[Sports // General Sports // Column]

[By Lee Ji-hwan // LeeJeeHwan@esportsonly.co.kr]

"Eugene: Rewriting the History of Dark Zone"

<Picture of Eugene being interviewed after the pre-selection in KSM>

It's no exaggeration to say that Dark Zone, a VR FPS game, is the most popular eSports game in South Korea. KSM, the gateway to one of the most prestigious PVP tournaments, Apex Predator-Final Championship, has recently been lit up by a rising star.

Eugene, a player whose age and gender are unknown, stepped onto the KSM stage in just a month and a half, progressing through the tournament ranks, scrims, and qualifying ranks. For the first time in the history of KSM, this player clinched a pre-selection spot in the first phase.

Numerous experts have expressed keen interest in Eugene's almost unreal performance and combat skills. This player has shattered the conventional wisdom that victory is determined by reaction time, instantaneous decisions, and environmental awareness, all of which are based on solid fundamentals.

Eugene’s gameplay shows that what were once considered super-plays, relying heavily on reaction time and 'physical' ability, may not be as crucial in engagements. This has sparked a new debate in the world of eSports—retirement.

In eSports, debut and retirement often come early. Before Dark Zone, it was commonly accepted that players debuted in their late teens and retired by their early twenties due to the need for lightning-fast reaction times. However, Eugene is different. This player is methodical and unyielding, with incomparable precision in shooting, bold and swift movements, and perfectly timed visual and auditory disruptions. It’s a playstyle that isn’t about physical prowess but rather about assembling the battlefield to their advantage.

As a result, Eugene proves that in Dark Zone, external factors like age have less of an impact, and a playstyle grounded in strategy and tactical engagement, removed from physical reflexes, can still dominate even in the top domestic tournaments. This bears a striking resemblance to Japan’s professional gamer Keith, who was the only Asian player to place in the top 10 in last year’s finals.

<Performance graph of Dice’s results from last year and this year> <Analysis of Blooming’s average performance and career progression>

Eugene’s incredible journey doesn’t stop with the game. This player currently serves as a temporary coach for SSM Entertainment, and in just a month, Eugene transformed SSM’s stagnant performance into a sharp upward trend.

Moreover, Eugene is known for personally coaching Dice, an AP 1st division player at SSM Entertainment whose stock has been rising recently. Though the exact training regimen remains unknown, Dice’s average performance has significantly improved compared to last year, hinting at the influence of Eugene's guidance.

Additionally, Eugene has mentored Blooming, another SSM player, who, thanks to a 15% improvement in skills, qualified for KSM for the first time. These clear results only further demonstrate Eugene’s unique talent.

Eugene is also a well-known streamer. Despite having played in many matches and participated in numerous interviews, this player never appears nervous—perhaps due to extensive experience dealing with large crowds. Eugene’s straightforward and candid personality has earned a wide following among fans.

Maybe it’s Eugene’s calm yet clear tone, cutting through the playful teasing of the so-called “tail squad,” that appeals to fans. However, Eugene does have a weakness: embarrassing nicknames. It’s famously known that Eugene once used a wrestling move on Dice over this very issue.

Dark Zone has only been in service for five years, and the professional scene is just three years old. As Dark Zone continues to grow in popularity each year, Eugene stands as a fascinating figure amidst this transitional period of eSports. Perhaps it’s worth getting to know this quiet yet quirky player.

Below is Eugene's pre-selection interview from yesterday:

Q: How does it feel to be selected as a national representative of South Korea? A: I didn’t play that many matches, but I gained a lot of unexpected and valuable experiences. Especially with map mechanics like running across collapsing mountains, container ships exploding, or entire areas being engulfed in flames.

Q: There must be many variables in combat. What’s your secret to victory? A: It’s important to think in every moment of the fight. For example, forcing your opponent into disadvantageous situations and blocking their tactical and strategic advantages. I often use techniques that confuse their auditory and visual senses.

Q: If possible, what are your goals for the competition? A: I’ve heard the air at the top of America is exceptionally clear.

After Saturday, Sunday arrived.

Except for two people, Saturday night passed sleepless for various reasons. Regardless of how much someone had prepared, no one could perform perfectly every time.

The fiery excitement of the previous day quickly turned to cold ashes. KSM had ended just a few hours before midnight, and many had spent the evening with chicken and beer, succumbing to food-induced lethargy. Even the few who persisted, along with those who had practiced until 3 AM, eventually collapsed. The wild excitement of Saturday turned into quiet ash, softly settling over Sunday morning.

Despite this, the KSM continued, and by Sunday morning, the ten teams stirred, stretching after a slightly later start than usual. The matches, scheduled to start before dinner, gave the players plenty of time to rest.

Typically, players woke up around 10 AM, and by 12 PM, they began lazily drifting to the dining area, as the sun was already high in the sky.

Of course, Dice was one of the late risers.

"Ugh..."

The sunlight streaming through the thick curtains was still harsh, a reminder that summer wasn’t entirely over. The cool air from the AC crept into the room, providing a refreshing contrast.

Kicking off the thin blanket, Dice got up, clothes slipping off one by one. Entering the shower, Dice washed up, and upon pressing the button on the wall, water droplets cascaded from the ceiling, soaking her hair. The water was cold, as there was no temperature control.

"Ahh!"

At least it woke her up.

Her long blonde hair became damp under the strong water pressure. Sitting on the prepared bath stool, she soaked her hair thoroughly, squeezing out a handful of shampoo and lathering it in. Avoiding getting it on her face, she massaged her scalp gently and rinsed it out. The process took about 20 minutes.

Just as she was finishing, a voice message popped up.

-[Eugene: Are you awake?]

"Ah, Eugene."

