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Shiphtur
Shiphtur
Shiphtur
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Danny Le, better known as Shiphtur (pronounced "shifter"), is a Canadian former professional League of Legends player. Shiphtur was the first esports player to be granted a P-1 athletic visa from the United States Department of State.[1][2] On May 2, 2014, he joined Dignitas along with Darshan "ZionSpartan" Upadhyaya.[3] On May 17, 2016, Apex Gaming acquired Dignitas' NA Challenger team including Shiphtur.[4]

Key Information

On September 26, 2016, Apex and Dignitas were acquired by the Philadelphia 76ers,[5] and Shiphtur was released from the Apex Roster but not added to Dignitas.

Tournament results

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Team Apex

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References

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Shiphtur

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Danny "Shiphtur" Le (born January 27, 1993) is a Canadian retired professional esports player and Twitch streamer, best known for his tenure as a mid laner in North American competitive circuits during the 2010s. Born in , , and raised in , , Le began his professional career in July 2012 with the team Dirtnap Gaming.Panda, quickly progressing to roles with Monomaniac Evito, Team Dynamic, and notably Team Coast from 2013 to 2014. He later joined Dignitas in May 2014, competing in the North American Championship Series (LCS), and continued with teams like Apex Gaming until his retirement from professional play in 2017. A pivotal figure in early esports recognition, Le became the first professional gamer to secure a U.S. P-1A visa in August 2013, affirming as a legitimate athletic pursuit by U.S. immigration authorities. Throughout his career, he participated in 27 tournaments, achieving a professional record of 54 wins and 106 losses with a 3.9 ratio, and earned $31,695 in , highlighted by a third-place finish at GlitchCon 2020 Super Team Showdown. Transitioning to content creation post-retirement, Le has built a substantial streaming presence on Twitch since December 2011, where he broadcasts , , and "Just Chatting" sessions focused on gaming and food, amassing over 737,000 followers as of November 2025 and ranking among English-speaking channels. His versatile champion pool, particularly with mages like Ahri and LeBlanc, and engaging personality have sustained his influence in the community.

Early life

Childhood and family background

Danny "Shiphtur" Le was born on January 27, 1993, in , , . His family relocated to , , during his childhood, where he spent much of his early years. Of Vietnamese ethnicity, Shiphtur comes from a family that includes ties to professional gaming through his cousin, esports player Christopher "Balls" Lang, a connection discovered later through family at a wedding. Growing up in , Shiphtur's environment fostered a casual interest in gaming through local influences and friends, though he initially favored sports over video games. He briefly attended Grant MacEwan University in before pursuing other paths.

Introduction to League of Legends

Le began playing around 2011, near his 18th birthday, approximately one year before transitioning to professional competition. Growing up in , , after moving there from , Le was initially a casual who discovered the game through friends urging him to try it after he grew tired of . As a "closet ", he approached as a hobby, dedicating time to solo queue matches without immediate aspirations for . In his early sessions, Le experimented with multiple roles across the , testing top, , and support positions to understand the game's dynamics. He quickly gravitated toward the mid lane, drawn to its central positioning that offered extensive play-making opportunities, such as to side and controlling key objectives. This choice allowed him to leverage his growing mechanical skills and awareness in ways that felt more engaging than other . Le's initial skill development focused on ranked climbing in North America's solo queue, where he progressed steadily through divisions by practicing daily for several hours. He engaged with the community through informal online ladders and small-scale tournaments, often teaming up ad hoc with other players rather than committing to organized squads. This phase emphasized self-improvement and experimentation, building a foundation in competitive play. His commitment to mid lane solidified due to its strategic depth—requiring precise wave management, burst damage execution, and pivotal decisions in team fights that could swing match outcomes.

