Chovy (Jeong Ji-hoon)

Who Is Chovy?

Jeong Ji-hoon (Korean: 정지훈; born March 3, 2001), better known as Chovy, is a South Korean professional League of Legends player for Gen.G.

Domestically, he has won five League of Legends Champions Korea (LCK) titles and one KeSPA Cup, appearing in 11 out of 14 LCK finals since his debut. Internationally, he has won two Mid-Season Invitational titles in 2024 and 2025, the latter of which he won Finals MVP, and has reached the semifinals of the World Championship three times — in 2022, 2024, and 2025.

Furthermore, Chovy was named Esports Player of the Year at The Game Awards 2025 — the highest individual honor in competitive gaming.

Early Life: The Anchovy Who Became a Legend

A Nickname With a Story

Chovy’s in-game ID is based on his nickname “Anchovy.” His former ID “ji hun” was derived from his real name, Jeong Ji-hoon.

The nickname “Anchovy” started as something playful. However, Chovy turned it into something feared across the entire competitive League of Legends world. Today, when fans hear the name Chovy, they think of elite mechanics, flawless positioning, and near-impossible KDA statistics.

Growing Up in South Korea’s Esports Culture

Chovy grew up in South Korea — a nation known for its fierce esports culture, particularly in League of Legends. Growing up in such an environment likely had a significant impact on his career choice and development as a player.

In his early days, Chovy reflected on his amateur journey: “I wasn’t actually good at League… Yeah, I’ve learnt a lot from cvMax.” This honest self-reflection speaks volumes. He did not arrive at the top fully formed. He worked, studied, and adapted his way there.

First Steps Into Professional Play (2017)

His career began in 2017 when he played for KeG Gwangju in the 2017 KeSPA Cup. That single tournament marked the start of one of esports’ most remarkable career trajectories.

Career Journey: From Griffin Rookie to Global Icon

Griffin (2018–2019): The World Takes Notice

Chovy’s professional career began in 2018 with Griffin (GRF), where he quickly made a name for himself. His debut was in the LCK 2018 Summer, a tournament where he and his team secured a strong second-place finish. This early success showcased his potential, playing alongside players like Lehends, Rather, Sword, Tarzan, and Viper.

Therefore, from day one, Chovy was surrounded by elite talent. He rose to match it — and often surpassed it.

His time at Griffin established him as a rising star in the competitive League of Legends scene, with notable performances in the KeSPA Cup 2018, where his team secured a first-place victory.

The 100 KDA Record That Shocked the World (2019)

January 2019 is a date that every serious League of Legends fan remembers.

Chovy became the first professional League of Legends player ever to achieve a 100 overall KDA in a professional league in January 2019, after a 2-0 victory against SK Telecom T1 in LCK 2019 Spring brought his overall KDA to 44/1/60.

When asked about it at the time, Chovy kept his trademark composure. “During the game, I try not to notice it,” he said. “I’m worried it might influence my performance negatively.”

That mindset — calm, process-oriented, and immune to hype — defines Chovy entirely.

DRX (2020): Worlds Under New Colors

From 2019 to 2021, Chovy played on a different team each year: Griffin in 2019, DRX in 2020, and Hanwha Life Esports in 2021. In that time, he made three LCK finals appearances and three World Championship appearances.

At DRX in 2020, Chovy continued to rack up individual accolades. He also became the youngest player to score 1,000 kills in the LCK — another record that placed him in rarefied company.

Hanwha Life Esports (2021): Individual Brilliance Shines

2021 was perhaps Chovy’s loneliest year in terms of trophies. However, it was also one of his most individually impressive.

He was awarded Player of the Split for LCK 2021 Spring with 1,000 MVP points. Moreover, he reached the LCK Finals and another World Championship. His consistency never wavered — even when team success proved elusive.

Gen.G (2022–Present): Finally, a Home

2022 marked the most important signing of Chovy’s career. He joined Gen.G — and everything changed.

In his first year with the team, he reached the finals in both of the LCK splits, winning the 2022 Summer Split, and reached the semifinals of the 2022 World Championship.

He picked up two more LCK titles with Gen.G in 2023, played in his first Mid-Season Invitational (MSI), and played in his fifth consecutive World Championship.

Gen.G gave Chovy not just teammates — but a system built to help him thrive. Because of this partnership, his peak was still ahead of him.

