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Retired
Darshan
Background Information
NameDarshan Upadhyaya
Country of Birth
Canada
BirthdayNovember 12, 1994 (age 30)
Residency
NA
North America
Competitive
Role
Top Laner
Favorite Champs





Competitive IDsZionSpartan
Soloqueue IDsNA: C9 Darshan
EUW: NA TaIent
Social Media & Links

Darshan "Darshan" (▶️ listen) Upadhyaya is a retired League of Legends esports player, previously top laner for 100 Thieves Challengers. He was previously known as ZionSpartan.

Team History

Combine Role Swaps:No|Yes
Dates:Approx|Exact
TeamStartEnd
NA
Monomaniac eSports
Mar 20122012-03-23Apr 20122012-04-24[1]1mo 1d
ejel
NA
Team Dynamic
Apr 20122012-04-24[3]Jan 20132013-01-04[2]8mo 10d
ejel
NA
Team Coast
Jan 20132013-01-04[5]May 20142014-05-02[4]1yr 3mo
ejel
NA
Dignitas
May 20142014-05-02[8]Oct 20142014-10-20[7]5mo 18d
ejel
NA
CLG
Nov 20142014-11-07[10]May 20192019-05-06[9]4yr 5mo
ejel
NA
CLG Academy
Jan 20192019-01-17Jan 20192019-01-258d
ejel
NA
GG Academy
May 20192019-05-28[12]Nov 20202020-11-23[11]1yr 5mo
ejel
NA
C9 Academy
Dec 20202020-12-03[14]Nov 20222022-11-28[13]1yr 11mo
ejel
NA
100 Challengers
Mar 20232023-03-06[16]Apr 20232023-04-26[15]1mo 20d
ejel
TeamStartEnd
NA
Monomaniac eSports
Mar 20122012-03-23Apr 20122012-04-24[1]1mo 1d
ejel
NA
Team Dynamic
Apr 20122012-04-24[3]Jan 20132013-01-04[2]8mo 10d
ejel
NA
Good Game University
Jan 20132013-01-04[5]Jun 20132013-06-01[17]4mo 28d
ejel
NA
Team Coast
Jun 20132013-06-01[17]May 20142014-05-02[4]11mo 1d
ejel
NA
Dignitas
May 20142014-05-02[8]Oct 20142014-10-20[7]5mo 18d
ejel
NA
CLG
Nov 20142014-11-07[10]May 20192019-05-06[9]4yr 5mo
ejel
NA
CLG Academy
Jan 20192019-01-17Jan 20192019-01-258d
ejel
NA
GG Academy
May 20192019-05-28[12]Nov 20202020-11-23[11]1yr 5mo
ejel
NA
C9 Academy
Dec 20202020-12-03[14]Nov 20222022-11-28[13]1yr 11mo
ejel
NA
100 Challengers
Mar 20232023-03-06[16]Apr 20232023-04-26[15]1mo 20d
ejel

News

  • 2012
  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
NA
MMEMarch 23,
ZionSpartan and
zig join.

WildTurtle and
NOthing12eal leave.
NA
MMEApril 24,
ZionSpartan,
NintendudeX,
ParadoXical,
zig, and
Pixel leave.[1]
NA
DYNApril 24,
ZionSpartan,
NintendudeX,
ParadoXical,
zig, and
Pixel join.
[3]
NA
DYNJanuary 4, Team Dynamic is disbanded.
ZionSpartan,
NintendudeX,
Shiphtur,
DontMashMe,
I am Anjo, and
Pixel leave.[2]
NA
GGUJanuary 4, Good Game University is formed by the roster of Team Dynamic.
ZionSpartan,
NintendudeX,
Shiphtur,
DontMashMe, and
I am Anjo join.

Pixel joins as substitute.
[5][6]
NA
CSTJune 1, Good Game University renames to Team Coast.[17]
NA
CSTMay 2,
ZionSpartan and
Shiphtur leave.[4]
NA
DIGMay 2,
ZionSpartan and
Shiphtur join.

Cruzerthebruzer and
Goldenglue move to substitutes.[8]
NA
DIGOctober 20,
ZionSpartan leaves.[7]
NA
CLGNovember 7,
ZionSpartan joins.

