environment that forges strong friendships.

For Barlay, competing as a team is the most fulfilling aspect.

“Having four other people competing and communicating alongside you makes it really fun. That's what real League is to me.” Barlay said. “Five versus five. All communicating, practicing, and working together to get the victory.”

Popko agreed with Barlay, furthering the point by adding how esports provide a platform for those who don’t enjoy traditional sports but still want to enjoy a competitive discipline.

Matt Rados is a collegiate League of Legends player at the University of Oregon. Despite Rados being in the top tier of “League” players, he cannot believe the mechanical skills and knowledge required to play at the highest level.

“The game has so much depth to it,” Rados said. “There's a very high skill cap, and you could play your entire life and not get anywhere close to as good as the pros are.”

No matter how good you are at “League,” there is always more to learn, always room for improvement, and always someone better to chase.

It’s the ultimate competitive discipline, full of passion, linked by a global community.

Despite the overwhelming passion, global community, and extreme competitiveness, League of Legends and esports face criticism from outsiders. Many question the legitimacy of esports and do not understand the hype behind competitive gaming.

The scrutiny confused Oparei, as he did not understand why someone would discount esports. More than anything, he explained how those people are missing out.

“They're losing out then because this is incredible. It’s absolutely fantastic and so heartwarming,” Oparei said. “I never knew esports were this level of intense and huge.”

Other people around the Chase Center flipped the question of whether or not esports are legitimate back on traditional sports fans, acknowledging the lack of physicality in esports but challenging the status quo. Everyone has a passion and preferences.

For Smalley and Martinez, the overwhelming evidence in their favor was the turnout and enthusiasm for the World Finals.

“We're at the Chase Center right now, and it’s more packed than every Warriors game this season,” said Smalley. “I don't know what more needs to be said.”

“A lot of people spend hours watching football, and everyone loves the Super Bowl,” Martinez said. “Well, this is our Super Bowl.”

Orellana agreed, adding that at the end of the day, sports and esports are both games.

“It's about the fans' passion and the competitors' commitment and drive,” Orellana said. “Fans of anything just love seeing people who are passionate about the things they love, regardless of how physical the activity is. They compete at the highest level, and you respect them so much.”

The Charlotte native rejoined his “family” in line outside the Chase Center after adding one final remark — the perfect quote reflecting Oparei’s experience as a newcomer.

“You might not understand esports now, but give them time and be open to understanding what they are,” Orellana said. “Because whether you want it or not, Esports are taking over the world.”