"Chris Smith is one of the most well-respected analysts and commentators in the esports industry," Jacob Toft-Andersen, VP of Esports for 100 Thieves, told ESPN. Smith has created a chance most people in life don't receive - a chance to create something which will stand the test of time. It's a marriage of the talents he's picked up throughout the years. Not only could he use the skills, knowledge and relationships he created through his almost five years of casting, but his psychology background could be utilized in his new role. When asked about what made the general manager position too strong of an offer to pass up, Smith relayed the fact that the opportunity was a culmination of his life up to that point. In Deficio's first season with his new team, they went all the way to the final, eventually losing to G2 Esports. One of those in particular was Martin "Deficio" Lynge, who transitioned from a famed color commentator in Europe's major domestic league, the LEC, to being the general manager of Origen. When deciding where to go next, he confided in friends that went through the same process of leaving one legacy behind to chase another. And I hope I'm able to create something special." This is going to be me putting my heart and soul into a project and offering it up to be judged by the masses. There will be no curtains to hide behind. That day-to-day, minute-to-minute skin-in-the-game reality of being a GM is so removed from the first chapter of my esports involvement, and getting personal with a project like this is super anticipating. "It occupies my thoughts of almost every minute of every day. "I've been looking for a future direction that lets me use my experiences to build something in esports because esports is the field I feel most passionate about," Smith said. Smith had delved into creating individual content on his own YouTube and Twitch channel by reviewing League of Legends games from around the world, and he found himself itching to branch out from his sturdy perch as LCK's English face. While crafting narratives for players and teams alike on the broadcast was meaningful to him, it left him wanting. Courtesy of Riot Gamesįor Smith, it was all about how he could create something everlasting in esports. PapaSmithy, left, had recently announced this summer split would be his last casting the LCK. He'd accomplished his goal of making a career out of esports commentating, created a broadcast streak more than likely never to be outdone, and even cast the world final in the country he made a name for himself. Because of a lack of another color commentator on staff, he battled illness and fatigue at times to continue his streak, cementing his iron man status as he cast your favorite LCK teams.Īfter commentating the world championship final on-site in Incheon, South Korea, to end the 2018 season, considered the pinnacle for a League of Legends caster, the same thoughts which led him to leave psychology behind in Australia to go into esports returned. Smith established himself as the English-casting face of South Korean League of Legends by not missing a day of commentating - from Aug. Once a fresh-faced rookie on the South Korean broadcast, Smith was thrust into the spotlight at the end of 2016 when the league's star commentating duo, Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles and Erik "DoA" Lonnquist, parted ways with OGN to cast the newly formed Overwatch League in Los Angeles. From there he was hired full time by South Korean television cable company OGN, and he moved to Seoul in the middle of 2015 to begin what would turn into his breakthrough in esports by casting League Champions Korea, the most dominant region in the world at the time. He was hired by Riot Games Oceania to commentate both the local Australian league and the Chinese domestic league. Smith's decision to go all-in on esports turned out to be the correct one. PapaSmithy named 100 Thieves League of Legends manager.Eventually, I quit my job and invested everything into making casting a viable future." Editor's Picks "I really wanted to see it through and see if I could reach a level that would make it a full-time pursuit. " started to occupy all of my thoughts," Smith said. Eventually he tried his hand, or voice, at amateur commentating, which quickly developed into a passion that took over his everyday life. While working as a school psychologist, Smith became enamored with the esports world, specifically League of Legends. Now, he's jumping from casting to being the League of Legends general manager for 100 Thieves.īut let's go back to the start - in western Australia. ![]() First, he traded in a career as a school psychologist for a microphone to commentate. LOS ANGELES - Christopher "PapaSmithy" Smith is no stranger to making big moves in esports.
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