{{Short description|Former professional League of Legends team}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox sports team | name = Team Dragon Knights | short_name = TDK | logo = Team Dragon Knights logo.png | logo_size = | alt = Logo of Team Dragon Knights | caption = | location = | parent_group = | history = | founded = {{start date|2014|09}} | folded = {{end date|2016|05|23}} | owner = Chris "Greenf0rest" Shim<br />Sean "TriS" Shim<br />Alan Hubbard | manager = Toby Kwon | partners = Micro-Star International | game = ''League of Legends'' | website = {{Official URL}} | footnotes = | fanclub = }}
'''Team Dragon Knights''', briefly known as '''Team Arena Online''',<ref>{{cite news |last1=Smith |first1=Tim |title=Team Dragon Knights renames to Team Arena Online |url=https://www.gosugamers.net/lol/news/32719-team-dragon-knights-renames-to-team-arena-online |accessdate=January 13, 2020 |work=Gosu Gamers |date=September 24, 2015 |language=en}}</ref> was an American professional ''League of Legends'' team. For most of its history the team competed in the North American ''League of Legends'' Challenger Series, but was briefly in the North American ''League of Legends'' Championship Series during the 2015 Summer Split before being relegated.
== History == The team was formed in September 2014 by manager Sean Shim. They qualified for the ESL LCS Expansion Tournament via the Challenger ladder but did not participate in the tournament. However, after undergoing a number of roster changes they qualified for the spring season of the North American Challenger Series, beating Team Frostbite and Storm in the qualifier. In the Challenger Series, which took place from February 17 through March 28, 2015, TDK placed second in the season with a 7–3 record, behind Enemy eSports. In the playoffs, which ran from March 31, 2015, through April 1, 2015, they beat Team Fusion 2–1 before losing to Enemy 1–3, sending them to the Summer Promotion Tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.redbull.com/us/en/esports/stories/1331721333148/tdk-upsets-winterfox-to-claim-spot-in-na-lcs|title=TDK Upsets Winterfox to Claim Spot in NA LCS|first=Jonathan |last=Deesing |date=May 6, 2015|website=Red Bull|accessdate=May 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thethaodientu.vn/tin-tuc/lien-minh-huyen-thoai/2284--lmht-team-dragon-knights-chieu-mo-ninja-va-emperor.html|title=[LMHT] Team Dragon Knights chiêu mộ Ninja và Emperor|date=May 19, 2015|website=Thể Thao Điện Tử|accessdate=August 22, 2015|archive-date=May 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522004713/http://thethaodientu.vn/tin-tuc/lien-minh-huyen-thoai/2284--lmht-team-dragon-knights-chieu-mo-ninja-va-emperor.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Despite the fact that they had placed higher than Fusion, Winterfox chose to play against them in their LCS relegation match on April 26, 2015. Prior to the match, mid laner Kyle chose to retire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.azubu.tv/moba/league-of-legends/team-dragon-knights-sole-challenger-team-to-qualify-to-lcs/|title=TEAM DRAGON KNIGHTS SOLE CHALLENGER TEAM TO QUALIFY TO LCS|first=ADEL|last=CHOUADRIA|date=April 27, 2015|website=Azubu|accessdate=May 26, 2015|archive-date=May 5, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505100040/http://content.azubu.tv/moba/league-of-legends/team-dragon-knights-sole-challenger-team-to-qualify-to-lcs/|url-status=live}}</ref> TDK used temporary substitute mid laner Alex Ich from Renegades in the matches and won in a 3–1 upset, successfully qualifying for the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split.<ref name="koreans lineup">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/esports/team-dragon-knights-emperor-ninja/|title=Team Dragon Knights fills out lineup with a pair of Koreans|first= Samuel|last= Lingle|date= May 18, 2015|website=The Daily Dot|accessdate=May 26, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gosugamers.net/lol/tournaments/6413-2015-na-lcs-summer-promotion/matches/72941-winterfox-vs-team-dragon-knights|title=Winterfox vs Team Dragon Knights |website= GosuGamers|accessdate=May 26, 2015}}</ref> After the match Alex Ich chose to remain with his previous team. TDK attempted to buy out Altec's contract from Winterfox as Altec was planning on leaving the team, however he chose to join Gravity Gaming instead.<ref name="koreans lineup"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/esports/team-dragon-knights-altec/|title=Team Dragon Knights fills out lineup with a pair of Koreans|first=Samuel|last=Lingle|date=May 18, 2015|website=The Daily Dot|accessdate=May 26, 2015|archive-date=May 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527041732/http://www.dailydot.com/esports/team-dragon-knights-altec/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On May 18, 2015, TDK announced their summer split final roster, consisting of Seraph, Kez, Ninja, Emperor, and Smoothie.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.skgcl.com/portal/team-dragon-knights-revela-su-roster/|title=Team Dragon Knights revela su roster|author=Savanto|date=May 18, 2015|website=SKGCL|accessdate=August 22, 2015|archive-date=September 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924102331/http://www.skgcl.com/portal/team-dragon-knights-revela-su-roster/|url-status=live}}</ref> The team went on a seven-game losing streak when they were unable to use Emperor and Ninja on the starting roster because of delayed visas.<ref name="TAO dd"/> They finished the LCS summer split in last place with a 3–15 record, eliminating them from the playoffs and relegating them back to the Challenger Series. On September 23, 2015, the team announced it would be renamed as Team Arena Online after new sponsor Arena Online, a tournament organizing company based in Houston, Texas.<ref name="TAO dd">{{cite web|url=http://www.dailydot.com/esports/team-dragon-knights-team-arena-online/|title=Team Dragon Knights is now Team Arena Online, retains Seraph, Kez, and Ninja|first= Jacob |last=Wolf|website=The Daily Dot|date=September 23, 2015|accessdate=November 1, 2015}}</ref> However, the team was forced to revert to their old name by Riot Games after Arena Online failed to deliver on their promises of creating a million dollar tournament circuit.
TDK was permanently banned from Riot-sponsored events on May 8, 2016, after Riot released a competitive ruling stating that there was an "inappropriate" connection between TDK and LCS team Renegades, with sources of financial compensation to players being a primary reason.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Volk |first1=Pete |title=TIP, Renegades and TDK banned |url=https://www.riftherald.com/2016/5/9/11637402/renegades-tip-tdk-league-of-legends-ban |accessdate=January 13, 2020 |work=The Rift Herald |date=May 9, 2016 |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable players == * Alex Ich * Remilia * Smoothie
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * {{Official website}}
{{League of Legends Championship Series}} {{CCBYSASource|sourcepath=http://lol.esportspedia.com/wiki/Team_Dragon_Knights|sourcearticle=Team Dragon Knights}}
Category:Former League Championship Series (esports) teams Category:Team Dragon Knights players Category:Esports teams based in Los Angeles Category:Esports teams established in 2014 Category:Esports teams disestablished in 2016