In one of the shakiest off-seasons we’ve had in a while, interesting roster changes around the world keep coming up. Now, Fnatic’s head League of Legends coach is reportedly moving on from the organization after two bright seasons. In 2023, Fnatic’s LEC team will reportedly be coached by Gonçalo “Crusher” Pinto Brandão, who currently serves as the head coach of the franchise’s ERL-level team, Fnatic TQ, which competes in the Spanish Superliga.
Filling Crusher’s void at Fnatic TQ will be Joshua “Jarge” Smith, a very experienced coach with organizations across Europe and North America, including Excel, Team Liquid, and, most recently, Movistar Riders. Jarge worked with Fnatic during the 2015 season as an analyst, so his reported move to the organization’s ERL-level team would mark a reunion nearly eight years in the making.
As for YamatoCannon, the well-experienced coach will be back on the market for the first time since the 2020-21 offseason. In two years with Fnatic, he brought the team to the LEC playoffs in four possible splits, finishing in the top three on three occasions, while qualifying for Worlds in both of his years with the team.
In 2020, YamatoCannon became the first Western League coach in history to be signed as a head coach in Korea’s LCK when he joined Liiv SANDBOX. Although he lasted just one split with the team, he broke ground in the east. It’s unclear if a potential return to Korea is on the table for YamatoCannon at this time. He left the region to return to the LEC following the 2020 season, citing “personal reasons.”
Now looking at the other side of the world, one of the biggest names in the LCS Academy scene, Milan “Tenacity” Oleksij, is set to make it back to the LCS next split with Evil Geniuses. If you are familiar with the North American prospects, it really isn’t surprising to see Tenacity finally get promoted full-time to the LCS. Tenacity was arguably the best player in the Academy circuit last split.
What is surprising is the team that Tenacity will reportedly be starting for in the upcoming 2023 LCS Spring Split. 100 Thieves fans had been calling for Tenacity’s promotion for a while, and with 100T’s lackluster performance at Worlds, a roster shakeup seemed likely.
Now, it looks as if the former 2021 Summer Split champions will keep Ssumday for the future while Closer and Abbedagge could be sent into free agency. Those certainly aren’t the roster changes many LCS fans were expecting, but 100T could be trying to retain its longest-tenured player topside.
Tenacity’s reported verbal agreement with EG does leave one huge question mark: Impact. The consensus top three LCS player of all time is now likely out of the team he dedicated four splits to, alongside grabbing the organization’s first LCS title. Right now, many have discussed how top laners look to be like the hot commodity going into the offseason, and that came before Impact being a free agent was anything but a hot take.
Even though the League of Legends Worlds is over, the 2023 off-season is turning out to be an exciting one. We hope that you enjoyed all of our esports picks, and we hope you had a great time watching the last match of Worlds. Also, don’t forget to bet on esports at BetUS Sportsbook & Casino. We’ve plenty of lol odds for you to consider.
