Doublelift Retires - My Reflections on his Legacy

[@TravisGafford]

Thanks everyone for watching all my content with Peter over these years.

[@Pyridius]

Hoping you can do one last long-form interview after TSM releases their announcement/update video!

[@iampengsheng]

You're a legend Travis, you and Peter. Big fan since the beginning from the uk

[@shikyojojo2521]

I thought they might get swordart after all and he will stay. I guess not. I wish him good luck

[@jackphillips6742]

Thank you Travis. Pass on to Peter that he left a mark in sports in general beyond League of Legends. You better stream WoW with him now.

[@shikyojojo2521]

@@balettpatkany I wonder why retire of they are getting swordart. I thought he said he stay if they got him. I'm curious if he will go coach along with bjergsen

[@syedzafar7934]

His retirement really hits me hard. Throughout my university career, I have watched LCS only to see Doublelift compete. I would take joy in his victories and be upset in his loses. I followed him all over social media and watched all of his videos. Bjergsen and him retiring feels as if our generation's time has passed... I can't explain it. League will never be the same for me. Peter will always be an absolute legend and so proud of Travis for doing what he does. Thanks guys. You guys have helped us mature.

[@crispinsday]

yeah, who's left really that anyone gives a shit about in NA

[@FMForeverFM]

same bro

[@Alphuuu]

LCS is dead to me now :/

[@PabloTejada]

I can relate.

[@novafps2776]

It really hurt me to hear the news. I’m upset forreal

[@BluejayGG]

Only 2 things are certain. 1. The LCS won't be the same without DL and Bjerg 2. Travis needs to bring back the soul patch

[@SpankyTheKeeper]

Ive always wondered what Travis would look like with a big bushy beard. He can obviously grow it he just keeps it short :(

[@michaeln167]

it's a perky era doncha think

[@teamgreen1190]

its sad i know who u are from all the hotline league lmao

[@kenvuaturmikszgep6362]

1. Yes the LCS will be better.

[@YerMahMah]

@@kenvuaturmikszgep6362 How? A bunch of pansy's who can't walk the walk lol

[@JosephEhrenpreis]

Travis, thank you for taking a chance on Peter. You created a legacy and without you, who knows what the state of league would ultimately be?! Doublelift repeatedly catalyzed the meta, pro scene, LCS, and international play. You guys are both legends.

[@mysteriousgames69]

International play? Yeah, first seed to go 0-6, never to qualify beyond Worlds Group Stage; definitely catalyzed the meta of "LCS being a major region, NOT"

[@sunnydlite-t8b]

Yes all because of Travis that Doublelift could play LoL better than the average scrublord. Amazing insight.

[@JosephEhrenpreis]

@@sunnydlite-t8b doublelift got kicked out of his home when he was young and Travis took him in www.reddit.com/r/leagueoflegends/comments/izt4n/hi_im_doublelift_formerly_of_team_eg_and_today_i/?

[@JosephEhrenpreis]

@@mysteriousgames69 recency bias, but in the first international competitions of this game, doublelift 100% shifted the meta into expending resources on ad carries and even before that, things like vision control (when he was a support player). Just because he didn't have good world showings doesn't mean he didn't impact the way that the world played and thought about the game.

[@hawhawhawhaw177]

@@sunnydlite-t8b without travis dlift might've never even been a pro....

[@Mars30999]

"Stands so tall above these people that throwing stones at his shoes has become their sport" Thats a good line. Thats really good.

[@3nergizerBunny]

Doublelift is so cocky in the horrible audio at the start. Haha. He never changed. What a legend.

[@kevinkohoutek995]

It’s too bad his game play didnt look like that , I’ve been watching league for 4 years and it almost looks like he knows who’s better then him so he concedes lane . Like I actually DL confidence when he talks he just never played like it when I watched him

[@Synsane]

He completely changed. He went from cocky to quiet, to super humble, to confident again. He changed so many times over the decades, you're ignorant af

[@Synsane]

@@kevinkohoutek995 Yeah, number 1 ADC in NA LCS for 80% of his career, plays to concede lane, makes sense

[@emsa7esm203]

@@Synsane being number 1 ADC in NA for the past 10 years didn't mean much. It is definitely impressive that he did so over a long period but again, NA only RECENTLY started being competitive. Not to mention he did crap at almost every worlds. He's a decent ADC only if u consider top adcs of every other region.

[@kevinkohoutek995]

@@Synsane at worlds he did , when he played for NA championships other then this year he stood out. But when he got to worlds he just doesn’t . Like he always does ok in Lansing phase but he never has a stand out moment where your like wow look at the work he put in. Like even though G2 lost when you saw perks play ezreal and he does 10k damage in a team fight , your like wow he is carrying . Even when geng was getting bodied , you looked at ruler and you see him landing skill shots dodging them but then his team mates falling , you were like ruler can only do so much , so on with faker in 2017 . When you talk DL and BJERGSEN, you always talking about how they never played as well as the other elite players. These 2 are the faces of NA and why a lot of people in NA really enjoy the game. Yet when you compare to the best X of another region they simply don’t reach the same level. You can take it how you want , deep down we all know it’s true .

