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David vs. Goliath: Maryville Esports Takes on Korea’s Greatest Team Ever Assembled

Maryville Esports is Headed to the World Stage

Three individuals will step onto one of the biggest stages in the history of competitive gaming. On Saturday, September 19, JunHao “AoJune“ Chen, Jeremiah “ScaryJerry“ Leathe, and Ryan “Zyko” Jung will wear the red, white, and blue in an international League of Legends (LoL) showdown against South Korea’s national team in a friendly.

Three Saints. One unforgettable opportunity.

This isn’t just any roster; it’s a Maryville reunion on the international stage: 

  • JunHao “AoJune” Chen — Junior at Maryville University 
  • Jeremiah “ScaryJerry” Leathe — Senior and national champion with Maryville University 
  • Ryan “Zyko” Jung — Computer science alumnus and national champion with Maryville University 

The Stage is Set

2,500 fans packed into the stunning Busan Cinema Center, the electric atmosphere of a Korean esports crowd, and a broadcast beamed exclusively on Disney+ across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. The match will be hosted by the Korea e-Sports Association (KeSPA), which invited the United States as one of just two international opponents alongside Vietnam to sharpen its squad for the Asian Games. KeSPA is rolling out the red carpet, covering housing, meals, ground transportation, and practice facilities for the entire delegation.

This tier-two, semi-pro roster was assembled by Nick “Inero” Smith, head coach of the USA Esports LoL program and a veteran of the North American professional scene. He’ll be joined on the bench by Aiden “Niles” Tidwell, Maryville’s head LoL coach, traveling with the delegation to assist the coaching staff. Dan Clerke, national team manager for USA Esports, and Maryville University’s director of esports, is coordinating the entire operation. While North America’s top league sits in the middle of its playoffs and couldn’t release its players, the door swung open and Maryville’s finest walked through.

“Being a part of this means the world to me,” said Aiden Tidwell. “I love my country, so having the chance to represent them is something I will always cherish. Also, playing against some of the greatest players of all time makes this a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — we’ll make the most of this trip.” 

And on the Other Side… Faker 

Korea is sending its Asian Games national team, headlined by the player many call the greatest to ever touch a keyboard: Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok. His résumé is impressive:

  • Six World Championships across a 13-year career 
  • First esports athlete ever awarded the Cheongnyong Medal, South Korea’s highest sports honor, presented by the President 
  • Named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in Sports — Icons tier — alongside LeBron James, Lionel Messi, and Shohei Ohtani 
  • Endorsements with Nike, Red Bull, and Razer, millions of followers, and a reported salary near $6 million a year  

And Faker isn’t alone. His teammates read like a Hall of Fame ballot:

  • Chovy — Best Esports Athlete at The Game Awards 2025, five-time domestic champion 
  • Zeus — Two-time World Champion and the first player to win every international title 
  • Canyon — World Champion and Finals MVP in 2020 
  • Gumayusi — Three-time World Champion and 2025 Finals MVP 
  • Keria — Three-time World Champion, five straight years as the league’s best at his position

That’s a combined total of fifteen World Championship titles and five Asian Games gold medals; an achievement so monumental it carries a national military service exemption in South Korea. 

Esports History in the Making  

The 2025 World Championship final peaked at 6.7 million simultaneous viewers, one of the largest audiences in esports history, and these Korean players compete at that level routinely. The first edition of this friendly series in 2023 reached more than 2.8 million viewers worldwide, and this year’s event adds exclusive Disney+ distribution across three continents and 14 official partners, including Hanwha Life, Google Play, and POSCO.  

This is the stuff of dreams. A tier-two, semi-professional squad anchored by three members of the Maryville esports family representing the United States against the most accomplished roster the sport has ever produced, on an international broadcast, in front of a roaring Korean crowd. It’s a level of exposure that very few college programs in any sport, esports or traditional, ever reach. Win or lose, one thing is certain: September 19, the world will know the name Maryville University.  

Mark your calendar. Stream it on Disney+. Witness history. Go Saints!  

 

About Maryville University

Founded in 1872, Maryville University is a comprehensive and nationally ranked private institution with an enrollment of well over 9,000 students. Maryville offers over 90 degrees at the undergraduate, master’s and doctoral levels, as well as several certificates that align with the undergraduate and graduate education levels. Maryville is recognized as the third fastest-growing private university in the United States by The Chronicle of Higher Education, serving students from 50 states and 56 countries. More than 50,000 Maryville alumni globally, many of whom work and live in the St. Louis region.