One of the very best to ever play the role, Jeong “Impact” Eon-yeong—former World Champion and longtime top lane veteran—has parted ways with Team Liquid.
As one of the few players in League of Legends history to pair international glory with years of domestic dominance, Impact leaves behind an illustrative legacy that started in Korea and ended in North America between multiple big teams.
“My problem is like I cannot control my emotions too much. Because, I mean, I am kind of like an honest guy. I just broke up with my girlfriend, too. Like dated for six years. Plus, at the same time, it’s like the team’s not doing well together. I played kind of poorly, so it’s like I think I lost my goal in my life,” Impact said in his farewell video with Liquid.
Impact has been playing professionally for over 13 years and was part of the legendary SK Telecom T1 roster that won Worlds 2013, laying the foundation for the organization to win multiple Worlds titles in the coming years. His international title and two LCK split (Summer 2013, Winter 2014) wins quickly cemented him as one of the greatest top laners, paving the way for a long and successful career spanning multiple regions.
He began his career in 2012 with Xenics Storm as a support player, making him one of the longest-tenured professionals in League history. To put his longevity into perspective, even Faker—often considered the face of the game—debuted a year after him in his team.
Joining Liquid in late 2017, Impact quickly became a cornerstone of the roster. Over the years, he helped lead the team to four consecutive LCS championships from 2018 to 2019, establishing Liquid as the dominant force in North America during that period. He later won two more LCS titles and secured the LTA North Split 1.
Yeon also hinted at a major roster reshuffle on Sept. 4 following a disappointing season for Liquid, with Impact’s departure marking the first significant change to the squad. As they’re out of the race for Worlds 2025, Liquid might undergo more changes and structure their squad before heading for the 2026 LTA North Season.
Impact hasn’t completely shut down the possibility of making a comeback with a new team once he overcomes the tough time in his life. He has said that if he can’t find a new team, he’ll practice by himself and help some teams scrim so there is a chance he could return as a coach.