Professional career

Early teams and debut (2012–2013)

Shiphtur began his professional career in July 2012, joining Dirt Nap.Panda for a one-month stint in the North American scene, where the team competed in tournaments such as the SoloMid NA Invitational. In August 2012, he transitioned to Monomaniac Evito, remaining with the organization for two months amid efforts to build competitive presence in regional leagues. This period marked his initial exposure to structured team play, focusing on mid-lane roles in various North American qualifiers and ladder-based events. By December 2012, Shiphtur joined Team Dynamic for a brief 12-day engagement, completing the roster alongside players like ZionSpartan and NintendudeX to prepare for upcoming promotions. The team participated in early leagues and regional tournaments during this time, honing strategies for higher-level competition. In January 2013, the Team Dynamic roster was acquired by the newly formed Good Game University (GGU), signaling Shiphtur's entry into organized NA LCS promotion efforts. GGU competed in the NA LCS Season 3 Spring Qualifier that month, advancing through the group stage and securing qualification for the LCS Spring Split via decisive victories in the playoffs. As a Canadian national, Shiphtur encountered significant immigration hurdles; he became the first esports athlete to receive a U.S. P-1A visa for internationally recognized athletes on May 29, 2013, after initial denials at the border prevented salaried participation under business visitor rules. This delay restricted his involvement in early LCS matches, necessitating substitutes like Jintae for Weeks 2–3, until the visa allowed him to relocate to Riverside, California, for full-time practice with the team.

Team Coast era (2013–2014)

Following the success of Good Game University (GGU) in the Season 3 NA LCS Spring Split, where the team achieved a second-place finish in the after a 3-2 defeat to Team SoloMid in the finals, the organization rebranded to Team Coast in June 2013. Shiphtur, listed on the GGU roster as the mid laner, had been sidelined throughout the split due to unresolved visa issues, with substitute Ha "Jintae" Yun-seong filling the role; however, Shiphtur's visa, approved on May 29, 2013, allowed him to join the active lineup for the Summer Split. Under the new Team Coast banner, the team fielded a roster of ZionSpartan (top), NintendudeX (), Shiphtur (mid), DontMashMe (ADC), and I Am Anjo (support), but struggled in the regular season, finishing 7th with an 11-17 record and missing the . Entering the 2014 Spring Split, Team made a key roster adjustment by replacing ADC DontMashMe with Patrick "WizFujiiN" Geitner to bolster their bot lane, retaining the core of ZionSpartan, NintendudeX, , and I Am Anjo. The team showed flashes of potential, particularly in Shiphtur's mid-lane performances, such as his dominant Ziggs play against in Week 9, where he nearly secured a while outplaying the enemy team in extended engagements. Despite these highlights, Coast endured a challenging season marked by inconsistent results and internal organizational challenges, including reported management instability that affected team cohesion. They ended the regular season in 6th place with a 10-18 record, qualifying for the as the 6th seed. In the 2014 NA LCS Spring Playoffs, Team Coast faced in the quarterfinals and suffered a 0-2 sweep, hampered by draft disadvantages and execution errors in team fights. They then competed in the 5th-place match against Team Dignitas, winning the first game through aggressive mid-lane pressure from Shiphtur but ultimately falling 1-2 after Dignitas adapted with stronger macro plays. This 5th-place finish secured their LCS spot for the Summer Split but underscored ongoing struggles with roster synergy and organizational support. On May 2, 2014, amid these difficulties, Shiphtur and ZionSpartan departed Team Coast to join Dignitas, citing a desire for a more stable environment.

Dignitas tenure (2014–2016)

