The European League Championship Series’ Most Valuable Player, Konstantinos “FORG1VEN” Tzortziou, has requested a transfer from SK Gaming, sources close to the team have informed the Daily Dot. This will most likely prompt a bidding war for the highly coveted talent, with SK Gaming set to listen to interested parties who can meet their valuation.
Tzortziou, who was statistically the strongest AD carry in the European region, was unable to guide his team to the finals of the 2015 first split, despite the team finishing first in the regular season. Their drive to the championship was derailed amid reported internal problems, though the organization denies this was the case. Whatever the reason behind their dip in form, it was clear that the performances in the playoffs did match those of the regular season.
“The decision is completely mutual,” one source explained. “There were no disagreements between the organization and the player.” The source elaborated that SK Gaming had offered Tzortziou the opportunity to build a team around himself if he was prepared to stay, but the player declined this offer as he didn’t view himself as a leader. “His only worry now” the person continued, “will be if SK Gaming are willing to sell him at a reasonable price, otherwise he will be in the same situation he was with Copenhagen Wolves.”
That situation saw the player still under contract as a substitute player for the Danish organization and loaned out to a Greek organization. Many saw this as a considerable waste of his talents then and surely that viewpoint has only been reinforced after his MVP accolade.
Prior to joining SK Gaming, Tzortziou had expressed an interest in playing abroad for a North American team. He came very close to joining Curse (now Team Liquid), with the deal agreed in principle before the Korean star-player Chae “Piglet” Gwang-jin became available and was selected ahead of Tzortziou.
In terms of a replacement, SK Gaming have been heavily linked with Martin “Rekkles” Larsson, who was subject to one of the most prolonged transfer sagas when he left Fnatic to join Elements. While this hasn’t been confirmed yet, the move now looks increasingly likely given the developments surrounding Tzortziou.
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr
