SK Gaming had some highlights this 12 months, and so they may rise even increased with the adjustments they made earlier than the beginning of the 2024 LEC Season.
The vacation season begins in a couple of days, which suggests just one factor (apart from items): the 2024 LEC Winter Break up is only some weeks away! Groups are preparing, with Group Heretics, Fnatic, G2 Esports, Rogue, GIANTX and Group Vitality already locking of their official lineup.
SK Gaming was one of the stunning groups within the first ever LEC Winter Break up this 12 months, making it so far as the Playoffs for the primary third of the Season. They made some adjustments to their roster, however a very powerful components are nonetheless there – can they purpose even increased with their new gamers?
SK Gaming in 2023
The roster of Irrelevant, Markoon, Sertuss, and the promoted pair of Exakick and Doss from LDLC OL was the workforce that was the toughest to rank by consultants earlier than the beginning of the 2023. With 5 very younger gamers – out of which 3 have been precise rookies – they might turn out to be an enormous flop or an enormous success.
Within the Winter Break up, they completed 3 in the course of the Common Season, then ended their run in 4th place after virtually knocking MAD Lions out. After Winter, they couldn’t replicate their success, however they didn’t flunk out both, hovering across the center of the pack, in addition to making it to each the Spring and Summer season Group Phases with a 7th and 6th place end respectively.
The rationale for this was that in Winter, Markoon discovered lightning in a bottle together with his Elise, however afterwards, no one may step up in the identical manner. Sertuss and Exakick had some good video games, in addition to the Dutch jungler, whereas Irrelevant was one of the constant toplaners within the LEC – however none of them had standout performances, with Doss typically being irrelevant (I couldn’t assist myself) throughout whole matches. Nonetheless, the roster confirmed promise, so administration may’ve saved them collectively – however they determined to signal two new gamers as a breath of recent air.
SK Gaming 2024 Roster
- High: Joel “Irrelevant” Miro Scharoll
- Jungle: Ismail “Isma” Boualem
- Mid: Yasin “Nisqy” Dincer
- ADC: Thomas “Exakick” Foucou
- Help: Mads “Doss” Schwartz
One other up-and-coming expertise
With Markoon becoming a member of Rogue (which returned to the previous model after Infinite Actuality left the LEC), SK Gaming positioned their bets on a brand new participant but once more. The younger French jungler began his profession in 2020, and performed for groups similar to Vanir, Schalke 04 and Movistar Riders since.
His first huge victory was with FC Nantes Esports in 2021, when he received the Solary Cup 2021. Whereas he by no means received the German Prime League, he made it to the finals with Schalke, then turned an extremely fashionable participant within the Spanish LVP SuperLiga, the place he received the 2023 Spring and Summer season Playoffs with Movistar, then went on to play within the EMEA Masters 2023 Summer season Grand Finals. Recognized for his aggressive playstyle and flexibility, Isma may very well be one other “Yike” case – a younger expertise making an enormous splash of their rookie 12 months.
The glue that holds all of it collectively
Whereas the core of SK remains to be the younger weapons, they snatched a veteran to information the newbies to success. Nisqy joined the squad after leaving MAD Lions bringing 8 years of expertise to the desk. Nisqy performed for groups similar to Splyce, Cloud9, Fnatic and the aforementioned MAD Lions, successful the LCS in 2020 and the LEC this 12 months, whereas beating NA within the 2018 Rift Rivals.
The Twisted Destiny connoisseur was one of the constant member of the 2023 MAD Lions squad, typically carrying his teammates on his again – even in shedding conditions. Whereas they’d an abysmal Summer season Season, they made it to the MSI after successful the LEC Spring Break up (the place they bounced again from 8th place), and completed 3rd within the Season Finals. Their Worlds exhibiting had some issues left to be desired, however Nisqy shone even on the worldwide stage.
SK Gaming 2024 Predictions
The German workforce did a fantastic job by holding Irrelevant and Exakick. The toplaner was typically the perfect a part of the final roster, and whereas he’s not the flashiest participant, you possibly can put him on weak facet every single recreation, and he will likely be helpful when the midgame rolls round. Exakick had a restricted champion pool and typically regarded a bit weaker when he was not on Jinx, however confirmed promise in direction of the top of the season.
Whereas Doss was the weakest of the trio, he expressed his need to enhance, so I imagine SK Gaming made the appropriate name by holding him. The Dane may turn out to be a family title within the LEC, in spite of everything, he did win the LFL 2 instances.
With Nisqy and Isma, I imagine SK Gaming has likelihood of creating it to the playoffs at the least as soon as subsequent 12 months, and whereas they appear like a center workforce, no one can write them off as weak.
Photographs: SK Gaming