Riot Games’ tactical shooter VALORANT marked its fifth anniversary this week, celebrating half a decade of competitive play and community achievements. Riot released feature videos spotlighting standout players from each region, and South Korea’s representative is Kim “t3xture” Na-ra of Gen.G. Known simply as t3xture, he embodies a late-bloomer trajectory that culminated in a championship run following several seasons of near misses.

t3xture began his esports career in Overwatch before switching to VALORANT after its 2020 launch. He signed with DAMWON Gaming (now Dplus KIA) in 2021 as a Duelist, showcasing consistent aim and mechanical prowess even as frequent roster upheavals and subpar team finishes kept him largely under the radar. In 2022, he transferred to Global Esports and adopted the Sentinel role, leveraging his Duelist-era strengths—precise aim, quick reactions and focused engagements—to produce highlight plays. Despite those performances, Global’s overall results remained middling, and fan interest in t3xture faded.

In September 2023, t3xture joined Gen.G and returned to his preferred Duelist position. After a brief adjustment, he helped Gen.G capture the VCT Pacific Kickoff title in early 2024—his first championship. Gen.G went on to finish second at Masters Madrid and Pacific Stage 1 before making history at Masters Shanghai. There, t3xture became the first Pacific-region player to win an international event and was named Finals MVP. He capped 2024 by winning Pacific Stage 2 and earning both Season MVP and Duelist of the Year honors.

t3xture’s rise is humanized by a peculiar late-2024 jinx: over 18 opportunities between mid-April and early August to achieve a solo Ace, he fell short each time. A notable instance occurred Aug. 1, 2024, when teammate Kim "Lakia" Jong-min secured the final kill in a four-versus-one scenario that would have completed t3xture’s Ace.

As VALORANT enters its sixth year, Gen.G is set to face MiBR in Pacific Stage 1 on June 9. t3xture’s journey—from unheralded underdog to international champion—reflects both individual resilience and the growing depth of VALORANT esports.