[@christophermauro-barias7451]

"pro gamer for life " man those credits hit hard.

[@minivanbread]

It really fucking did...

[@Magani79]

@@minivanbread really really fucking did... damn

[@Viskilol]

hits way too hard.. damn.

[@xaldath4265]

I came to the comments to say just this. I kept it together until the last 2 seconds.

[@justinyurhead]

I'm 41 years old. I've been a Doublelift fan for about 9 years now ever since I got into watching pro League. I'm Baby Locklin's dad, and Peter has spoken about me several times on stream, where he has gotten to see my family grow over the years as we kept making the drive out to LCS just to support whatever team he was on. On one hand, I'm selfish and I'm tremendously sad to see his journey in the LCS end, my entire family has made a ritual out of cheering him on and I honestly feel like part of my extended family is gone. On the other hand, I'm glad Doublelift got to go out on his own accord and he truly seems much happier dating Leena. The King deserves to go out on his own terms. I have no idea who will see this comment, but thank you for the years of entertainment. I feel privileged to have gotten to meet you a few times and wish you nothing but the best. Thank you.

[@Frabjous1]

Thanks for being a part of the community! Glad there’s people like you out there. Unfortunately I never got to see him play live. Wish I could’ve.

[@SalsaJason]

I am 40. Been watching him for 9 years also. Never got a chance to meet him live but this makes me so sad that he is gone. LeBron brought me back to basketball after MJ left. I wonder who will be able to keep me watching with DL gone.

[@rockboom_lol]

The “I love you buddy” at the end😢

[@Xcalibris]

That's one of the sincerest lines I have heard a person say...

[@oskartengberg8792]

Ninjas cutting..

[@fa5_blee363]

Doubleift and Bjergsen both retiring makes me realize how old I am... I feel like after Peter leaving, it literally marks the end of an entire generation of league players :( I'm turning 28 soon and was already not playing league as much but still watching pro games. Now I feel like I might quit all of it for good. Thank you Doubllelift, you were an absolute icon for League

[@maskcollector6949]

@@matthewminogue3276 That seems close minded for some people it activates their potential. I don't blame video games, I blame Riot for making the game not fun and providing a shitty work environment for teams who lose money in order just to compete. I come up with good ideas when I play games, games provide joy and stress relief, we need more games, not fewer.

[@LeeSong325]

I only watch worlds now ever since dyrus left :(

[@maskcollector6949]

@@LeeSong325 I feel that. Grew up with him, too.

[@esRaortiz]

This! I remember being 15 and falling in love with the game. Now a days I don’t play as much but I still love League. To the point I made becoming a concept artist my career, here’s to hoping one day I can work for Riot so I can keep loving this game.

[@mrdan523]

@@matthewminogue3276 I agree with this, but it makes me so sad. Video games have been some of the biggest passions in my entire life, but yet I feel like the time is coming to let them go.

[@CrustyButticus]

peter's a true legend. May have had a rough last years, but I'll always remember him as the "NA uzi" vayne mechanical god

[@Scarsofevil]

he defined how ADC was supposed to be played in LOL. A lot of ADC's in LPL and LCK accredited their gameplay to him.

[@sabrinab4827]

@@Scarsofevil sure

[@calvincalvin7558]

@@sabrinab4827 not sure if this is supposed to be sarcastic, but what he said was true. If you look back on a lot of old interviews, tons of ADCS in the east and west respected him deeply and credited him for changes in their playstyle. Rekkles, Uzi, Jackeylove, all have stated in interviews how they look forward to playing against DL or that they respect him as a player. And that's just to name a few. DL wasn't the GOAT of ADCS, but he certainly defined it.

[@thedeviousone181]

Brandon Soledad LOL Fbi, zven, tactical, and bang were all better in summer split in lcs alone don’t get me started on lec

[@thedeviousone181]

Love doublelift but don’t try to make it sound like he was same old doublelift last year

[@sanvalentine23]

A whole era of lcs has ended with all of these retirees and changes, wow...

[@mike3123fa]

ikr

[@Cookieshade]

It's over.

[@YuYuYuna_]

Hopefully it's for the better and I mean no disrespect to the pros who have retired. I'd love to see a shake up in NA League for at least a glimmer of a chance in having stronger international competition.

[@ilikepiess2013]

@@YuYuYuna_ It isn't NA league anymore they literally just bought all the international competition here its really sad

[@geminix365]

I remember the time a lot of people including me, thought we were CLG fans Until DL left and we realized we were Doublelift fans

[@joshuaneal6610]

I would say you have had just as big of an impact on Doublelift's career as he has had on your career. You helped him get the opportunity to pursue professional League of Legends when he was down on luck, you gave him the security he needed for him to chase his dream. Thank you for the impact you had on this legend. One of the best players to ever touch the game.