Shiphtur joined Team Dignitas on May 2, 2014, as the starting mid laner, transitioning from Team Coast alongside top laner ZionSpartan to bolster the team's LCS roster. In the 2014 NA LCS Summer Split, Dignitas secured a mid-table 6th-place finish in the regular season with a 13-15 record, qualifying for the playoffs where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Team SoloMid. Shiphtur contributed notably during this split, including a pentakill on LeBlanc against on May 23, 2014, highlighting his mechanical prowess in high-pressure games. Ahead of the 2015 season, Shiphtur re-signed with Dignitas, maintaining continuity in the mid lane as the team aimed to improve synergy with returning players like jungler Crumbzz and ADC Imaqtpie. The 2015 Spring Split proved challenging, with Dignitas ending 9th in the regular season at 6-12, narrowly avoiding relegation through the promotion tournament by defeating Team Fusion 3-2. However, the Summer Split saw a rebound to 6th place with a 10-8 record, emphasizing improved team coordination and Shiphtur's consistent performances in the mid lane, though they fell short in the against Team Impulse. Entering 2016, Dignitas underwent roster adjustments, including the substitution of top laner SmittyJ with BillyBoss in an effort to stabilize the lineup around Shiphtur and new additions like jungler . The Spring Split resulted in a dismal 10th-place finish at 4-14, leading to the promotion/relegation tournament where Dignitas lost 0-3 to Team Dragon Knights, marking their exit from the LCS. Shiphtur's tenure concluded on May 17, 2016, when Dignitas transferred its North American Challenger Series spot—including Shiphtur—to Apex Gaming amid organizational restructuring.

Final teams and retirement (2016–2017)

Following the relegation of Dignitas from the LCS after the Spring 2016 split, Shiphtur joined Apex Gaming on May 19, 2016, initially as a substitute mid laner. His tenure with the organization lasted approximately four months, concluding on September 26, 2016, amid a team merger under new ownership by the . During this period, he also had a brief stint with the academy squad Apex Pride starting June 3, 2016, where he played mid laner alongside players like Cris and Diamondprox for about four months. After a period away from organized competition, Shiphtur briefly returned in June 2017, joining Delta Fox as support on June 2 for the North American Challenger Series. The engagement was short-lived, lasting roughly two months until the team's disbandment on August 31, 2017, with no major placements achieved. Shiphtur's final competitive appearance in structured play came in November 2017 as a pickup mid laner for Meme Stream Dream Team, a squad of prominent streamers and former pros. The team reached the finals of the Tyler1 Championship Series 2017, a prominent non-LCS event, securing second place after a 1-2 loss to MLGB E-SPORTS CLUB in the best-of-three grand final on November 24. Following his 2017 retirement from structured professional play, Shiphtur participated in streamer-focused competitive events, including a third-place finish at the GlitchCon 2020 Super Team Showdown. Shiphtur retired from professional following this event, ending a career that spanned from his debut in to 2017. He cited burnout from the relentless demands of professional play as a key factor in his decision, opting instead to shift his focus to full-time streaming and content creation.

Playing style and achievements

Mid-lane playstyle

Shiphtur's mid-lane playstyle emphasized play-making through aggressive roams and map impact, often prioritizing team coordination and snowballing advantages over isolated laning dominance. Drawing from experiences in Korean solo queue, he viewed the laning phase as secondary to overall team synergy, focusing instead on early-game rotations to generate pressure across lanes. This approach aligned with the dynamic nature of the mid role, allowing him to influence skirmishes and objectives beyond his own matchup. A hallmark of his tenure was the popularization of Ziggs as a mid-lane in North American competitive play during 2013-2014. In the NA LCS Summer Promotion Tournament, Shiphtur utilized Ziggs for its superior wave clear, long-range poke, and siege potential, contributing to Team Coast's success against deathball compositions. The champion became a frequent or ban in subsequent matches, reshaping the regional meta toward control-oriented mages capable of scaling into teamfight dominance. His mechanical prowess shone in high-stakes moments, such as a LeBlanc during his LCS debut with Dignitas against in May 2014, where he outmaneuvered multiple opponents in a late-game teamfight to secure victory. Shiphtur demonstrated strong execution on both control mages and assassins, adapting to meta shifts from poke-heavy mages like Ziggs (50% win rate over 14 LCS games) to burst threats like LeBlanc (33.3% win rate over 15 games) and Ahri (40% win rate over 20 games). This versatility highlighted his ability to thrive in diverse environments, often outperforming contemporaries in through calculated aggression and veteran decision-making honed from early online competitive scenes.

