Knee
Knee
Bae "Knee" Jae-Min is a South Korean Fighting Games player currently representing DRX.
Knee is a three-time EVO champion, having won Tekken Tag Tournament 2 in 2013, and Tekken 7 at EVO Japan 2018 and EVO 2022. He has been participating and winning Tekken tournaments since 2004, initially revolutionizing how the game and his main character Bryan were played at the highest level.[1]
Over the years Knee started utilizing a plenitude of characters in many of the biggest tournaments in the world, becoming well-known for his mastery of the game as a whole rather than a specialist. As a result of his numerous major tournament wins and consistency over 2 decades of Tekken tournaments, Knee is widely considered to be one of the greatest Tekken players of all time.
Biography[edit]
Early Career[edit]
Knee started playing Tekken with the first iteration of the series, when he was in elementary school.[2] While growing up he continued to hone his skills, spending much of his free time playing Tekken at different Korean arcades.
Starting in 2004, Knee began taking fighting game competitions seriously. He placed third in his first tournament, being praised by other players and motivating him to become the best at the game. With the release of Tekken 5, Knee would go on to rise to the top rankings of Korean Tekken, much of it taking place at the Green Arcade, one of the top arcades for Tekken in South Korea.[1] In the following years, Knee continued to compete against other top players in Tekken 5: Dark Resurrection, winning several tournaments and further cementing his status as one of the best Tekken players in Korea.
The growing interest in fighting games brought by the release of Street Fighter IV was also reflected in other titles, compelling esports organizations to include fighters at their events. At World Cyber Games 2010, Knee defeated players from all over the world such as Ryan Hart, Ao, Rikimaru and Fightinggm to win the tournament. His dominance continued as time went by, winning Tekken Tag Tournament 2 at EVO 2013 over Bronson Tran in the finals.
Cementing His Legacy[edit]
During Tekken 7' s first two years, Knee faced fierce competition as other top level players like JDCR, Saint and Qudans rose through the ranks. He had a relatively quiet first Tekken World Tour season in 2017, only winning a Challenger event at Abuget Cup and in a shocking upset, while also losing all of his Group Stage games at the Finals, being defeated by Nobi, Saint and Jimmyjtran.
However the 2018 season would be a complete return to form for the Korean, winning EVO Japan 2018 and a grand total of five Master events en route to the Finals, eventually finishing 3rd overall after being eliminated by eventual winner Rangchu. Knee was just as successful in 2019, winning Combo Breaker, CEO, WellPlayed Challenger, VSFighting, WSOE 7, as well as taking second place at EVO 2019.
In 2022, Knee won his third EVO championship in dominating fashion with Feng, only dropping two games to Khan in the entire tournament.
Results[edit]
Tekken 8[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-12-07 | 17th - 24th | Qualifier | Tekken World Tour Finals 2024 Last Chance Qualifier | 1 : 2 |  Haru91 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-11-03 | 2nd | Tier 2 | SOOP TEKKEN League 2024: Season 2 Finals |  | 3 : 0 1 : 3 |   ULSAN | $2,173 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-10-13 | 1st | Qualifier | SOOP TEKKEN League 2024: Season 2 Day 2 | | 3 : 1 |  MulGold | $741 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-10-06 | 3rd | Tier 1 | Thaiger Uppercut 2024 | | 2 : 3 |   Shadow 20z | $750 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-09-08 | 17th - 24th | Tier 2 | SOOP TEKKEN League 2024: Autumn Super Tournament | 5/2 | Pools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-09-01 | 5th - 6th | Tier 1 | Emirates Showdown 2024 | | 1 : 2 | Shadow 20z | $200 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-08-23 | 9th - 12th | Tier 1 | Esports World Cup 2024 | 1/2 | Grp. S. | $20,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-28 | 7th - 8th | Tier 2 | FV Major 2024 | | 1 : 2 |    Dawood Sikandar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-21 | 17th - 24th | Tier 1 | Evolution Championship Series 2024 | | 0 : 2 |  TrizzyTheRapper | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-18 | 17th - 24th | Tier 3 | QOR GAMING Pre-EVO SHOWDOWN | 3/2 | Pools | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-07-14 | 33rd - 48th | Tier 1 | The MIXUP 2024 | 0 : 2 | Mangja | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-06-16 | 9th - 12th | Tier 1 | DreamHack Summer 2024 | | 1 : 2 |  CBM | $1,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
vs. ULSAN / vs. JeonDDing /
vs. Rangchu / vs. Eyemusician / vs. Kkokkoma / vs. ULSAN / vs. MulGold / vs. JeonDDing / vs. LowHigh /
vs. Shadow 20z / vs. ULSAN / vs. Hafiz Tanveer /
vs. Farzeen /
vs. EDGE /
vs. Shadow 20z / vs. THE JON /
vs. 