[@relevantinvesting5060]

“Pro gamer for life” I wish that was true. Best of luck Doublelift. It’s been an honor watching you play all these years. Great tribute Travis.

[@zdupy10]

I didn’t really care about lcs because I’m from Europe, but after seeing the content that Travis makes, I feel a little invested. Keep up the good work! And the rest of us, spread some love and positivity people! We all need it.

[@danielonley7684]

Stolen from twitter: "A boy that we thought would stay young forever, now leaves us as a man"

[@biggity9646]

Saw that too and cried

[@ShaTziLoft]

"Legends never die"

[@crymeariver94]

They Retire instead ...

[@Mirro18]

"They become a part of you" Well now that line suddenly makes a lot more sense...

[@christophermauro-barias7451]

The funny thing is.. DL only lost in the finals.. Once.. Therefore he has basked in victory in those reddit comments 8/9 times.

[@smiilan]

And all the worlds groups ?XD

[@katelee4226]

@@smiilan Doublelift has never lost a world's final!! :)

[@Daniel-wz3yv]

@@smiilan Honestly does it even make much of a difference, other than bragging rights that you got out of groups what's the point if you don't win worlds, this is why i understand some pro players like Rekkles that only want to win worlds and don't really care much about anything else, i mean just look at Uzi, he got to the finals twice and still couldn't win worlds but he's still considered by far the best adc in the world.

[@ricardoterrinha4899]

@@Daniel-wz3yv Who considers Uzi the best ADC in the world? Losers?

[@francisvoyer]

@@ricardoterrinha4899 anyone with a brain knows that Uzi was the best adc in the world until his retirement wdym...

[@nelsonwang2753]

Who remembers the vids back when Doublelift and Travis would eat Chipotle at a table and just talk, or that time when they went to Vancouver, UBC, and the Richmond night market. Good times

[@launchUP_]

From skinny one trick blitzcrank nerd to multiple time NA champion and arguably the greatest player the region has ever seen Thank you, doublelift

[@carolc.4410]

What a beautiful tribute, Travis. Thank you for being the one to see the talent in him and give him a chance at showing the rest of us what he can do. You are truly a remarkable friend, and I am sure he knows and appreciates you with everything he's got (even if he won't watch this video, lol). Amazing video.

[@noahmoore7373]

Doublelift was so much of a figurehead for LCS, a focal point of so many plot lines, losing him is going to feel like we are losing most of the reason to watch, but his legacy will continue on into the LCS, and hes not dead so we will still see him around im sure. We also will see more stars rise up in his place as he isnt getting as much coverage and because of that, we will see others rise up to fill his void. I'm looking at you Spica. While this may feel really sad, its just a new beginning

[@maskcollector6949]

I don't think this game is going to last as long as you say, the world changes far too rapidly. As soon as a better game comes along, this marks the last time most of the audience in NA gave a shit. League of legends is too flawed to last as enduringly as football, etc. E-sports are far too fluid.The peak of League already happened, it will decline hereafter in the States, at least. China and Korea will be addicted until they find their next Starcraft, and then it will be a ghost town. I'm done watching just because so many players leaving, why bother watching little kids play when my peers lost interest. League, simply put, is not sustainable.

[@ltsdeshawn]

Mask Collector Good points, it’s declined heavily in North America in recent years and will only continue to do so. Only Asia takes this game seriously now. Would you say the peak of league was in s3-s6?

[@maskcollector6949]

@@ltsdeshawn Absolutely, that's when I played a ton and the game for the most part was terrific, community was a lot better. It's always been toxic but there was a respect on the battlefield and you could banter some and still be friendly. I thinking taking out the ability to honor opponents was detrimental to the community. Nowadays you can't even laugh in all chat without someone getting too defensive.

[@cavalyn]

@@maskcollector6949 I think everything people are saying about this is more LCS than LOL, though. Other leagues aren't reliant on their "big names" because they recycle them off to NA and get in new talent all the time. EU survived the loss of its stars. LCK survived its. LPL survived its. The problem is that teams in NA have been using the same big names for so long that fans have started to act like the game isn't League of Legends but "Bjerg/DL streaming" and LOL just happens to be the game they're streaming. That's why as an EU fan it's so hard to understand all this about Bjerg and DL tbh. Sure, they're retiring. So? People retire. I can understand the feeling of loss for fans, etc, but to me DL and Bjerg were those people who never really performed well internationally, sometimes because their teams were awful, sometimes because they were playing bad. It's hard to understand the doom and gloom mentality a lot of NA fans are having over it, especially when NA has actually started to realise it DOES have young talent in Tactical, Fudge, FBI and Spica. Talent that was always there and that "omg, maybe they COULD develop talent all along and orgs were just too afraid to...."