Seraph leaves.[10]
NA
NALCSPAJune 13, Darshan (President), Bjergsen (Vice President), Doublelift (Vice President), Mithy (Vice President), and Biofrost (Secretary/Treasurer) join the NALCSPA.[18][19]
NA
CLGJanuary 5,
Darshan,
Wiggily,
PowerOfEvil, and
Stixxay's contracts are updated in the GCD, expiring on 19 November 2019.[20]
NA
CLG.AJanuary 17,
Darshan joins from main roster.
NA
CLG.AJanuary 25,
Darshan leaves for main roster.
NA
CLGMay 6,
Darshan leaves.[9]
NA
GG.AMay 28,
Darshan,
FBI, and
huhi join.
Potluck (Two-Way Player Coach) rejoins. Inero (Head Coach) joins from main roster.
zig leaves. Jimmy (Two-Way Player Coach) leaves for main roster.[12]
NA
GG.AMay 29,
Darshan and
Huhi's contracts are updated in the GCD, expiring on 17 November 2020.
FBI's contract is updated in the GCD, expiring on 16 November 2021.[21]
NA
GG.ADecember 4,
Ablazeolive,
Gorica, and Raz (Head Coach) join.

Darshan,
Hard, and
huhi will remain with the team for 2020.[22]
NA
GG.AJanuary 10, Darshan renames to ZionSpartan.[23]
NA
GG.ANovember 23,
ZionSpartan and
Keith leave.
Hard and
Gorica's departures are confirmed.[11]
NA
C9.ADecember 3,
Darshan joins.

Shernfire,
Copy, and
Isles' joining is confirmed.
Westrice (Coach to Head Coach) changes position.
K1ng becomes active.
[14]
NA
C9.ADecember 4,
Darshan's contract is updated in the GCD, expiring on 21 November 2023.[24]
NA
C9.AOctober 31,
Darshan is allowed to look for opportunities with other teams.[25]
NA
C9.ANovember 16,
Darshan is allowed to look for opportunities with other teams.[26]
NA
C9.ANovember 28,
Darshan is removed from the GCD.[13]
NA
100CMarch 6,
Darshan is added to the GCD.
[16]
Darshan's contract is updated in the GCD, expiring on 2 April 2023.[16]
NA
100CApril 26,
Darshan is removed from the GCD.[15]
NA
F/ANovember 13,
Darshan retires.[27]

Biography

Darshan "ZionSpartan" Upadhyaya hails from Poway, California. He was one of the founding members of Good Game University and then went on to play for Team Coast. After Coast was relegated from the LCS, he joined Dignitas and played there during the 2014 Summer split. Afterward, he played for Counter Logic Gaming until May 2019. Since then, he has been playing for GGS Academy.

2015 Preseason

On October 20, 2014, ZionSpartan announced his free agency.[28] Over the next two weeks, rumors grew that he was going to move to Counter Logic Gaming, though there were claims that Riot was investigating a possible poaching allegation. On November 7, the rumors were proven true and CLG announced that ZionSpartan was joining the team as their new toplaner.[29]

2015 Season

For the first eight weeks of the spring split, CLG were never lower in the standings than tied for second place, and the only reason they didn't receive a playoff bye was that they lost a second-place tie breaker to Cloud9 and so ended up in third place. CLG fans called the split CLG's "golden age," but the question still remained whether CLG could perform in the playoffs, especially after a dramatic comeback loss to Team SoloMid the first time the two teams met in the round robin. Ultimately, CLG were unable to perform in playoffs, as they lost to Team Liquid in the quarterfinals and ended the split tied for fifth place with Gravity.

Echoing their spring split performance, CLG started the summer split strong, in first place at the end of each of the first four weeks and then lost four games in a row to finish tied for fifth after week six. This time, however, they rebounded and ended the season in second, behind Team Liquid and with a 13-5 record. They received a bye in the first round of the playoffs and then swept both Team Impulse and Team SoloMid 3-0, to win their first LAN event since MLG Raleigh in 2011 nearly four years prior and receive North America's top seed to Worlds. Despite having a relatively easy group draw with KOO Tigers, Flash Wolves, and paiN Gaming, CLG didn't advance from their Worlds group, ending with a 2-4 record including a loss to paiN.

2016 Season

After two major roster changes - Stixxay replacing long-time AD carry Doublelift and HuHi replacing Pobelter - CLG attended IEM San Jose in November 2015, where they defeated Unicorns of Love and Jin Air Green Wings before losing to Origen. ZionSpartan also renamed to Darshan going into the tournament. Their performance earned them a seed into IEM Katowice, which they attended after the seventh week of the LCS. However, despite being in a strong position domestically, in second place behind only the almost-undefeated Immortals (to whom CLG had handed their only loss of the season the week before), CLG were eliminated immediately from Katowice, losing first to SK Telecom T1 and then to Fnatic.

