View source for Sky (gamer)

{{Short description|Chinese esports player}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Update|date=January 2016}}
{{POV|date=January 2016}}
}}
{{family name hatnote|[[Li (surname 李)|Li(李)]]|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox Pro Gaming player
| ID = Sky
| name = 李晓峰
| name_trans = Li Xiaofeng
| image = Li Xiaofeng 20140802 130324 (cropped).jpg
| caption = SKY in 2014s ChinaJoy
| birth_date = {{Birth based on age as of date|22|2007}}<ref>{{cite news |title=Team Human to feature three Chinese in Race War III |url=https://www.sk-gaming.com/content/16231-Team_Human_to_feature_three_Chinese_in_Race_War_III |access-date=May 12, 2021 |work=SK Gaming |date=2007}}</ref>
| birth_place =
| nationality = Chinese
| team =
| leagues =
| games = ''[[Warcraft III]]'' series
| career_start = 2004
| career_end = 2015
| years1 = 2005–2015
| team1 = [[Team WE|World Elite]]
}}
'''Li Xiaofeng''' ({{zh|s=李晓峰|p=Li Xiaofeng}}), who also goes by the pseudonym "'''Sky'''" or "'''WE.Sky'''", is a Chinese former professional gamer of the popular [[Blizzard Entertainment]] real-time strategy game ''[[Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne]]''. He played for the China-based [[Team WE|World Elite]] team. He is considered one of the best Human players in the game's history by [[World Cyber Games]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gotfrag.com/war/story/36339/ |title="WC3L Finals Preview - World Elite" - |access-date=2007-02-19 |archive-date=2012-04-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405150151/http://www.gotfrag.com/war/story/36339/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.worldcybergames.com/5th/2006/GrandFinal/tm_matchsch_04_single_R32.asp?sort=G060418104 |title="WCG WarCraft 3 Tournament Grand Final" - |access-date=2007-02-19 |archive-date=2007-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208234204/http://www.worldcybergames.com/5th/2006/GrandFinal/tm_matchsch_04_single_R32.asp?sort=G060418104 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In the past few years he has been heavily involved with coaching [[Team WE]]'s ''[[League of Legends]]'' team.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.liquidlegends.net/forum/lol-general/480731-translation-wcgwinnersky-talking-about-we-in-iem|title=&#91;Translation&#93;WCGWinner,Sky talking about WE in IEM}}</ref>
Li Xiaofeng is featured in the documentary film ''[[Beyond the Game]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heroes |url=http://weblogs.hollanddoc.nl/beyondthegame/heroes/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026052916/http://weblogs.hollanddoc.nl/beyondthegame/heroes/ |archive-date=2008-10-26 |access-date=2024-02-09}}</ref> and as a cameo in drama series ''[[Gank Your Heart (TV series)|Gank Your Heart]]'' as himself.
== Game style ==
He is widely known for his aggressive playing style with the Human race, which many considered to be a “slow” defensive race. He is known for using a fast tech build with a lumber mill, which leads to a push using the Archmage, Beastmaster, militia, towers and numerous summoned creatures to overwhelm the opponent. In numerous Warcraft III forums this strategy has been coined “Sky Rush." He was also known for a "two farm tech" without a lumber mill which leads to the "Sky Push," involving riflemen, a few casters, a breaker, and Archmage/Naga against Night Elf, but as Night Elves learned to defeat this push, it lost popularity in favor of more tower-reliant strategies.
The landmark defeat came in [[World Cyber Games 2007]] Grand Final Fourth day: War Craft match: SkY vs 4K-Creoloph_03. SKY was just about to win with his traditional rush and get his third WCG gold in a row (first time in history), but was unexpectedly defeated.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CH9NCZkEujs "Video of the match" -]</ref>
== Career ==
Li Xiaofeng started his career in 2004 and gained recognition in international competitive gaming after taking third place at the first edition of the [[World e-Sports Games]] during a three-month stay in [[Seoul]], South-Korea in March, 2005. He would remain one of the most notable players throughout the remainder of the year, dominating his competitive home country and showing strong international results by winning ACON 5 and taking fourth place at the [[Electronic Sports World Cup 2005]].
He surprised the world by taking first place at the [[World Cyber Games 2005]] by the end of the season, the tournament was considered the toughest to win of all tournaments and had a player field that included names as [[Manuel "Grubby" Schenkhuizen]] and [[Dae "FoV" Hui Cho]].
Going into 2006 as one of the most successful players of the previous season, he stood out by showing consistent performance with excellent micromanagement and maturity in strategy and thinking. He finished within the top 3 of many of the major tournaments of the year, but was widely expected to make his strongest appearance at the World Cyber Games again.
During the 2006 World Cyber Games he went undefeated through what was considered the toughest road to the grand finals for all attendees including an encounter with [[Manuel Schenkhuizen]]. Beating [[Yoan Merlo]] in the grand finals, Li Xiaofeng became the first back to back Warcraft III World Cyber Games champion. Earning him a spot in the World Cyber Games "Hall of Fame".<ref>[http://www.worldcybergames.com/6th/history/Halloffame/Hall_main.asp "World Cyber Games Hall of Fame" -] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311211800/http://www.worldcybergames.com/6th/history/Halloffame/Hall_main.asp |date=March 11, 2007 }}</ref>
In 2007 he lost in the finals of the World Cyber Games, and had to settle for silver.
He was recognized as the greatest WarCraft III player of 2006 by competitive gaming media around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sky, Lucifer, Toxic, av3k, archi, f0rest Players of 2006 |url=http://www.ggl.com/news.php?NewsId=4476 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208223611/http://www.ggl.com/news.php?NewsId=4476 |archive-date=2007-02-08 |access-date=2024-02-09 |website=www.ggl.com}}</ref>
In 2015, Li officially announced his retirement.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yu |first1=Evelyn |title=Stardom, with a flick of the wrist |url=https://www.chinadailyasia.com/focus/2016-01/28/content_15379323.html |access-date=May 11, 2021 |work=China Daily |date=January 28, 2016}}</ref>
==Notable accomplishments==
===Individual===
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] [[World Cyber Games|WCG]] China (''2004'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] [[Electronic Sports World Cup|ESWC]] Chinese Qualifiers (''2005'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] [[World Cyber Games 2005]]
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] ACON 5 (''2005'')
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] World E-Sports Games I (''2005'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] [[World Cyber Games 2006]]
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] International Electronic Sports Tournament (''2006'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] Starswar 2 (''2006'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Starswar 3 (''2006'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] Lenovo IEST (''2006'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] ProGamer League Season 1 (''2006'')
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] [[Electronic Sports World Cup]] (''2006'')
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] World e-Sports Games Masters (''2006'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] International E-Sports Festival (''2006'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] [[World Cyber Games 2007]]
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] CEG Changchun Tour (''2007'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] ProGamer League Season 2 (''2007'')
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] Starswar 4 (''2007'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] Race War Season III (''2007'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Dream Cup #10' (''2007'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Neo Star League Season 2 Finals (''2008'')
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] PGL Season 3 (''2008'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] [[Electronic Sports World Cup Masters of Paris 2008]]
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Dream Cup Season III finals (''2008'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] [[Electronic Sports World Cup 2008]]
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] ESL Continental Final Asia
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] CEG Beijing Tour (''2008'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] IEF (''2008'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] World GameMaster Tournament (''2008'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] CEG Chengdu Tour
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] PGL Season 4 (''2009'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Extreme Masters 3 Continental Finals Asia (''2009'')
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] [[International Electronic Sports Tournament 2009]]
*[[File:Gold medal icon.svg|1st Place]] Zotac Cup #189 (''2011'')
*[[File:Silver medal icon.svg|2nd Place]] [[World Cyber Games 2011]]
*[[File:Bronze medal icon.svg|3rd Place]] '[[World Cyber Games 2012]]
===Awards===
* 2006 GGL Player of the year
* Member of World Cyber Games Hall of Fame
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://blog.sina.com.cn/m/lixiaofeng Li Xiaofeng's Blog (Chinese)]
* [http://www.ggl.com/index.php?controller=News&method=article&id=4537 World Elite team info]
{{Professional Warcraft III competition}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sky (video gamer)}}
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Warcraft III players]]
[[Category:Chinese esports players]]
[[Category:People from Pingdingshan]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Henan]]
[[Category:Team Razer players]]