[@maskcollector6949]

​@@cavalyn Your isolation from living here is self-explanatory as to why you don't understand our scene. Most of us don't watch either of them stream much if at all anymore, it's what they represent. It is the death of something great, a death of the original generation (practically). We don't care about League as the game (anymore, it's meh now), we connected with the players. We literally played with them as kids. I don't think you're connecting with who we are at all. We are their peers, we helped them get established by being part of the hype and by supporting them. League of Legends was in NA for a whole year before EU/everywhere else (at least). Everyone else was late to the party. The fad came and went here way sooner than the rest of the world, so the patterns of the game dying will also stem from NA. LCS dying will inevitably lead to a loss of revenue across the world. It's clear the game is moving eastward. NA is absolutely ready for a new game, a new movement, a new energy because League of Legends is stagnant in terms of the playerbase/player interest. That's why so many imports all of sudden, like it's going out of style: because it is. The next big cultural movement will probably stem from NA.

[@jooosheruve9490]

Literally the end of an era. The only reason why I switched to adc back in 2019 is because DL has always been my favorite LCS player. He defined what adc is for a lot of superstars today.

[@FableNightmare7]

I'm selfish, I don't like him retiring cause that literally makes me feel old.

[@Frabjous1]

I love you Doublelift. You were not just the protagonist of the LCS for Travis; I think many of us felt the same way. I wish I lived in the timeline where you won Worlds. Seeing that would’ve made my life. Thank you for a fantastic decade.

[@DiabloSinzKX]

I dont always watch your videos but this is one i definitely watched. Peter was the guy i watched who got me into League and seeing and learning about yalls relationship and how yall helped each other in ways no one will ever fully know is really inspiring.. LCS will not be the same. League will not be the same I'll miss watching doublelift so much.. but thank you for the video but stay strong and keep doing you as will doublelift in whatever way he decides.

[@xJaKz]

Out of all retirements that have happened over the years, DL's retirement hit me the hardest. He's the whole reason I started playing adc in Season 3. The whole reason I mained Vayne for all these years. This legend will be missed.

[@PrimeTimeChico]

Im super happy to relive that 2015 LCS finals. I was there and will be one of my favorite league memories. Ill also never forget worlds Semi finals the following year, watching Smeb and Faker go at it, in arguably the greatest Bo5 series ever played in league. in the same weekend i got to see Forgiven live. Even though H2K lost, still memorable to be there. Thanks for this vid.

[@Rightwing789]

Doublelift honestly was such an inspiration. Peter will always be a part of my life, and someone I look up too.

[@Koffe382]

Bro I’ll even disable adblock for this one video. That’s how much I value your content and this video, Travis.

[@miguelfreixo9452]

I feel absolutely the same as you, even though im not a peters friend, im even from europe and the last 5 years i watched league and enjoyed so much watching it because of Doublelift (i would cheer allways for doublelifts team , i had no favourite team I had a favourite player), this retire made me so sad because i feel like he was still the best ad in NA and he had a lot power to show, at the same time im happy for him and his legacy that was so beautifull, but overall i will miss him so much i was rly his biggest fan, much love for u both!!

[@johnnygao4993]

This is a beautiful video from someone who is obviously a dear and genuine friend. Despite all of his accomplishments, I couldn't think of a better tribute

[@lenglui8138]

Doublelift was and is my favorite player. Im honestly tearing up now that hes retiring and couldnt win Worlds. Yeah NA winning worlds is honestly a very far away dream but one could DREAM that ONE day Doublelift would win Worlds. I guess that dream is shattered even for him.

[@Mcsbeatbox]

I just want to say thank you to Travis & Peter, you guys have helped me through some dark times. My best online gaming friend for 10 years passed away in june. Your friendship was very similar to mine and my friend Matt. Watching videos of you two just brings back that spark and I thank you for that. I will always support my favorite interviewer & player.

[@crisspetersen5506]

Respect to my favorite ADC, and a person who has entertained us with blazing glory. I will miss Doublelift. The LCS will never be the same.

[@suunnz]

Says itll never be the same but LCS just gained Perkz LOL. The void is easily filled

[@iancamacho8344]

peter wouldnt have been here without you. You basically saved this young kid out of the kindness of your heart, and he was able to become something great. It all started with your support and faith in him. Thank you travis

[@fnraven7917]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts Travis, it has given me some closure to all this news. Started watching LCS during the TL relegation and then 4-peat era. I'm going to miss seeing doublelift competing a lot.

[@ZedoBlack]

Peter is the reason I even picked up the adc role. GGs my dude, gonna miss you.

[@str1vestream291]

The honest emotion from Travis in both Doublelift and Bjergsen's retirement videos is astounding/refreshing. Travis is genuinely doing something he loves, and the content reflects that. Great work TGI

[@WithSandra]

im so sad 🥺thanks for being such a supportive friend travis!

