Zest retires from competitive VALORANT
One of Korea’s VALORANT OGs has decided to hang up the mouse.
SOUTH KOREA – Korean player Kim "Zest" Gi-seok has confirmed his retirement from professional VALORANT, bringing an end to his five-year career in Riot's tactical shooter. In an Instagram Story, he also expressed gratitude for the community's support throughout his journey while revealing plans to pursue a different direction.
As a founding member of Vision Strikers in 2020, Zest played a role in establishing the team as an APAC powerhouse during the game's formative competitive years. He was instrumental in the squad's legendary 103-match winning streak across the Asia-Pacific region, a record that still stands as one of the most dominant stretches in VALORANT esports history.
Late in 2021, health issues forced Zest to the bench, causing him to miss the roster’s first international outings in Berlin. He eventually returned in 2022 and played a full year on the global stage, competing at every major international event: Reykjavík, Copenhagen, and Champions in Istanbul. That season would become the peak of his international resume, with DRX finishing as runner-up at VALORANT Champions 2022, the best result of his career.
When the partnership era began, DRX continued to be a mainstay at international events, qualifying for tournaments in Tokyo and Los Angeles. During this stretch, Zest was frequently relied on for high-pressure matches internationally, while Jung “Foxy9” Jae-sung saw more action in domestic Pacific League play. However, DRX’s inability to consistently translate strong performances into podium finishes or titles eventually led to major changes, and Zest departed alongside Goo “Rb” Sang-min in late 2023.
Despite his strong reputation and stocks, Zest started the 2024 season with Team IAM in the tier-two Challengers Korea circuit, playing alongside popular Korean streamers and former F4Q members. Before Split 1 ended, Bleed Esports brought him back to the Pacific League, but the team finished last in both Stage 1 and Stage 2.
Following Bleed’s removal from the Pacific circuit after the 2024 season, Zest stepped away from competition. He returned roughly six months later, but without any offers materializing, he has now confirmed his retirement at age 25.
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Cover photo courtesy of Lance Skundrich/Riot Games