How a lot cash has Kim Kang-hui made throughout his esports profession?

Kim Kang-hui, higher generally known as Roach, has performed an influential function in T1’s exceptional success in League of Legends.

The gifted 26-year-old served as coach because the group received back-to-back world championships in 2023 and 2024.

And followers hope that he’ll return to the fray as soon as he has accomplished his army service throughout the subsequent couple of years.

In our evaluation of Roach’s web price, we chart his gaming profession and reveal how a lot he has earned from tournaments and different sources of earnings.

His full title is Kim Kang-hui. He’s a South Korean concerned in League of Legends and is 26 years outdated on the time of writing in October 2025.

He was most not too long ago a coach on the T1 group earlier than saying his momentary departure in November 2024 to fulfil his army service obligations.

We’ve primarily based our estimate of his web price on the $41,411 prize winnings from taking part in League of Legends over the previous decade.

Essentially the most profitable yr was 2020, when he took residence $12,797 from two occasions. This accounts for nearly a 3rd of his general winnings.

His least profitable yr got here in 2022 when he earned $1,490.11, though he was transitioning into teaching round this time.

Roach can have acquired a wage for his function as a coach at T1, nevertheless it’s tough to gauge as precise figures aren’t publicly accessible.

The quantities will rely on expertise and success, in addition to the monetary well being and standing of a specific group.

In a 2022 interview, Nick “LS” De Cesare, a distinguished determine inside League of Legends, instructed head coaches may earn as much as $200,000. 

Nonetheless, coaches are more likely to be paid lower than high esports gamers, whose salaries will be across the $187,000 market, in accordance with the Influencer Advertising Hub.

It’s additionally understood that Roach has streamed on Twitch prior to now. Many avid gamers earn an earnings on this method, though precise figures aren’t launched.

Roach seems to favour a life out of the limelight and isn’t thought to personal any companies or maintain main investments. 

Little or no is thought about Roach’s formative years, other than the truth that he was born in South Korea on January 31, 1999.

In late 2015, he joined NaJin e-mFire, an expert South Korean League of Legends group, when he was simply 16 years outdated. Shortly afterwards, it rebranded to Group Kongdoo.

So far as prize winnings are involved, this era of his life was one among his most profitable, with $15,567 earned in two years.

Roach earned $5,283.50 from three tournaments with Gen.G Esports that occurred between late 2018 and the tip of August 2019.

He then moved to the T1 group, the place he earned $13,718.05 from three tournaments, together with first place within the LCK Spring 2020.

An additional $6,842.11 was received as a part of T1 Challenges from two occasions in 2021 and 2022. This included high spot within the LCK Challengers League 2021 Spring.

Roach has achieved essentially the most success in his function as a coach with numerous T1 groups between 2022 and 2024.

In late 2022, it was introduced that Roach would change into one among three coaches working with Bae “Bengi” Seong-woong within the 2023 season. 

It proved to be a sensible transfer as he served as coach throughout a profitable patch that noticed two world championships and an Esports World Cup achieved, in accordance with Liquipedia.

The group took the 2023 title in South Korea by beating Weibo Gaming 3-0 within the last, with studies stating that T1 seemed “a step above” its opponents.

Nonetheless, Roach’s time as a coach hasn’t been completely stress-free. In early 2022, whereas a T1 Challengers coach, he bumped into bother.

It was reported that he could be suspended for 4 video games within the 2022 LCK CK Spring Break up and fined three million Korean received after tampering with a contracted participant with out their group’s permission.

As Roach doesn’t seem to have a giant social media presence, it’s unclear how he has been spending his cash lately.

Nonetheless, his profession and earnings potential are presently on maintain as he completes obligatory army service in his residence nation.

In November 2024, it was introduced that Roach could be placing the whole lot on maintain whereas he completes his obligatory army service.

The report defined that the size of army service has been decreased from 30 months to between 18 and 21 months.

The precise time will rely on the place people serve. It’s 18 months within the Military or Marine Corps, however 20 months within the Navy and 21 months within the Air Drive.

In an announcement, T1 mentioned: “Right this moment, we half methods with coach ‘Roach’ in order that he can fulfil his social service responsibility. We sincerely thank him for his ardour and dedication as each a participant and coach for T1 over the previous 5 years. 

“His management, particularly over the previous two years, has been an inspiration to group members and instrumental in main T1 to change into World Champions. 

“We specific our deepest gratitude for his unwavering efforts to enhance the group, and we stay up for seeing him once more in good well being.”

Roach additionally issued a video assertion expressing his gratitude to everybody at T1 and to the followers who’ve supported him in his numerous roles.

He mentioned: “I’ll be stepping away for some time to fulfil my responsibility, so it’s with a heavy coronary heart that I announce my momentary departure. With all my experiences as a professional participant and coach mixed, T1 has change into the group I’ve been with the longest. 

“Over these previous two years, being with the most effective group, alongside the most effective gamers, head coaches, coaches and all of the employees, who supplied countless help, has been an unbelievable journey, particularly in these successful moments.

“From my begin as a participant to now as a coach, it feels so significant to have been capable of really assist the group. It’s been an unforgettable time for me. And to the followers who’ve supported me from my days as a participant all through to my time as a coach, I’ve really had loads of enjoyable and felt a lot happiness due to you. Thanks a lot.”

It’s not recognized whether or not Roach helps any specific charities. Nonetheless, his T1 group has supported a number of causes.

For instance, it not too long ago donated ₩63.74m (~£37,500) to Make-A-Want Korea by proceeds from its particular version WishMaker jersey gross sales.

Beforehand, the group has been concerned with campaigns for UNICEF and for Breast Most cancers Consciousness.

Roach could have made his title in League of Legends, however his web price pales compared to the most important stars in esports.

His modest profession earnings of $41,411 are considerably beneath the $1.9 million received by Faker.

Kim “Roach” Kang-hui could not have earned a multi-million-dollar fortune from esports, however he’s actually loved a substantial amount of success.

As a T1 coach, he was instrumental in serving to the group safe back-to-back world championships in 2023 and 2024.

However any hope of including a 3rd title has been placed on maintain for now as he completes at the least 18 months of obligatory army service in South Korea.