Following reports that they would not re-sign star jungler Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski and attack damage carry (ADC) Victor “Flakked” Lirola Tortosa, G2 Esports is apparently already scoping out talent for the upcoming 2023 LEC Spring Split. Although news about their alleged jungle opening is sparse, it appears that the former “Kings of Europe” are already exploring options to fill their ADC position. If these rumors are true, G2 has already acquired one of the best ADCs in LEC history to help in their roster rebuild for 2023.
LEC Wooloo Strikes Again!
Infamous insider and renowned leaker Brieuc “LEC Wooloo” Seeger announced earlier this week that Steven “Hans sama” Liv would be signing with G2 Esports to compete in the LEC in 2023. While Liv will more than likely play for G2 next split, Seeger spared more details just how desired Liv was as a pick up in Europe:
Hans Sama had interest from many teams, including MAD, SK, BDS & KC. In the end, the decision came down to VIT, FNC & G2. Hans Sama has now decided for [sic] G2 Esports, according to sources, and is set to sign with them.
Additionally, Seeger noted that Liv’s status as a free agent—following his departure from Team Liquid earlier this year—is what made him so appealing to so many teams. While he has proven himself to be very talented, not having a massive contract buyout makes Liv an easy choice for any organization.
Is Hans sama an Upgrade?
Back in 2021, Liv was a breakout star for Rogue in the LEC. Alongside LEC MVP at the time, Kacper “Inspired” Słoma, Rogue reached incredible heights, including a first-place finish in the 2021 Summer Split regular standings. While they were unable to secure a LEC title, their high level of play earned them the opportunity to compete in the 2021 World Championship.
While they famously fell apart in the group stage to the likes of Cloud9 and DWK KIA, Liv had the opportunity to scrim against Gen.G’s Ruler, one of the best ADCs in the world. Despite never meeting in the tournament itself, Liv earned Ruler’s respect. His abilities impressed Ruler so much that even in 2022, when Liv was a part of Team Liquid, Ruler stated that he wanted to compete against Team Liquid at the World Championship solely to face off against Hans sama.
While Team Liquid fell short of making Worlds due to lackluster team cohesion, many people brought into question Liv’s abilities. His inability to carry Team Liquid, in a region inferior to the LEC (the LCS), and obvious drop in performance left viewers with the impression that he had “fallen off,” and could not compete at a high level anymore.
Is this true? The short answer is no. While Liv has not competed since his departure from Team Liquid, the skills he demonstrated in the past were enough to warrant the attention of nearly every team in the LEC. Given that the LEC Spring Split is not for another 2.5 months, Liv has plenty of time to acclimate to the level of competition in Europe and prove himself once more as one of the best ADCs in the LEC. While Flakked was a great rookie that outperformed expectations, Hans sama is undeniably an upgrade to the G2 roster given his history in the league.
