Why Misfits Losing To SKT In 2017 RUINED European League For Years | Shut Up and Scale

Why It Matters

Understanding this counterfactual reveals how pivotal match outcomes shape franchise longevity and regional market growth, guiding stakeholders in talent retention and strategic investment.

Key Takeaways

• Misfits' 2017 loss to SKT led to their roster collapse.
• A win could have kept Power of Evil, preserving Misfits brand.
• Europe would have gained a third dominant team alongside G2, Fnatic.
• SKT's rebuild timeline might shift, altering LCK talent pipelines.
• Counterfactual analysis shows single matches can reshape regional esports ecosystems.

Summary

The episode of Shut Up and Scale examines a single turning point in League of Legends history – the 2017 World Championship quarter‑final where Europe’s Misfits fell to South Korea’s SK Telecom T1 (SKT). Host and guests debate whether changing that result would have altered the trajectory of the European League (LEC).

They argue the loss triggered Misfits’ roster disintegration, notably the departure of mid‑laner Power of Evil, and led to the organization’s eventual exit from the LEC. A victory, or at least a longer series, could have kept the core together, allowing Misfits to evolve into a stable third‑pillar alongside G2 and Fnatic, diversifying the region’s brand identity.

Specific moments are cited – a near‑miss Trundle pick‑off under the inhibitor turret that could have swung game five, Power of Evil’s potential to match Caps and Perkz, and SKT’s own 2017 slump that forced Faker into a jungle role. The hosts also reference Faker’s 2018 psychological turnaround, suggesting a different SKT rebuild timeline.

The discussion underscores how a single match can ripple through player careers, organizational finances, and regional competitiveness. For investors, teams, and broadcasters, recognizing these inflection points highlights the value of protecting talent continuity and the broader economic stakes of competitive outcomes.

Original Description

Thorin, Nymaera, and Peter Dun pick the one moment in League of Legends history they would change, then debate who qualifies as the most dominant player of their era in each major region.

The first topic asks each host to choose one moment in competitive League history they would go back and change, with reasoning and consequences. Thorin makes the case for Misfits beating SKT in Game 5 of the 2017 Worlds quarterfinals, arguing that Power of Evil's departure and the breakup of that roster left Europe without a third major brand to rival Fnatic and G2 for years. Nymaera brings in the 2013 Korean regional picture and smaller counterfactuals around minor region teams at Worlds play-ins. Peter examines the downstream effects of different Worlds outcomes on European narratives. The second half runs the fan-submitted Bonjwa question: borrowing the term from the StarCraft community, where a Bonjwa is the player who defines dominance in an era through sustained winning and consensus recognition, the crew map equivalents across every major region. The discussion covers TheShy, Rookie, Bjergsen, Doublelift, and the definitional argument of whether two players on the same team can both hold Bonjwa status simultaneously.

Topics covered:

⦁ What single moment in League of Legends competitive history would you go back and change, and why?

⦁ Thorin's case: Misfits beating SKT in 2017 Worlds Game 5 would have kept Power of Evil in Europe and changed the shape of the LEC era

⦁ The European narrative problem: why the Fnatic and G2 duopoly may have been avoidable

⦁ Fan topic: who are the Bonjwas of each major region in League of Legends history?

⦁ What defines a Bonjwa, and can two dominant players on the same team share the title?

⦁ Bjergsen vs Doublelift for NA, TheShy and Rookie for LPL, and the minor region case for Evi

Shut Up and Scale is a League of Legends podcast hosted by Thorin, Nymaera, and Peter Dun. Each episode, the crew tackles questions about competitive history, player rankings, and the defining moments of professional League of Legends — the debates that never have easy answers.

🎧 Watch/Listen to Shut Up and Scale:

• Spotify (with video): https://open.spotify.com/show/55ANlr5jztldeJYf925cDd

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shut-up-and-scale/id18960079486

• Pocket Casts: https://pca.st/bbl2a5ye

• Pandora: https://www.pandora.com/podcast/shut-up-and-scale/PC:1001117066

Shut Up and Scale Episode 5 was filmed on June 5, 2026.

🎬 Credits

Editing: Light

Art: Atantalas

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0:00 If you could change one moment in League history, what would it be?

48:07 Fan topic: Who are the Bonjwas of each major region?

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