How It Begins
I often jokingly say I have two lives: a game concept artist by day, and a fan artist who spends evenings drawing fanart for games, anime, and manga fandoms by night. From 2023 onwards, I have become interested in esports, specifically League of Legends esports. Among all Korean pro-gamers, Heo “ShowMaker” Su from the Dplus KIA team is the name that inspires me the most. He’s like my “muse,” you could say. His passion on stage and his gentle, cheerful personality off the stage, plus his genuine care for his fans, have made me deeply fond of him both as a pro-gamer and as a person.
Naturally, I became a passionate fan, frequently uploading fan art of the Dplus KIA team on platforms like X (Twitter) and Facebook, following their matches as well, and it was through that online presence that I eventually got connected to the fan café event I want to talk about. Over the years, I’ve regularly received commissions to draw artworks, design LED displays, or create merchandise for projects supporting LCK players and teams.
I always thoroughly enjoy these experiences, because for me, contributing to the fan community and sharing my feelings is an honor, and I am delighted that not only do fans of the Dplus KIA team love my drawings, but I also receive affection from fans of different teams. However, in this article I want to talk about a special experience – the first time I directly participated in a fan café event dedicated to my most favorite pro-gamer.
Decorations at Bamos Café for Showlove’r event. Saigon, Vietnam. Taken by the author.
A Fan-Café Event
I learned about the project, called Showlove’r, through an invitation via a DM on X, where the organizers invited me to create artwork for a fan café event dedicated to ShowMaker. On July 22, 2026, at Bamos Café at 69 Ngo Tat To, Binh Thanh, I decided to attend, coinciding with the moment my favorite team had just won the Esports World Cup around that time.
The atmosphere of the event was warm and relaxed, like a get-together among fans. I often go to large community culture festivals like Color Fiesta, Comic Fiesta, and Comic Cup, however, smaller events focused on a single subject feel very different, more familiar somehow. The organizers had meticulously prepared every detail, from the decorations to the accompanying gifts, all demonstrating a deep understanding and love for the pro-gamer ShowMaker – from the team’s posters and postcards from each year to the birthday cake featuring the iconic black cat that fans often associate with him.
Decorations at Bamos Café for Showlove’r event. Saigon, Vietnam. Taken by the author.
The mini games were a lot of fun. Some were quiz games about ShowMaker, such as which champions he likes to use, what his favorite champion[1] is, or more advanced questions like how many champions he used in soloq[2] rank-climbing challenges. Caught up in excitement, I ended up joining in a few of the games alongside the other fans. The event also featured a handwritten letter station where people could send their best wishes to ShowMaker and the Dplus KIA team, as well as a birthday cake-blowing session to celebrate his birthday. The organizers also gave out thank-you gifts, which gave me a natural opening to start chatting with other fans nearby.
Decorations at Bamos Café for Showlove’r event. Saigon, Vietnam. Taken by the event organizers.
At first, everyone was a bit shy. However, when I started a conversation, they immediately realized I was the one who often drew fan art of the team on social media. We had fun conversations that made us lose track of time, talking about our feelings watching our favorite pro-gamers compete, the most amazing moments, and sharing other thoughts about the team’s difficult times.
I had the opportunity to meet many fans who have followed ShowMaker since the early seasons, listening to recount matches that made them feel emotional and moments that filled them with pride. I also met people who were attending the event for the first time or new fans, but they brought just as much enthusiasm as anyone else.
As the event progressed, some fans from the organizing committee came to thank me before continuing with preparations for the event. Fans say my drawings are adorable, and even with my Japanese-style art, they can still perfectly recognize the characters and the affection I have for ShowMaker that pours out through my brushstrokes. Honestly, I’ve always enjoyed hearing things like that. Moments like this hold immense power for an artist like me.
Artworks of ShowMaker to support the event. Contributed by the author.
In the final hours of the event, we exchanged contacts, happily making plans for future events. This joy allowed me to reaffirm how meaningful what I make is. To me, fan work is a way to connect the community, to express feelings, and to convey my love to other friends who share the same interests.
Group picture to send as proof of the event to Dplus KIA. Saigon, Vietnam. Taken by the event organizers.
What Remains
When the event ended and I stood at the door of Bamos Café, reluctant to leave, I walked out carrying a few photos, some small gifts, and a feeling of warmth and tenderness in my heart that I couldn’t quite put into words. Having participated in many different types of events before, I still felt excited and happy, with a little regret that the event could have lasted longer.
Being there, I could feel it myself: fandom culture and esports, seemingly two separate worlds, blending so naturally. My favorite pro-gamer once said that he wouldn’t have achieved success like he has today without the unwavering support of his fans.
As an artist, I feel fortunate to be a part of the intersection between these two worlds, to contribute a little effort to bringing fans together. That’s what a “fandom” is. It’s always been a place where strangers become friends, where fans can stand together, sharing their feelings and passion, and that’s what makes it feel somewhat like home. Perhaps if fate wills it, our paths will cross again.
[1] League of Legends playable characters.
[2] League of Legends ranked matches.