[@olivierlids5910]

I have followed Peter and Travis since 2013 on and off, and i was obviously expecting this moment to come sooner or later.. But damn.. When it hits me right now, it HITS HARD.. This is honestly gonna be the most emotional retirement i'll probably witness in the league of legends history (except faker maybe when that time comes).. Because league of legends for me, was DOUBLELIFT for a loooong time. He was the one who inspired me "to become pro" and keep on going and improving myself, even though that dream never became a reality, i did manage to hit diamond 1 all the way back in 2013, and that's thanks to Peter in some ways. He was by far my favorite ADC, and i absolutely loved his cocky "persona". He made the LCS much more enjoyable to watch with his funny bantering in-between to piss people off.. It created alot of emotion. Some people hated it, and some people loved it.. There was no middle ground with doublelift. He was intense in a way, and it will be missed alot. He truly always made me put a smile on my face after watching him, and it makes me incredibly sad to see him retire. The last thing i wanna say is (im just rambling at this point) The last seasons i haven't played much and i've taken less interest in the game overall after season 4, but i've ALWAYS checked up on doublelift and travis from time to time. I really wish good luck to both you Travis and Peter in the future. Much love, and bless you both for giving us a good time and something always to look forward too with your content Travis and proplays from DL!!

[@robertoreyes6299]

Man, I'm not a DL fan, neither I hate him, but the way you, Travis, talked about him, the way you stood by his side on his defeats, victories, good and bad moments, surely make me cry, that's what a real friend is. Respect

[@friday678]

"even though doublelift was not able to find success internationally, somebody else will someday lift a trophy having been inspired by him"

[@Diatain]

Truly the end of an era. Doublelift has always been my favorite player and is the reason I ever switched to ADC from jungle. There's not enough words in the world to explain how his retirement makes me feel. So I'll just say this though it is likely he will never see it: Thank you Doublelift. Thank you for all the moments that you gave us over your career. Thank you for the entertainment on and off the rift that you shared with the fans of the LCS. Thank you for everything, and while I'll never truly be happy that you retired as watching you play League was one of my favorite things to do, I'm happy to see how you've grown over the years and the person you've become. All good things must come to an end, and though you always claimed you would be here playing forever, we always knew it had to end eventually. Here's to an amazing career in the LCS and I wish you the best for your endeavors in the future.

[@seldomsane5278]

He was never one of my favorites, but I always respected him as one of the best NA had to offer. At his peak, it wouldn't be controversial to say he was world class. Good luck to him in the future.

[@winturs2201]

He's technically still world class, just not among the best of the best of the best.

[@jahangirrozmetov9547]

I agree, remember the msi 2019?

[@wesleygrett5085]

Bjergsen and now Doublelift, my two favorite players. I can't describe how I felt when doublelift first came to TSM my favorite org. I have been watching bjerg and doublelift play against and with each other for so long now that watching these two players is what the lcs was to me. To have both of them retire together hurts a lot. I am going to miss cheering for doublelift and bjergsen. I am very happy that they won another LCS trophy for TSM this year. Watching every game in the finals was so fun and stressful, nearly had a heart attack every game five. I feel that there is nothing left in LCS for me to love or be excited about watching. I will root for the new TSM roster, but it is hard to imagine feeling the same way I did before about the LCS. Thinking positively, there will be other players that I love to cheer for that will bring back my passion for watching LCS matches. Thank you Travis for sharing those memories with us. And thank you doubleift. I had an absolute blast watching you play league. I will miss you and I wish you the best in the future.

[@hizokaairos]

the officer caitlyn interview is still the best interview between you and doublelift 🤣🤣

[@MestoLV]

Very touching Travis, shout out to you for being this public touching human, long time fan

[@Purladith]

This is a truly beautiful video. I know i don't speak for myself in saying this but Doublelift was a special player to have around in the scene. After years of failure for NA he gave me hope believing the region could win when playing on TL. Even though it didn't happen i will never forget some of his plays like the insane kai sa performance against Uzi and the IG series. In my eyes he will always be the greatest North American player of all time due to his title run on TL and the level he stayed at for so many years. It's time people stop the hate and just appreciate how good he really was. And seeing the love Travis has for his friend and how proud he is of his accomplishments as not only a player but person is really touching to see. Thank you Doublelift and Travis for the journey we all got to take with you. I wish Doublelift the best in his life after esports and wish him nothing but success and wellbeing in his future endeavours.

[@bigtik5233]

Thank you too Travis. As someone who’s been watching competitive league since start of season 2 I can say there might not be a Doublelift story without a Travis story. Double retiring puts into perspective all the minor characters in his story like you and Chauster and the impact they’ve had to create such an incredible career.

[@maplemori3138]

He's the reason I even got into League. Well, him and the 2014 imagine dragons worlds song.

[@ninjaemilee]

The 2015 finals at MSG is one of my favorite memories. It's the only real esports event I've gotten to go to, I was super hyped as a CLG and DoubleLift fan, and got to meet you briefly during that weekend. Knowing how much that event means to you makes me happy. It was a fantastic weekend and really a standout moment in DL's career. (I also can't believe it was 5 years ago now.) I'm sad to see DL go, but I know he'll continue to find success in whatever he does.

[@chanmanv]

Great piece Travis! Peter deserves way more of these legacy videos on his impact to esports.

