During the League Championship Series playoffs in Seattle, Wash., Counter Logic Gaming allegedly tried to poach Team Dignitas top laner Darshan “ZionSpartan” Upadhyaya, a source inside Dignitas told the Daily Dot.
If true, Counter Logic Gaming violated LCS poaching rules when they approached Upadhyaya in August. The LCS rules set prohibits any “team member or affiliate” from making an employment offer to any player currently signed with an LCS team. It also prohibits them from “encouraging” players to breach or otherwise terminate their contracts with their team.
Upadhyaya’s contract with Dignitas ends Oct. 20, 2014, meaning any attempt to coerce him to break his contract with Dignitas before this date would violate LCS rules.
The source also confirmed that William “Scarra” Li, former coach of Team Dignitas, will join Counter Logic Gaming as coach—a move that’s been rumored about for weeks.
Dignitas management are in the dark as to what Upadhyaya’s plans are, or if the poaching attempt succeeded.
Team Dignitas owner Michael “Odee” O’Dell hinted what’s been going on behind the scene in a tweet earlier today.
Tomorrow I will celebrate my free agency as an LCS Manager by having TWO poached eggs Cannot Love Good food more !!!!!!! ……………….
— Michael O’Dell (@dignitasODEE) October 20, 2014
Earlier this year, Soren “Bjgersen” Bjerg of Team Solo Mid was fined $2,000 by Riot Games for violating a poaching rule when he attempted to convince a contracted player on Lemondogs to leave the team.
Counter Logic Gaming and Riot Games did not respond to a request for comment by press time.