Key accomplishments and records

During his time with Good Game University, the team achieved second place in the NA LCS Season 3 Spring Playoffs in 2013, earning a $25,000 prize as runners-up to Team SoloMid, though Shiphtur was unable to participate in the playoffs due to visa issues. This performance marked one of the inaugural professional league events in North American League of Legends and highlighted his rapid rise from qualifiers to the playoffs. In August 2013, Shiphtur became the first athlete to receive a P-1A visa from the , recognizing professional video gaming as an athletic endeavor and paving the way for international players in the industry. This pioneering status facilitated his continued participation in NA LCS with Team Coast during Season 4. Over his professional tenure from 2013 to 2017, Shiphtur accumulated approximately $31,695 in career earnings across 27 tournaments, primarily from competitions (as of 2020). Post-retirement, Shiphtur continued competitive success in streamer events, winning first place in the NA Streamer Showdown on February 20, 2020, alongside teammates and earning $3,400. He also finished second in the Championship Series Fall 2017 grand finals with a team featuring Voyboy, , , and . In Challenger-tier events, notable results include first place in the North American Challenger League Season 1 on December 15, 2013 ($2,050 prize) and third-to-fourth place at IEM Season IX Cologne in December 2014 with Team Dignitas. These accomplishments underscore his contributions to establishing mid-lane strategies in the NA scene, including early adoption of champions like Ziggs.

Post-retirement activities

Streaming and content creation

Following his retirement from professional competition in late 2017, Shiphtur shifted his focus to full-time streaming on Twitch, where his channel—originally launched in December 2011—primarily features gameplay sessions and real-time commentary on the game. By November 2025, the channel had grown to over 736,000 followers, reflecting sustained popularity among the community, with regular streams averaging around 300 concurrent viewers and occasionally peaking above 2,000. These broadcasts often rank in the top 5,000 concurrent channels during active sessions, underscoring his enduring appeal as a former pro player. Shiphtur's streams frequently incorporate collaborations with members and fellow streamers, such as duo queues with or group games alongside and , which include interactive elements like viewer-invited matches to foster engagement. His content emphasizes an educational approach, including mid-lane strategy guides—such as breakdowns of champion matchups like Ziggs or innovative summoner spell choices like Smite mid—and discussions on evolving game metas, blended with humorous anecdotes from his professional background to keep streams entertaining and accessible. Monetization for Shiphtur's channel relies on Twitch subscriptions, viewer donations through bits and direct contributions, and partnerships with brands, including sponsorships for in-stream build tools from U.GG.

Casual gaming and collaborations

Following his retirement from professional , Shiphtur has remained active in casual gaming, frequently participating in non-competitive modes and team-ups with fellow streamers. In March 2025, he reunited with former pros and for a series of matches, showcasing lighthearted gameplay and banter that highlighted their enduring camaraderie from the early scene. Shiphtur also featured in collaborative video content, such as the June 2025 series "Learning in 2025," where he coached newcomers Ballslol and Foolish Gamer on modern mechanics and strategies, blending education with humorous mishaps during custom games. His involvement extends to community events, including a first-place victory in the February 2020 NA Streamer Showdown alongside teammates, where he executed key plays like a game-winning flank to help secure a 7-0 record on day two. He has occasionally joined pickup teams for informal scrims and variety streams, maintaining connections within the streaming ecosystem without pursuing competitive goals. Beyond , Shiphtur has explored other titles, notably promoting the Mecha BREAK open beta for PC and in February 2025 by streaming sessions with collaborators like and BoxBox, emphasizing the game's fast-paced mech combat. Despite this diversification, he continues to engage with the NA ladder casually, holding a rank around 17,000 in 2025—equivalent to the top 1% of players—primarily for enjoyment and content rather than climbing intent. These activities underscore his transition to community-focused gaming, often integrated into his Twitch streams.