[@KenSexe67]

Thanks for putting a human face on Doublelift. As a person following DL since 2013 he always seemed like the kind of person who was looking over the next hill for something he was always seeking but never found. It is hard to argue that he was not one of the most impacting and controversial player in all of League. I wish him the best and hope that he finds his grail and his inner peace.

[@jonahperez2384]

Still to this day, some of the greatest moments of my life were neglecting my schoolwork or staying up late to watch this guy play. I didn’t have a great home life growing up, and LoL was kind of my escape from that. Peter’s persistence and outright insane work ethic are some of the things that left an impact on my teenage self. As someone who’s played since season 1, you can imagine the appeal that this cocky, confident, but simultaneously gifted and skilled player had to my 13 year old self. And, I’ll be honest: I didn’t like him at first. I was a TSM fan, and as you can imagine…some of Peter’s actions didn’t sit well with me at the time. Nonetheless, I realized why he did that, and swiftly “joined the dark side”. I was there for the highs, and I most certainly was there for the lows. As he clutched the trophy for the first time, I’ll admit I cried. When he failed to make it out of groups, I cried. Every time. When he was benched from TL, I cried. When he won LCS for the last time with TSM, I cried. When he retired? I did not cry. I bawled. It felt like God had personally descended upon the earth and took one of the things that was the most dear to my heart. One of, if not the biggest influences on my life, from 13 to 22 years old, was gone. I felt confused. Sad. Sometimes even angry, albeit not directed towards Peter. I started thinking nonstop about the “what if?”s. If Peter had just respected Crown’s Viktor. If he had gotten a luckier draw at worlds. If he didn’t have Bio holding him back last year. If there was no pandemic and the players got to feel the energy and love from the fans. Would he still be here? The answer is: it doesn’t matter. This isn’t about me, it’s not about you, nor is it about anyone else. It’s about Peter. Instead of being sad that he’s gone, I have to remember that it was more than a gift to ever have him as part of my life. To live vicariously through him. To feel such unrivaled levels of pride. To feel such unrivaled levels of defeat. To ride the rollercoaster of emotion. All because of this one person. Because of the countless hours, days, and years of work he put in to being the best player he could be. Because he was/is extremely entertaining. Because he cared about the community. I am not unique. Peter obviously has no clue who I am. I am merely one of his millions of fans. But I know who he is. And I know that I have been beyond blessed to be part of such a beautiful thing. Of course I want him to stay. But I am sincerely so happy he can just breathe now. He deserves to take a step back and enjoy his creation. No matter what the world has in store for he or I, the thunder of Peter’s life, and specifically his LoL career, will echo through my brain and my heart for the remainder of the time I’m still breathing. Thank you, Peter. You are the definition of a king.

[@johanneslandgrebe2045]

Great video Travis - thank you for the memories that you have participated in. You're a great guy - please keep up being you.

[@NotSkilledHere]

Man the most legnedary NA players have now all retired: Sneaky, Bjergsen, and DoubleLift. you can argue that some other pros should be included on the list, but I dont think that any others have come quite so close to being as iconic and LCS defining players as those three. Sure certain rosters can be season defining, but as a whole era, these 3 pros defined the NA LCS from the beginning till now. It's so sad to see them all retire without winning worlds which they all desperately wanted to, but someday NA will bring home worlds and it will have been because of these 3 having had such a huge influence on the scene and people coming into it.

[@chrisweeksnz]

I’ve really enjoyed watching Doublelift ever since he took over ADC from Chauster at CLG. Years of fun and good memories. Best of luck to him in his future endeavours!

[@isaiahterry6771]

"Peter stands so tall above these people, that throwing stones at his shoes has become a sport." So unbelievably well said.

[@bluemage6495]

I gotta be honest. I teared up near the end of the video. Really great video! DL is easily my favorite LoL player by far and it's really sad to see him retire. He was at the very least half the reason I even watched LCS, even though I'm not from the region. He was truly LCS's protagonist. We could even watch his character development arc. I hope he at least keeps streaming so that there's something to fill that void.

[@DruNature]

Was playing league Way back during season 1-4 and theres just too many things to say. so many great memories, amazing plays and fantastic players. I will never forget the greats from the early days of NA, we had some legendary times. You've become a part of my life.

[@alijahwatkins8632]

Damn. I'm crying. Thanks for all your guys' time. Hope to see you on stream DL. Thanks for the coverage Travis. :).

[@bgik12]

Doublelift was more than a player. He will always be an inspiration. His mark on the LCS will never be forgotten. He will always be the ADC I've been waiting for. Thanks Peter

[@TheBruceAllen]

Travis you are a pioneer of the E-Sports Industry. Anyone who hates on you should get double slapped. I remember just a few years ago when you were saying you might not even be able to keep the content coming because of lack of funding. Glad to see you make it through. Didn't come this far to only come this far! haha.