A holographic voice channel appeared. Eugene was already up, which didn’t surprise her. Of course, she realized she had woken up quite late.

Glad for the company, Dice chatted casually as she finished washing her hair.

"What were you up to? I just woke up and started getting ready."

-[Eugene: I went to work out and just finished showering.]

"Wow. What kind of workout... Oh, right. You were probably lifting weights."

That made sense.

Even though Eugene had helped coach the SSM players, including Blooming, until 2 AM, Eugene still had the energy to wake up and work out. What kind of stamina was that?

Thinking of this, Dice felt a playful urge rise.

"With a prize pool of 200 million won, I guess first place takes about 30 million? If it’s not too much trouble, please buy me something delicious."

-[Eugene: You’re in second place too, Dice.]

"Food bought with someone else’s money always tastes better, hehe."

As they bantered, Dice finished washing out the conditioner from her hair, turned off the water, and squeezed out the excess moisture. After drying off, she continued the conversation.

"You know, I wouldn’t have made it this far without you, Eugene. Let’s meet up after the KSM announcement and I’ll buy you something nice."

-[Eugene: You don’t have to go that far.]

"You don’t want to see me? That’s harsh."

-[Eugene: Jeez.]

What kind of reaction was that?

Dice wrapped up her shower, activating the ventilation system to clear the remaining steam. Sitting in the drying area, she warned Eugene.

"It might get a bit noisy now."

A loud whirring noise began as air blasted from the nozzles, quickly drying her hair and body. In just two minutes, she was dry and out of the bathroom, tossing her thin pajamas into the laundry and slipping into casual black wide-leg pants and an SSM T-shirt. Though the shirt didn’t quite match, it wasn’t like she was going anywhere special.

By 12:30, her stomach began to growl, signaling it was time for lunch.

"I guess I’ll have brunch. I feel a lot lighter now. Last year, I was so nervous I could barely eat lunch and almost passed out during the match. The viewers might relax while eating dinner, but the players have to make do with snacks during breaks."

-[Eugene: That’s true. I bet some people skip the event match just to grab a proper meal.]

"Right. But this year, it doesn’t seem like that. With three AP soloing tournaments, I think everyone’s picked up tips by now."

The dining hall was on the first floor, and Dice's room was on the third.

Thankfully, the SSM building was equipped with escalators, so there was no need to wait for the elevator or take the stairs. As she thought about what to eat, she continued the conversation.

"Eugene, besides Blooming, do you see any other promising players? Our team sent seven more players to KSM besides me."

-[Eugene: Hmm. They’re all good, but from a competitive standpoint, it’s a bit disappointing. I can’t give everyone I coach the exact results they want.]

"That’s true. There’s a 20-player limit for the Asia qualifiers, and with ten teams, that’s about two players per team. If we count you as part of SSM..."

-[Eugene: The higher you go, the narrower the door gets. Right now, I think 21st to 40th place, the reserve national spots, are the best they can hope for.]

Dice nodded as she stepped onto the escalator, approaching the first floor.

"Any lunch recommendations?"

-[Eugene: How about my fist as a snack?]

"...I’ll just eat anything. But seriously, you should come visit SSM sometime. Our unmanned dining hall has an amazing bulgogi bowl."

-[Eugene: Didn’t you say you’d buy me something expensive?]

"Just come already. I don’t care if you bench 700 pounds, just come."

Dice finally arrived on the first floor.

She recognized all the faces there, though she wasn’t sure which ones were trainees and which were second-string players. She had already memorized the faces of the coaching staff and the first-string players who hung around them, but she didn’t know many of the people in the PR or accounting departments.

Trainees woke up earlier than professional players. While Dice and the others woke up around 10 AM, the trainees were up by 8 AM to get more practice in.

In other words, while Dice was there for brunch, they were there for lunch. It made her feel like she wasn’t living a very productive life. She had assumed adult life would be busy, but it didn’t seem all that different from high school summer break.

Well, at least it was hectic in-game.

"Hey, it’s Dice!"

"SSM’s pride! SSM’s only pre-selection player!"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"Stop it! It’s embarrassing!"

Even though she tried to stop them, applause echoed throughout the dining hall. Everyone was like a bunch of mischievous kids.

The line at the kiosk moved quickly, and the food was prepared in no time. The speed was impressive, as the cooking was automated by machines rather than chefs. The technological advancements were fascinating, to say the least.

The quality was top-notch, with machines that could cook ten steaks at once, monitoring surface and core temperatures down to the millisecond. No wonder the food was always incredible.

That’s why she bragged to Eugene about it.

Anyway, it was time for lunch. Thinking of bulgogi made her crave it, so she placed her order and sat at an empty table. All she had to do was wait for the serving robot to bring the food, drinks, and utensils.

Meanwhile, the conversation continued.

-[Eugene: What did you do after KSM ended?]

"Profile photo shoots, website setup, photo shoots, TV appearances... all that external stuff. The rest was just scrims, analyzing foreign teams' games, applying what we learned, and repeating the cycle. It’s not as exciting as it sounds."

-[Eugene: So, same as before.]

"Yeah, but the 19 other players who made it are sticking together. There are only four spots for the finals, but there’s still this sense of ‘we can’t lose to other countries.’ Do you get what I mean? What were you planning, anyway?"

-[Eugene: Hmm.]

A brief silence.

Then Eugene spoke in a playful tone.

-[Eugene: I need to catch up on my homework.]

"Homework?"

-[Eugene: This.]

At that moment, an image appeared before Dice’s eyes.

It was...

"Wait, you still haven’t finished the main mission!?"

The current main mission progress was 78%, and Monday’s announcement for the collaboration with Harmony was already out.

The last shred of Dice’s sanity evaporated at that moment.