Former Fnatic jungler and 2011 LoL Worlds Champion Cyanide passes away at 31

Rituraj Halder Published October 27, 2026

Lauri “Cyanide” Happonen, former jungler for Fnatic and one of the most decorated players in competitive League of Legends, has passed away at just 31 years old.

While Finnish media outlet Ilta-Sanomat brought the news to light, public records and reports confirmed that Happonen passed away on July 31, 2026, though the tragic news was kept private for nearly three months. No official cause of death has been disclosed so far.

Cyanide: the youngest League of Legends world champion in history

Before League became one of the mainstream esports titles, creating a million-dollar competitive scene, Cyanide helped cement the foundations of professional League of Legends.

In 2011, at just 16 years old, the Finnish prodigy made history by winning the Summoner’s Cup alongside Fnatic at the inaugural League of Legends World Championship. To this day, his record as the youngest player ever to win a World Championship remains unbroken.

Following his historic Season 1 victory, Cyanide became a cornerstone of Fnatic’s first golden generation alongside teammates like Enrique “xPeke” Cedeño Martínez, Paul “sOAZ” Boyer, and Bora “YellOwStaR” Kim. 

He dominated the European landscape, securing three EU LCS titles between 2013 and 2014 and earning a reputation for legendary Baron and Dragon steals before later competing under the Origen banner. 

Even years after stepping away from active play, he remained a beloved figure, recently returning to the stage to participate in an EU LCS Classic showmatch.

Fans remember an absolute icon of early esports

The sudden public revelation of his passing was unsurprisingly a shocker for the community.  Many joined in on social media to mourn the loss of such a promising young talent. 

On X, a user said, “rip the goat,” while another fan added, “One of my favorite players of all time. The SOAz, Cyanide, Xpeke, Rekkles, and Yellowstar lineup is still the GOAT lineup of lol esports. Rest in peace, you legend.”  

Fnatic also released an official statement remembering his four years with the organization and his monumental role in shaping their history, noting that he leaves behind “a legacy that will never be forgotten.”

From our perspective, Cyanide’s passing is a deeply hurtful milestone for the history of competitive gaming. As one of the original teenagers who proved that esports could be a legitimate global arena, his contributions to League of Legends are woven into the very fabric of the industry. He will forever be remembered as a true legend of the Summoner’s Rift.

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