[@griffintubridy8443]

I graduate from college, Peter graduates from league. We all graduate at some point in our lives and our time to go is written on a note somewhere out in the abyss and we just do not know when that will be. I have been watching peter for a good quarter of my life. What a legend. The face of league. When people say the end of an era, this is it. It is like league is starting fresh all over again

[@texasallstar6969]

also doublelift made msi finals. thats an accomplishment 99% of pro players never accomplished

[@danielhearlson2515]

The "i love you buddy" at the end was so emotional that I'm getting emotional now 😢

[@sekhouchan9442]

Thank you Travis all these years for all the DL content. Hopefully after DL retire you can make content about Peter. He is such a legend.

[@markcbusta]

The last clip of you and DL hit hard, damn.

[@ASGamesYT]

That ending clip was just perfect.

[@Mr.PotatoAim_FGC]

My small ancedote about Doublelift is that I started playing in early 2012. I remember watching those CLG vs TSM games and thinking that Doublelift was such an amazing player. I became an ADC main BECAUSE he made it look so cool to play. Once the LCS started I kind of fell out of touch with the pro scene for various reasons (friends stopped caring, no good access to internet, etc.). I finally came back in Spring 2019 on a whim and I saw Doublelift. My first reaction was "Wow, this guy is still grinding it out, and hes fucking winning?!" It was crazy for me. He got me back in because even after 6 years he STILL made it look cool to play ADC. I'm glad I got to see the last few years of his career. Hope he does well in the future.

[@HillBillyDill]

Lcs doesnt seem like lcs anymore with almost all of the older players retiring or not being able to find a team. Its a fresh new league with some promising new talents, and too be honest its probably for the better

[@davidflaherty2152]

Still, I don't think it was the end of his career talentwise. He could have bounced back to being one of the best ADCs in NA, and that is what makes it kind of suck. I am all for the new talent, but you can keep the veterans that aren't trying to collect a paycheck. He wanted NA and himself to go far in worlds. I hope he gets put on the analysis desk, since he would be great for that.

[@HillBillyDill]

@@davidflaherty2152 yeah i hope he stays around the competitive scene. And he could always come out of retirement in a year or two if he wanted to.

[@glompkenny2544]

I cried so hard, still crying, I can relate so hard with you, I can feel all your emotions Travis. Always been the biggest Doublelift fan and sadly he will never know.

[@jksup21]

that last clip... almost got me. thanks for your work DL. take ur rest man, you earned it

[@MargielaTheCat]

Your relationship with Peter is impeccable! Although I'm no longer in touch with the game, this video brought me great memories of the glory days :') Thank you, Travis.

[@drdyim45]

I've been here since Doublelift left his parents to move in with you. Time has gone so fast. Always enjoyed watching your videos.

[@BomblingTV]

From blitz support, to Vayne + nami pentakill as CLG botlane duo, smashing TSM in the finals and hotshot in tears on stage. Those were the days man, those were the days.. Sure the trohpy highs must have been nice on different teams, but the CLG struggle days with a few peaks really stood out in his career to me. All the best!

[@FrostbiteRep]

Does this mean Travis and Doublelift are breaking up?

[@lionxie7392]

Top ten anime betrayals!

[@annie4584]

Wait so Travis is on the market I’m going in boys wish me luck

[@Jayman1329]

God speed my son, God speed.

[@kalothcy]

I am also not a person that cries and gets emotional too easily, but this video and seeing how Travis feels for his friend, got to me. Enjoy retirement Peter and enjoy spending your free time with your friends.

[@shokill]

Both Doublelift and you have been a massive part of my love for this esport. Great vid.

[@behkettler2222]

I remember back when TSM formed and then Doublelift joined CLG. I was a huge TSM fan and really liked TheRainMan (TSM top laner before Dyrus). Hated Doublelift SO much because he was the one who always challenged TSM. But over the years I grew to absolutely love Doublelift and his confidence. How he overcame such a tragedy in his family with what his brother did is astonishing. That could just crush someone and destroy their life. But he pulled threw it. By far the most memorable player in North America / LCS history. Hope the best for him. He's already made more then enough money to be just fine now :)

[@lelnotjkn3347]

Been watching and cheering for him since Season 2 sad he wont be competing anymore i wish the best for him and thanks for all the doublelift content Travis

[@brandonhaugen2758]

Great Fucking video Travis!!! Only the ones that have followed his whole career understand what he has become as a player and a Legend of LCS!!

[@lucacenacchi6627]

he is the only one western pro ,of the early stages of the league (season 1), that could adapt to the first shift of the meta and being succesful at competing.

[@StratGame126]

You can't deny respect when it is earned: The last time an ADC other than Doublelift won a Summer split was WildTurtle over Sneaky, TSM over C9. Dyrus was the top laner for TSM. Peter deserves a ton of respect for being who he was for the growing popularity of League. He's the first player I can remember thinking that he had a personality, and wasn't just an in game tag. Truly a legend.

[@nickboyd6716]

I've been watching since he was recruited on CLG. He was streaming on Own3d, popping off Blitzcrank etc. I quit in season 6, but I have watched every single game Doublelift has played in ever since he entered the league. I really don't think I can bring myself to watch LCS without him, it really won't be the same.

