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Sport

Lauri "Cyanide" Happonen, League of Legends world champion, dies aged 31

Finnish former Fnatic jungler Lauri "Cyanide" Happonen, who won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011 aged 16, has died aged 31. His death on 31 July 2026 was reported on 26 October 2026; no cause of death has been disclosed.

By James Calloway · · 1 min read

Former League of Legends world champion Lauri “Cyanide” Happonen has died at the age of 31.

The Finnish esports player, who won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship with Fnatic in 2011, died on 31 July 2026, according to Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat, which reported his death on 26 October 2026. His death was confirmed by Finland’s Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Ilta-Sanomat reported. His cause of death has not been disclosed, and no details about the circumstances have been made public.

Happonen was 16 when he won the first League of Legends World Championship in 2011 with Fnatic, making him the youngest player ever to win the title. He went on to win three European league titles with the organisation between 2013 and 2014, during a four-year spell at Fnatic.

Tributes have poured in from former teammates. Bora “YellOwStaR” Kim wrote: “Lauri was so much more than a teammate. We shared our everyday lives for over two and a half years, and he became so much more than just someone I played alongside. He was one of the kindest, most genuine souls I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing.”Fnatic said: “During his four-year spell at Fnatic, Cyanide made history as the youngest ever player to win Worlds at just 16. He leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

Happonen is the second member of Fnatic’s 2011 championship-winning roster to die, following Maciej “Shushei” Ratuszniak, who died in April 2025 aged 36.

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