One of Europe’s superstar veterans is heading to North America for the 2016 League of Legends season, leaving the top Western team with just two players from its 2015 starting lineup.
Fnatic has announced the departure of long-time support player Bora “YellOwStaR” Kim, leaving the team heading into 2016 without its shot caller and captain.
The 23-year-old French support player joined Fnatic in 2013, and he quickly helped the team become the best in Europe, winning the first three seasons of the League Championship Series (LCS). Entering 2015, with his four former teammates leaving the squad, Fnatic gave Kim the prerogative to rebuild the roster. He put together the best team Western League of Legends has ever seen. The new-look Fnatic won both LCS seasons this year, putting together a perfect undefeated regular season in the Summer, before going on to reach the semifinals at the World Championship.
With Kim in the lineup Fnatic, won five of six LCS titles in Europe, reaching the finals in every single season. But Kim’s three years in Fnatic and five years in Europe are now coming to an end as the player has decided to compete in the North American LCS next season.
It was a tough decision for Kim, but with two core players from the 2015 lineup, Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon and Kim “Reignover” Yeu-jin, leaving Fnatic, facing the prospect of rebuilding yet again, facing the uncertainty of putting together another lineup, was a daunting one for Kim.
“Here we are today: Huni and ReignOver left the team, leaving me again in a difficult position: either building a new team or considering other options,” Kim said. “It’s never a good thing to hear, but after careful overall reflection, I had the opportunity to join a team being at my best level in North America and get the chance to experience a new lifestyle and environment. After a careful overall reflection, I took the decision to join the North American LCS for the 2016 season.”
While Kim’s destination is yet to be announced, one squad seems like the likely landing spot: Team SoloMid. The top American side has made the 2016 offseason their playground, picking up superstar players left and right in an attempt to create a powerhouse Western lineup. Kim is a perfect fit at the support position, a talented player and veteran leader who can shotcall and lead a team of skilled, but perhaps hard-headed, players like Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg and Peter “DoubleLift” Peng.
Time will tell if Kim dons Team SoloMid’s black-and-white jackets or joins another team, but for now we know one of Europe’s superstar veteran players is headed across the Atlantic to begin a new chapter in his career.
Photo via Riot Games/Flickr
Check out even more Korean roster changes with the latest edition of Rostermania.
