| Lee Yun-Yeol | |
|---|---|
| NaDa | |
Lee Yun-Yeol wearing his oGs jersey. |
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| Status | Active |
| Date of birth | October 20, 1984 |
| Country of origin | South Korea |
| Current team | Old Generations SK Gaming |
| Games | StarCraft: Brood War StarCraft II |
Lee Yun-Yeol, (이윤열; born October 20, 1984), also known as '"NaDa", is a South Korean professional gamer who competitively plays StarCraft II and before that, StarCraft: Brood War.[1] He is known for being one of the most accomplished Brood War player of all time with a total of six major title victories, inclduing three KPGA tours in a row in 2002 and subsequently winning three OnGameNet StarLeagues over the following years, earning him the nickname, "Genius Terran".[2] He achieved the highest KeSPA score of any player before it was re-scaled, and holds the record for longest stay in KeSPA's top 30 at 87 months, beginning in March 2002 and ending in May 2009.[3] has played for several top-ranking teams, including Pantech EX, Toona S.G., KT_MagicNs, Ideal Space and WeMade FOX. After his transition to Starcraft II in 2010, he joined the Korean team of Old Generations and participates internationally for SK Gaming.
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NaDa first became known when he participated in an ITV game special where amateur players were pitted against professional players. NaDa was the amateur and beat the player Chrh.[4] Not long after, NaDa made his debut as a pro gamer by winning three KPGA tours in three consecutive seasons all in a year's time. When the KPGA tour became the MBCGame Starcraft League, the KPGA tours were deemed equal to MSL wins, resulting in NaDa being granted the golden mouse, an award for winning three MSLs. NaDa topped his KPGA Tour wins with a victory in the Panasonic OnGameNet Starleague. Afterwards NaDa went into a slump; though he continued to be a strong player and came in second or first place in various leagues and tournaments, NaDa did not win an MSL or OSL until the IOPS Ongamenet Starleague in 2004 or 2005. However, not long afterwards, NaDa would enter the darkest period in his career. On 18 July 2005, FiFo reported that NaDa's father had been killed in an automobile accident when an intoxicated driver performed an illegal U-turn and collided with his father's vehicle.[5]
When NaDa eventually returned to pro-gaming he began his return to the top. NaDa's return became one of the most impressive comebacks in Brood War history,[says who?] when in December 2007, NaDa was once again the number one-ranked pro gamer in the KeSPA rankings. It had been a full two years and five months since he had stopped performing in July 2004. NaDa's comeback culminated in his victory in the 2006 2nd ShinHan Bank OnGameNet StarLeague. In his winner's interview, NaDa dedicated his victory to his father, saying "Yes, it is my first time winning the finals with my mother seated as the audience. But, for this very victory, I give it all to my father, though he didn't make it. From now on, I will do my best for my mother."[5] This victory not only marked a successful comeback performance, but also was NaDa's third OSL win, him becoming the first player in history to earn the OSL's Golden Mouse trophy and was NaDa's sixth major title win, making NaDa the then most accomplished Brood War in the game's history.
In 2007, NaDa signed a three-year contract with WeMade FOX for approximately 690,000 USD.[6] After his contract with the organization expired in 2010, NaDa announced his intentions to fully switch to StarCraft II. Only after his retirement from Brood War was he equaled by Lee "Flash" Young-Ho for the most achievements in Starcraft: Broodwar. He joined the Korean team and gamer house of Old Generations and quickly became one of the strongest names in the StarCraft II scene, competing in the GOMTV Global Starcraft II League Season 2. There he advanced to the round of 8 before being defeated by Lim "BoxeR" Yo-Hwan. The following season NaDa made it to round of 8 again, but was defeated by Lee "MarineKingPrime.WE" Jung-Hoon, losing 4 to 0.[7] On July 15, 2011, SK Gaming announced a joint partnership with Old Generations, allowing for NaDa and his teammate, Jang "MC" Min Chul, to be sponsored for international events on behalf of the organization.[8]
It was announced that on November 20, 2011, NaDa will be opening up his own e-store, NaDa Mall which will sell progaming equipment and fulfill NaDa's dream of being a CEO.[9]
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