Raef / vs. Mangja /
vs. THE JON / vs. ULSAN /Tekken 7[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-01-14 | 7th - 8th | Tier 1 | Tekken World Tour Finals 2023 |  | 1 : 2 |  Rangchu | $2,500 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024-01-11 | 2nd | Tier 3 | DEATH FIST | 1 : 3 | ATIF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-12-10 | 5th - 6th | Tier 1 | AfreecaTV TEKKEN League 2023: Grand Finals |  | 0 : 2 |  Hakaioh | $455 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-12-03 | 1st | Tier 1 | Malta Cyber Series VII |  | 3 : 0 3 : 1 |   CHANEL | $2,178 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-11-05 | 17th - 24th | Tier 1 | Thaiger Uppercut 2023 | 1 : 2 | Heera | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-10-29 | 1st | Tier 2 | AfreecaTV TEKKEN League 2023: Autumn Super Tournament | 3 : 0 | Mulgold | $2,580 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-10-22 | 9th - 12th | Tier 2 | Uprising Korea 2023 | 1 : 2 | ULSAN | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-10-14 | 2nd | Tier 2 | AfreecaTV TEKKEN League 2023: Season 3 Finals |  | 0 : 3 |  Ulsan | $1,853 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-09-16 | 7th - 8th | Tier 3 | TZCUP TWT 2023 DOJO #4 | 0 : 2 | Rangchu | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-09-13 | 5th - 6th | Qualifier | AfreecaTV TEKKEN League 2023: Season 3 Day 2 | 0 : 2 | Ulsan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-09-06 | 2nd | Qualifier | AfreecaTV TEKKEN League 2023: Season 3 Day 1 | 2 : 3 | Ulsan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-08-12 | 4th | Tier 3 | TEKKEN KNEE STARSCUP DOJO #2 | 0 : 2 | MulGold | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Place | Event | Result | Prize | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-07-09 | 2nd | Gamers8 2023 |  |  | $66,666 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019-09-21 | 1st | MASTERCUP.11 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017-11-25 | 5th - 8th | MASTERCUP.9 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015-11-22 | 5th - 8th | MASTERCUP.8 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
vs. Rangchu / vs. CBM 
/
vs. Chikurin /
vs. 
Danielmado /
vs. 
Tibetano /
vs. Rangchu 
/
vs. Chand NY 
/
vs. CHANEL /
vs. Infested / vs. Chand NY / vs. Arslan Ash / vs. 
Book /
vs. Arslan Ash / vs. Book / vs. Chikurin /
vs. Arslan Ash / vs. 
Divine_Exorcist4 /
vs. Ghirlanda /
vs. AO / vs. Yeonarang /
Tekken Tag Tournament 2[edit]
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013-07-12 | 1st | Tier 1 | Evolution Championship Series 2013 | 3 : 1 | Bronson Tran | $1,278 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013-03-31 | 2nd | Tier 1 | Final Round 16 | 0 : 3 | JDCR | $1,750 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012-11-04 | 1st | Tier 1 | Electronic Sports World Cup 2012 | W | Nin | $5,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | Place | Event | Result | Prize | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014-11-02 | 1st | MASTERCUP.7 | | | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Tekken 6[edit]
1v1
| Date | Place | Tier | Event | Result | Prize | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010-11-07 | 4th | Tier 1 | MLG Pro Circuit 2010 - Dallas | L | NYC Fab | $3,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010-10-17 | 2nd | Tier 1 | MLG Pro Circuit 2010 - D.C. | 1 : 3 | Nin | $1,500 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010-10-03 | 1st | Tier 1 | World Cyber Games 2010 | W | AO | $7,000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Results | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Trivia[edit]
- The name Knee came from his time playing Tekken Tag Tournament; He used Bryan and Bruce as tag partners, characters that have many skills utilizing their knees.
- Tekken became his main game because it was the most popular game at Korean arcades when he was growing up.
- Some players describe his playstyle as "A wall that is closing in on you".[3]
- On October 9th, 2021, he became the first player to have reached the rank of Tekken God Omega with every character in Tekken 7.
Media[edit]
Videos[edit]
- 2020-07-18 | The Man Who Perfected The World’s Hardest Fighting Game: The Story of Knee by theScore esports
- 2022-09-15 | How the Cursed God Of Tekken Finally Won It All by theScore esports
Interviews[edit]
- 2022-08-10 | EVO 2022: Jae-Min "Knee" Bae Tekken 7 Champion Interview by GamerHubTV
Gallery[edit]
Knee wins Tekken 7 at EVO 2022
Knee at Combo Breaker 2022
Knee competing at the Tekken World Tour Finals 2018
Knee competing at Combo Breaker 2018 vs. Jeondding
References[edit]