[@IHarleyWin]

DL was considered top 3 adc in the league for a whole decade minus maybe one split. What absurd longevity. Amazing competitor.

[@devanopakpahan]

Really ? TOP 5 ADC in world jackeylove,Ruler, Rekkles,Perkz,Zven i dont think yours valid bro

[@albasuna]

@@devanopakpahan na lcs, ironically he was considered top 3 adc in the world when he was losing with CLG.

[@esRaortiz]

@@devanopakpahan Perkz? If we are talking about the best, I would rate these oplayers easily above Perkz. Deft, Bang, Imp, WeiXiao Pray

[@markez4730]

@@devanopakpahan DL always matched Rekkles, and Sven on the other hand...

[@devanopakpahan]

Okay sorry guys its just my opinion DL was good but i think he wasnt TOP 3 ADC of all time

[@deano2187]

Honestly I've stopped playing league but i always watched matches with Doublelift because i was always a fan. I hope he continues to stream or have something to do in the league community (have a talk show segment with you about players and matches(maybe :3)), because no matter what he do I'd like to watch it.

[@OneWingedRose]

Man, with no Hai, Doublelift, Bjerg, Remillia, Meteos, Sneaky or Alex Ich in NA... I don't think I have anyone left to cheer for. I appreciate NA's trying to shake things up so their region can improve as a whole, but for me it's the players that make the region enjoyable to watch as a fan... and I don't think there are any left that I much care for anymore. Bummer. Guess the amount of League I watch in 2021 will just be G2 matches in LEC and international now, Rekkles is the last english-region pro who's still active I really like. Maybe it's about time I finally uninstall the game too, close this chapter of my life and move on as well. Thanks for all the great memories you pro players you! Each of you will be missed in your own ways.

[@LeBesta_]

Damn, I dont even follow LCS that much but you two are the most wholesome pair in esports, it's amazing that both of you grew together yet in different paths

[@Linkone7]

It's a sad day for LCS... it's going to be hard to continue watching to be honest. The thing is I was always more invested in my favorite players vs my favourite team. Doublelift was the reason I got into LOL in the first place, once I randomly watched an old CLG video with his classic trash talk. I was hooked after that. I wish him the best!

[@doctorradish8650]

This isn't just an end of a league era... my life has recently reflected the same feelings i get from this video.. I remember spending time alone watching SOTL and feeling like I belonged, sharing the passion for league even with a virtual family. Thanks for sharing this Travis. I love you and i love Peter so fucking much.

[@cubi92]

Best NA interviewer and wingman hands down!

[@HatersGunnaBeHatin]

Don't care what people say, Doublelift was the best adc NA had for these last few years. There was one split where I doubted, but other than that, how can you argue that he wasn't vital in bringing in the LCS title to WHICHEVER org he was a part of. It's going to be really hard to watch LCS going forward.

[@GaterDeamon]

2 Great Personalities retired this year. You will be missed Peter

[@iLAGnDC]

Bjerg rarely did interviews, how do you know he has a great personality lol?

[@iLAGnDC]

@@kay94 Trash talk hypes up matches for the viewers, sets up narratives and sets expectations which puts the pro players reputation on the line. Look at Perkz trashing on NA when he is moving to NA lol. Shows more personality then the generic answers given in interviews by most pro's on the scene. Why do you think G2 is doing so good in content? Anyone can praise and talk well of their team mates, bland answers.

[@GaterDeamon]

@@iLAGnDC by the feedback u hear about anyone who's played with him or worked with him. Great personality doesn't equate to charisma.

[@lulu98769]

Anyone who thinks your entire career is only because of Doublelift is absolutely delusional. You both benefitted from eachother greatly, both as friends, roommates and to some degree colleagues in the industry. You gave him a home when he had nowhere else to go. Let that sink in, you gave a teenager a home when he got kicked out by his own parents. That's one of the nicest things almost anyone has ever done in the esports industry. You're such a great person and have been THE staple interviewer for so many years now, even people who worked for big companies to be a journalist for them have not contributed as much as you have to the NA scene. Especially in the past 6+ years where streaming hasn't been that huge for pro players, and many teams content has been very poor at times, you gave so many players a platform and you gave them so many new fans. You have probably given individuals a fanbase just by having them in your interviews. I hope you keep working in esports until your retirement Travis, you are as important as Doublelift. Don't let anyone invalidate your contribution to this scene.

[@brendanallen15]

I wish the best for doublelift. He’s been my favorite pro player since i started watching in 2015. Watching Lcs won’t be the same without him.

[@dannychoriki1977]

in 2012 i started playing league of legends as a Vayne main cause i saw a couple videos of Doublelift HARD CARRYING with the champion. way back in season 2. To this day I still main vayne in the bottom lane. Much love to the legend, as we all know they never die.

[@joshseymour3910]

Its heart breaking but I understand, good luck with what you do next DL