CLG entered the LCS playoffs in second place, still behind Immortals, and still the only team to have beaten Immortals in the regular season. They won their semifinal series against Team Liquid in five games, winning the last game with a double teleport play to catch out Piglet and close out a win. Despite seeding expectations, their finals match was against TSM, who had 3-0'd Immortals the week before. This series also went to five games, and CLG once again won, qualifying for the Mid-Season Invitational.

Returning to North America for the Summer Split, CLG were expected to be at the top of the league after their MSI performance. However, not only did they fail to achieve that, but they weren't even in the top half of the standings until week 6. From there, they climbed to a fourth place regular season finish. In the playoffs, CLG first faced off against Team Liquid, whom they beat 3-1, before falling to TSM 3-0 in the semifinals. Crucially, one of Huhi's signature mid lane champions Aurelion Sol was found to have a bug partway through their first game, and the game was remade with Aurelion Sol disabled for the rest of the playoffs (though it was generally accepted that TSM would have won regardless).[30] CLG lost the third-place to Immortals but automatically qualified for the World Championship based on Championship Points due to TSM's finals win over Cloud9.

CLG were seeded into Group A at Worlds, alongside the ROX Tigers, G2 Esports, and wildcard Albus NoX Luna. Going into the group, CLG and G2 were seen as contenders for the second seed, while Tigers and Albus NoX were expected to finish first and last, respectively. Instead, CLG dropped both of their games to the wildcard team, and ANX skyrocketed to a second-place group stage finish while G2 collapsed into last place; CLG ended their Worlds run in third with a 3-3 record.

2017 Season

Transitioning into the spring split of the 2017 LCS season, CLG was the only North American team to not make any changes to its roster. They were inconsistent to begin the split, fluctuating between 5th and 7th place over the first half of the season before stabilizing with a 2-0 week 5. CLG remained in the playoffs after that, and a 3-1 record down the stretch put them in fourth behind TSM, Cloud9 and a much improved Phoenix1. In the playoffs, CLG faced off against 5th seed FlyQuest. Although they started off strong with 2 wins, they were ultimately reverse swept and lost 2-3 which knocked them out of playoffs.

In the mideason, CLG swapped junglers with Immortals, sending Xmithie, one of their longest tenured players, to the team for Dardoch. This change seemed to work out for both sides, as CLG began the season in a three way race for first with Immortals and TSM. As the season went on however, CLG's performance started to drop and eventually Dardoch left the team and was replaced by LCS rookie OmarGod. This stabilized CLG's play to some extent and they finished the regular season in 3rd place with a 12-6 record. In the playoffs CLG managed to defeat Team EnVyUs 3-2 in a hard fought series. They however lost 0-3 to Immortals in the Semifinals. In the third place match CLG swept Team Dignitas 3-0 to end their playoff run on a high note.

Their third place finish gave CLG the second seed in the Regional Finals. There, they defeated FlyQuest 3-1, setting up a match with Cloud9 to make Worlds. After they dropped the first two games, CLG managed to win the third and make it a series, but dropped the fourth and lost the series which in turn ended their 2017 season.

Trivia

  • Known for his Fizz, Akali, Nidalee and Jayce.
  • Had a reputation of playing a phenomenal Jayce, such that it became a standard ban for many teams facing Team Coast.
  • His favorite champion is Rumble.
  • Even his teacher calls him ZionSpartan.[31]
  • Was part of the Season 3 World Championship analyst desk.[32]
  • He was born in Canada and moved to Washington at the age of 2. He moved to Southern California when he was 10-11.[33][34]
  • Of Indian ancestry.
  • Known for enjoying to sing, and has posted covers of songs on YouTube and done karaoke on the LCS postgame show.
  • In the later part of his career with CLG, became known for frequently sacrificing his lane to assist his team, even in situations where it hurt him.

Pentakills

DateRegionTournamentTeamVsChampionPosW/LKDASBVOD
2021-06-10
NA
North America
NA Academy 2021 Summer
Lucian
TopW11/4/10LinkLink
Click here for a full list of pentakills by all players.

Tournament Results

This table shows up to the 10 most recent results. For complete results, click here.

