Team Liquid, the only North American team that actually did well in top tier CS, is no longer NA.
With nitr0’s retirement, we (and everyone else) expected the team to find his replacement on home soil. But maybe we were silly to assume as much? After all, their last signing was YEKINDAR.
During the break Dust2 crushed our assumptions with a report on a rumoured sale of EliGE and a transition from a mostly NA to European roster. And to make the shock worse, nitr0’s rumoured replacement was to be 22-year old Rainwaker, a rifler from Bulgaria who isn’t exactly a household name. Nonetheless, a few days went by and the report turned out to be true: In with Rainwaker and Patsi, out with EliGE.
But lets evaluate this move on merit, not outcry:
Liquid has picked up two new players and kept a core in NAF, oSee as well as YEKINDAR who continues in the IGL role that he took on during the Paris Major. He must’ve done a good job since these signings feel like they’re tailored to his system: Patsi is a hyper-aggressive entry who loves to take space. And Rainwaker shines in clutch scenarios where he rarely loses. I mean, just check this 1v5 versus ITB.
That said, you might be wondering whether it’s really worth losing a chunk of your loyal NA fanbase for these players? Time will tell.
So did anything good happen for NA during the break? Well yes, actually.
Elsewhere on the continent, Complexity benefited from Liquid’s switch-up as they moved in quick to pick up EliGE – a move that makes complete sense. He replaces FaNg, who basically had a perfect role overlap with EliGE, making it a powerful upgrade with no strings attached. Besides some rumours of EliGE’s poor sportsmanship, but other than that… no strings.
Finally, it wouldn’t be roster mania without a few changes on at least one EG roster.
Instead of any rumoured signings like electroNic or zorte, EG made the sensible decision to give EG Black a real chance. For the uninitiated, EG Black was the Evil Geniuses version of an Academy team with NA talent Waclo, junior, HexT and the highly rated Jeorge. As for their fifth, it’s the only player left from the old EG main roster: autimatic.
At risk of jinxing it, this EG team might actually be an NA roster that works. And a fully NA roster at that. Ex-Liquid fans, what say you?
Big changes in the NA scene during this break but maybe that’s exactly what needed to happen to Bring NA CS back. TL;DR makes no claims and is not liable for any hopium use.
New Liquid:
New EG:
New Complexity:
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