References

  1. https://streamscharts.com/channels/shiphtur
  2. https://escharts.com/players/shiphtur
  3. https://www.famousbirthdays.com/people/danny-le.html
  4. https://www.esportsearnings.com/players/6060-shiphtur-danny-le
  5. https://www.theverge.com/2013/8/11/4611180/league-legends-gamer-gets-visa-recognizing-him-as-pro-athlete
  6. https://gol.gg/players/player-stats/153/season-ALL/split-ALL/tournament-ALL/champion-ALL/
  7. https://twitchtracker.com/shiphtur
  8. https://toptwitchstreamers.com/streamer/shiphtur/
  9. https://www.twitch.tv/shiphtur/about
  10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rofHlbpUviM
  11. https://viralmango.com/blog/influencer-profile/shiphtur/
  12. https://www.cyberpowerpc.com/blog/team-coast-interview-series-shiphtur/
  13. https://www.vg247.com/league-of-legends-player-secures-first-us-esports-visa
  14. https://www.invenglobal.com/articles/8104/on-this-day-in-lol-esports-history-team-coasts-swan-song-2014
  15. https://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-online-gamers-20130808-story.html
  16. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/na-lcs-season-4-spring-split-week-9-recap/1100-6437298/
  17. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/team-dignitas-signs-shiphtur-and-zionspartan-to-lc/1100-6437573/
  18. http://www.team-dignitas.net/articles/news/League-of-Legends/5113/Team-Dignitas-signs-Shiphtur-and-ZionSpartan
  19. https://lol.fandom.com/wiki/NA_LCS/2014_Season/Summer_Season
  20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0edgg5FiwA
  21. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rosterrumors-issue-4/1100-6438493/
  22. https://liquipedia.net/leagueoflegends/LCS/North_America/2015/Spring
  23. https://liquipedia.net/leagueoflegends/LCS/North_America/2015/Summer
  24. http://team-dignitas.net/articles/news/League-of-Legends/8795/billyboss-signs-as-starting-lcs-top-laner-smittyj-moved-to-sub
  25. https://www.polygon.com/na-lcs/2016/12/20/14030704/dignitas-lol-roster-2017-ssumday-lod
  26. http://team-dignitas.net/articles/news/Team-Dignitas/9465/team-dignitas-transfer-nacs-spot-to-apex-gaming
  27. https://lol.fandom.com/wiki/Shiphtur
  28. https://lol.fandom.com/wiki/Apex_Pride
  29. https://liquipedia.net/leagueoflegends/Shiphtur
  30. https://liquipedia.net/leagueoflegends/Delta_Fox
  31. https://lol.fandom.com/wiki/Meme_Stream_Dream_Team
  32. https://lol.fandom.com/wiki/Tyler1_Championship_Series/2017_Season/Fall
  33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8N8d2H-8dg
  34. https://dignitas.gg/articles/meet-the-new-team-dignitas-lol-interview-with-our-mid-shiphtur
  35. https://dignitas.gg/articles/the-hexplosively-crazy-yordle-a-guide-to-ziggs
  36. https://www.esportsearnings.com/teams/474-good-game-university/results/1074-league-of-legends
  37. https://www.esportsearnings.com/tournaments/25816-tcs-fall-2017
  38. https://www.twitchmetrics.net/c/26560695-shiphtur
  39. https://sullygnome.com/channel/shiphtur/365
  40. https://twitchtracker.com/shiphtur/streams/331478394365
  41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7_iFjjffAo
  42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEKlBaltHEA
  43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq8dSWUm3Hg
  44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tvef5v_Wgs4
  45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrxfU6hbZWI
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8v4mGpKELHw
  47. https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/shiphtur-pulls-off-perfect-flank-to-help-his-team-go-7-0-through-day-2-of-twitch-rivals
  48. https://x.com/Shiphtur/status/1893834941718249820
  49. https://op.gg/lol/summoners/na/Shiphtur-CHAP
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