Minimum place

Darshan Tournament Results
DatePlEventLast ResultTeamRoster
2023-09-171 NA Legends Invitational
2 : 1YASS
THE  Darshan,  Perry,  Goldenglue,  Insanity,  Aphromoo
2023-03-205 - 6 NACL 2023 Spring Playoffs
1 : 3TLC
100C Darshan,  Yukino,  Pretty,  UNF0RGIVEN,  Destiny,  Kirei
2022-08-303 LCS Proving Grounds 2022 Summer
1  : 3TL.A
C9.A Darshan,  Sheiden,  Copy,  k1ng,  Destiny,  Tails
2022-07-293 NA Academy 2022 Summer
7-8-3RR
C9.A Allorim,  Darshan,  Sheiden,  Copy,  Wixxi,  K1ng,  Trevor,  Destiny,  Tails
2022-04-085 - 6 LCS Proving Grounds 2022 Spring
1 : 3100.A
C9.A Darshan,  Malice,  Copy,  k1ng,  Isles,  Winsome,  Tails
2022-03-112 NA Academy 2022 Spring
7-8-3RR
C9.A Lxwrence,  Darshan,  FrostForest,  Malice,  Copy,  k1ng,  Qit0ng,  Isles,  Tails
2022-01-293 - 4 LCS 2022 Lock In
0 : 3EG
C9 Darshan,  Blaber,  Fudge,  Zven,  Isles,  Max Waldo
2021-09-167 - 8 LCS Proving Grounds 2021 Summer
0 : 2GG.A
C9.A Darshan,  Shernfire,  Copy,  k1ng,  Isles,  Westrice
2021-08-192 NA Academy 2021 Summer Playoffs
2 : 3TL.A
C9.A Darshan,  Shernfire,  Copy,  k1ng,  Isles,  Westrice
2021-07-294 NA Academy 2021 Summer
7-6-5RR
C9.A Darshan,  Shernfire,  Copy,  Zven,  k1ng,  Isles,  Westrice


Darshan 1v1 Tournament Results
DatePlEventPrizeTeamLast Result
2022-03-0740CQ 2022 Spring Split 1C9.A
2013-10-132Best Lee Sin NA Tournament0 : 3 Xmithie
2013-05-054Best Riven NA Tournament1 : 2 MegaZero

Media

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2017
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2020
  • 2021
  • 2023

Post-Match Interviews

  • 2013
  • 2014
  • 2015
  • 2016
  • 2018
  • 2019
  • 2021
  • 2022
  • 2023
DateTournamentMatchLink
2013-01-11NA LCS 2013 Spring Qualifiers
GGU
vs
TDTV
Link
2013-01-12NA LCS 2013 Spring Qualifiers
DNG
vs
GGU
Link
2013-03-02NA LCS 2013 Spring
VUL
vs
GGU
Link
2013-04-13NA LCS 2013 Spring
GGU
vs
COL
Link
2013-04-26NA LCS 2013 Spring Playoffs
DIG
vs
GGU
Link
2013-06-15NA LCS 2013 Summer
DIG
vs
CST
Link
2013-07-04NA LCS 2013 Summer
CLG
vs
CST
Link
2013-12-21NA LCS 2014 Spring Promotion
CST
vs
TWZ
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2014-02-15NA LCS 2014 Spring
CST
vs
XDG
Link
2014-02-16NA LCS 2014 Spring
EG
vs
CST
Link
2014-02-22NA LCS 2014 Spring
TSM
vs
CST
Link
2014-03-29NA LCS 2014 Spring
CST
vs
XDG
Link
2014-04-05NA LCS 2014 Spring
DIG
vs
CST
Link
2014-05-24NA LCS 2014 Summer
DIG
vs
EG
Link
2014-05-31NA LCS 2014 Summer
LMQ
vs
DIG
Link
2014-06-08NA LCS 2014 Summer
EG
vs
DIG
Link
2014-07-04NA LCS 2014 Summer
DIG
vs
EG
Link
2014-07-20NA LCS 2014 Summer
EG
vs
DIG
Link
2014-08-29NA LCS 2014 Summer Playoffs
CLG
vs
DIG
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2015-10-02Worlds 2015
CLG
vs
PAIN
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2016-01-30NA LCS 2016 Spring
CLG
vs
FOX
Link
2016-02-21NA LCS 2016 Spring
REN
vs
CLG
Link
2016-02-27NA LCS 2016 Spring
IMT
vs
CLG
Link
2016-03-20NA LCS 2016 Spring
CLG
vs
DIG
Link
2016-04-09NA LCS 2016 Spring Playoffs
CLG
vs
TL
Link
2016-04-17NA LCS 2016 Spring Playoffs
CLG
vs
TSM
Link
2016-05-05MSI 2016
CLG
vs
G2
Link
2016-05-08MSI 2016
G2
vs
CLG
Link
2016-06-18NA LCS 2016 Summer
CLG
vs
FOX
Link
2016-07-02NA LCS 2016 Summer
NRG
vs
CLG
Link
2016-07-09NA LCS 2016 Summer
NV
vs
CLG
Link
2016-07-17NA LCS 2016 Summer
C9
vs
CLG
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2018-01-29NA LCS 2018 Spring
GG
vs
CLG
Link
2018-03-11NA LCS 2018 Spring
FOX
vs
CLG
Link
2018-06-17NA LCS 2018 Summer
CLG
vs
100T
Link
2018-07-14NA LCS 2018 Summer
FOX
vs
CLG
Link
2018-08-19NA LCS 2018 Summer
CLG
vs
GG
DateTournamentMatchLink
2019-02-04LCS 2019 Spring
CLG
vs
C9
Link
2019-07-29NA Academy 2019 Summer
GG.A
vs
100.A
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2021-02-03NA Academy 2021 Spring
C9.A
vs
GG.A
Link
2021-03-30LCS Proving Grounds 2021 Spring
C9.A
vs
DIG.M
Link
2021-04-22LCS Proving Grounds 2021 Spring
C9.A
vs
NO
Link
2021-06-03NA Academy 2021 Summer
C9.A
vs
100.A
Link
2021-06-10NA Academy 2021 Summer
FLY.A
vs
C9.A
Link
DateTournamentMatchLink
2022-01-15LCS 2022 Lock In
FLY
vs
C9
Link
2022-03-10NA Academy 2022 Spring
TL.A
vs
C9.A
Link
2022-06-16NA Academy 2022 Summer
GG.A
vs
C9.A
Link
2022-06-30NA Academy 2022 Summer
C9.A
vs
FLY.A
Link
2022-07-22NA Academy 2022 Summer
100.A
vs
C9.A
2022-07-29NA Academy 2022 Summer
C9.A
vs
EG.A
DateTournamentMatchLink
2023-03-12NACL 2023 Spring Playoffs
100C
vs
TLF
Link