Peak Years: 2024 and 2025 — The Reign of Chovy

Dominating the LCK in 2024

In the 2024 LCK season, Gen.G defeated T1 in the Spring Grand Final with a score of 3–2 to win their fourth LCK split in a row. Chovy was named Season MVP for both the Spring and Summer splits.

This made him one of the rarest players in LCK history — an MVP of both splits in a single year. Furthermore, he earned 4× LCK Season MVP awards across his career, a testament to his sustained dominance at the domestic level.

MSI 2024: First International Gold

Chovy won his first MSI title in 2024 — one of the most coveted international trophies in League of Legends. After years of deep Worlds runs that fell short of the ultimate prize, Chovy finally stood on top of a global stage. The moment was celebrated across the entire Korean esports community.

MSI 2025: Back-to-Back and Finals MVP

Chovy and Gen.G secured the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 title, defending their MSI crown from the previous year. At MSI 2025, Chovy was named Finals MVP. He did not just win — he was the best player on the winning team.

Esports World Cup 2025: A New Trophy

Gen.G finished second at the LCK Cup 2025, secured titles at the Mid-Season Invitational 2025 and the Esports World Cup 2025, and claimed the LCK 2025 championship.

Chovy’s most prestigious single prize came at the Esports World Cup 2025, won on July 20, 2025, where his team earned $120,000 in prize money.

The Game Awards 2025: Player of the Year

The ultimate individual crown followed at the end of 2025.

Chovy was named Player of the Year in the esports category at The Game Awards 2025. The announcement was made live during the ceremony on December 12. The shortlist featured a stacked field of competitors across multiple titles.

Individually, Chovy collected LCK 2025 MVP, MSI 2025 Finals MVP, and earned a spot in all four LCK First All-Pro Team selections that year. He also previously won Player of the Year at the League Awards 2025.

LCK Cup 2026: Still on Top

Chovy also claimed the LCK Cup champion title in 2026, proving that his hunger for trophies has not diminished. As of mid-2026, he remains the most dominant force in the LCK mid lane.

Records and Milestones

Chovy’s career is littered with firsts and historic marks.

He became the first professional League of Legends player to achieve a 100 overall KDA in a professional league in January 2019.

He also became the youngest player to score 1,000 kills in the LCK.

He reached 2,500 kills in the LCK on August 20, 2025 — the sixth player to reach this milestone after Faker, Deft, Bdd, Aiming, and Ruler, and the third mid laner after Faker and Bdd.

He appeared in 11 out of 14 LCK finals since his debut — a consistency rate that even the greatest players in history struggle to match.

Additionally, he has been portrayed as Orianna in the Worlds 2021 anthem and as Akali in the Worlds 2024 anthem — a cultural recognition of his status as one of the faces of the entire sport.

Playing Style: What Makes Chovy Different

Chovy is not the loudest player. He is not the flashiest. However, he is the most precise.

He is renowned for his mechanical prowess, champion pool mastery, and strategic game sense.

He is known for his ability to gather huge minion advantages in lane — a fundamentals-first approach that frustrates opponents before the fighting even begins. While other mid laners win through aggression, Chovy wins through suffocation. He denies resources. He controls space. He makes the game feel inevitable.

His champion pool is famously deep and adaptable. He revealed at Worlds 2024 why he picks Smolder — a champion few mid laners could master — showcasing his willingness to experiment where others play safe.

He has been occasionally referred to as “Choky” by English fans when he plays poorly, and sometimes referred to as “8884844” by Korean fans, alluding to his placements at Worlds from 2019 to 2025. Even his critics acknowledge that reaching the World Championship semifinals multiple times makes their jokes complicated.

International Achievements

Year	Tournament	Result
2018	KeSPA Cup	1st Place (Finals MVP)
2019	Rift Rivals	1st Place
2019	Worlds	5th–8th Place
2020	Worlds	5th–8th Place
2021	Worlds	5th–8th Place
2022	Worlds	Semifinalist (3rd–4th)
2022	Asian Games	Gold Medal
2023	Worlds	5th–8th Place
2024	MSI	1st Place
2024	Worlds	Semifinalist (3rd–4th)
2025	MSI	1st Place (Finals MVP)
2025	Esports World Cup	1st Place
2025	Worlds	Semifinalist
2026	LCK Cup	1st Place

Career Earnings

Chovy has earned approximately $635,484 in career prize money from 39 tournaments as of 2025. His top-earning events include the Esports World Cup 2025 ($120,000) and MSI 2025 ($100,000) — his two most lucrative individual paydays, reflecting the growing prize pools of international esports.