Showman on stage, humble behind the scenes, EDG KangKang: "I want to be known as a player who is not only talented, but hardworking as well.”

In the tranquil city of Chiba, Japan, a sense of calm permeates the streets. Unlike the bustling metropolis of Tokyo, Chiba exudes a quieter charm, where the pace of life feels more relaxed and unhurried. Here, pedestrians stroll along the sidewalks, savoring the serene ambiance as they go about their daily routines.

In this same city, the energy inside of the Tipstar Dome exceeds Tokyo’s busiest street. The respectful Japanese crowd cheers for all competitors at VCT 2023 - Masters Tokyo, but when the cameras are on Zheng "ZmjjKK" Yongkang (or better known as KangKang), you feel something special.

This doesn’t come as a surprise, however. Similarly to his EDward Gaming's predecessors in League of Legends, KangKang is in the conversation for the best VALORANT player in the world. In China, the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) have won multiple international trophies, with EDG having multiple.

Many young esports players have crumbled in the face of pressure. In VALORANT, this is especially the case when you use the Operator, a very high pressure role in-game that relies on you to score important frags that may put your team in a favorable position. At just 19 years of age, that hasn’t crossed KangKang’s mind once. “I just don’t feel jitters on stage to be honest, I’m not that kind of person,” said KangKang in an interview with THESPIKE. “When I hear the crowd, I feel like every single one of them is cheering for me because they are here for me, to support me. Their support gives me motivation and pushes me even further.”

When he’s on stage, KangKang exudes confidence, standing up and posing as a showman for the Japanese crowd after winning rounds. Behind the scenes though, he’s very humble and respectful. KangKang is a coach's dream. When asked which OPers can keep up with him, he shows immense respect for his rivals that bear the burden of a similar role.

“This is in no particular order, but I think Nikita "Derke" Sirmitev and Erick "aspas" Santos,” said KangKang. “I feel like they are both very different stylistically. I wouldn’t consider myself at the top yet exactly, as there are so many more incredible players ahead of me who have already won championship titles.”

When he’s not putting in the massive performances expected of him in-game, he also helps outside of it as well. When asked who on his team lifts up the mood after they lost to EMEA's Team Liquid, KangKang stated, “To be honest everyone makes sure to add their energy and improve everyone's mood. I feel like everyone is irreplaceable on our team. In terms of characteristics though, I’m probably the one who's always willing to do this.”

The playoff debut against Team Liquid was a tough one, with blows being traded on both sides. On the final map Lotus, EDG almost managed to make a comeback from a 7-12 deficit, but lost after bringing it to 11-12. “I think especially around the last few rounds on Lotus we were always trying our best to make a comeback, but Liquid definitely did better as a team and synergized very well as a whole,” claimed KangKang. “They definitely outplayed us in terms of this. We definitely tried, but it’s been one of the things that we haven’t fully worked out to get to their level.”

Following their loss in the upper bracket of the playoffs, EDG have bounced back. KangKang defeated one of his rivals, aspas, in a win or go home [matchup against LOUD in the lower bracket]. Former VALORANT Champions have been sent home without winning a single map in the ongoing VALORANT Masters event. And KangKang had another stellar performance as he made that happen.

Moving forward, KangKang wants people to recognize his efforts. “I want to be known as a player who is not only talented, but hardworking as well.”

EDward Gaming continue battling for survival at Masters Tokyo. The Chinese formation needs to be flawless from here on out if they wish to lift the trophy on the stage of the Tipstar Dome in Chiba, Japan.

Make sure to check out our VCT 2023 - Masters Tokyo event page for the bracket, stats, and results.

Featured image photo credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games