Images

Name Pronunciation

Darshan
AccuracyRiot
Voiced ByRaafaa

Redirects

The following pages redirect here:

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mono eSports join Team Dynamic absolutelegends.net
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 TD.LoL parts ways with Team Dynamic - Going under the name "Good Game University." and actively looking for sponsors. reddit.com
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Mono eSports join Team Dynamic absolutelegends.net
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Team Dignitas signs Shiphtur and ZionSpartan team-dignitas.net
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 TD.LoL parts ways with Team Dynamic - Going under the name "Good Game University." and actively looking for sponsors. reddit.com
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Team Dynamic Leaves Sponsor, Emerges as "Good Game University" ggChronicle
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 ZionSpartan's Twitter Post twitter.com
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Team Dignitas signs Shiphtur and ZionSpartan team-dignitas.net
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Darshan's Tweet twitter.com
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 ZionSpartan Joins CLG clgaming.net
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 Golden Guardians' Tweet twitter.com
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Golden Guardians Announce Academy Team Roster for 2019 Summer Split goldenguardians.com
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Archive Pages: before change - NA - 2022-11-27; after change - NA - 2022-11-28
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 Cloud9's Tweet twitter.com
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 Archive Pages: before change - NA - 2023-04-25; after change - NA - 2023-04-26
  16. 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Archive Pages: before change - NA - 2023-03-05; after change - NA - 2023-03-06
  17. 17.0 17.1 17.2 Team Coast Reddit post reddit.com
  18. NALCS Players Association's Tweet twitter.com
  19. NALCS Players Association's Tweet twitter.com
  20. Archive Pages: before change - ; after change - NA - 2019-01-05
  21. Archive Pages: before change - ; after change - NA - 2019-05-29
  22. Golden Guardians' Tweet twitter.com
  23. Golden Guardians' Tweet twitter.com
  24. Archive Pages: before change - NA - 2020-12-03; after change - NA - 2020-12-04
  25. Darshan's Tweet twitter.com
  26. Darshan's Tweet twitter.com
  27. Darshan's Tweet twitter.com
  28. ZionSpartan's Twitter - twitter.com
  29. Zionspartan joins CLG! blog.ibuypower.com
  30. Exit the Dragon: On Competitive Integrity and Aurelion Sol thescoreesports.com
  31. Even his teacher calls him ZionSpartan youtube.com
  32. Casters and analysts announced for Worlds lolesports.com
  33. League Community Podcast Ep. 4 na.leagueoflegends.com
  34. Player Spotlight: Darshan-CLG LoL youtube.com