Team Vitality
Team Vitality
Europe
Rank #7
trexx
Nikita Cherednichenko
Kicks
Kimmie Laasner
runneR
Emil Trajkovski
ceNder
Jokūbas Labutis
Sayf
Saif Jibraeel
have signed
KOI
KOI
Europe
Rank #46
kamo
Kamil Frąckowiak
ShadoW
Tobias Flodström
grubinho
Grzegorz Ryczko
starxo
Patryk Kopczynski
sheydos
Bogdan Naumov
's Nikita "trexx"
Cherednichenko to their bench as Tomas "Destrian"
Linikas returns to the main roster. The organization announced that this change was only set to last throughout the duration of EMEA's Kickoff event.
Under Vitality, Destrian started 2023 with a premature exit from LOCK//IN at the hands of
Leviatán
Leviatán
Latin America South
Rank #1
tex
Ian Botsch
kiNgg
Francisco Aravena
Mazino
Roberto Rivas
aspas
Erick Santos
C0M
Corbin Lee
. After brushing off their shoulders, the team entered the EMEA League with the goal of qualifying to Masters: Tokyo in mind. Unfortunately, Vitality were unable to pick up a single win in the playoffs and fell to
FUT Esports
FUT Esports
Europe
Rank #6
MrFaliN
Furkan Yeğen
yetujey
Eray Budak
AtaKaptan
Ata Tan
cNed
Mehmet Yağız İpek
qRaxs
Doğukan Balaban
and
Team Liquid
Team Liquid
Europe
Rank #26
Jamppi
Elias Olkkonen
nAts
Ayaz Akhmetshin
Enzo
Enzo Mestari
Mistic
James Orfila
Keiko
Georgio Sanassy
, shattering any dreams of attending Japan's international event.
Despite being set to compete in the EMEA LCQ, Vitality were granted special permission by Riot to withdraw from the event out of respect for Karel "Twisten" Ašenbrener, who passed away shortly after the team's run in the EMEA League.
With their season finished, Vitality would make a slew of roster changes before debuting in the Convergence 2023 OFF//SEASON event, where they took home silver medals behind FUT last December. Although the team would eventually bench Destrian earlier this month, he has rejoined the active roster one last time as they look to take on the competition in EMEA's Kickoff.
trexx and the rest of KOI had a less fortunate season. The team exited Brazil winless and finished ninth in the EMEA League with only
Karmine Corp
Karmine Corp
Europe
Rank #33
MAGNUM
Martin Penkov
tomaszy
Tomás Machado
N4RRATE
Marshall Massey
marteen
Martin Pátek
sh1n
Ryad Ensaad
behind them. Eager to qualify for Champions, KOI sought redemption within the EMEA LCQ.
The organization began turning heads after they took down
Team Heretics
Team Heretics
Europe
Rank #2
MiniBoo
Dominykas Lukaševičius
Wo0t
Mert Alkan
RieNs
Enes Ecirli
benjyfishy
Benjamin David Fish
Boo
Ričardas Lukaševičius
and
Natus Vincere
Natus Vincere
Europe
Rank #24
ANGE1
Kyrylo Karasov
Shao
Andrey Kiprsky
Zyppan
Pontus Eek
SUYGETSU
Dmitry Ilyushin
ardiis
Ardis Svarenieks
. One match away from booking tickets to Los Angeles, KOI fell to
Giants Gaming
Giants Gaming
Inactive
Redgar
Igor Vlasov
Fit1nho
Adolfo Gallego
nukkye
Žygimantas Chmieliauskas
hoody
Aaro Peltokangas
Cloud
Kirill Nehozhin
and could not close out a rematch against NAVI, netting them a third-place finish.
After numerous rumors surrounding Vitality, KOI confirmed earlier today that trexx had departed the organization. Shortly after, Vitality Performance coach Marceau "Placido" Lambert explained that due to trexx not arriving in Berlin on time as a result of outside factors, Destrian would play at Kickoff in his stead.
Vitality's improvised roster will debut on February 21 against
Gentle Mates
Gentle Mates
Europe
Rank #25
TakaS
Jonathan Paupard
K4DAVRA
Thomas Johner
beyAz
Beyazit Körpe
nataNk
Nathan Bocqueho
Wailers
Wailers Locart
logaN
Logan Corti
. The organization looks to advance out of Group C on their quest for slots at Masters: Madrid
Team Vitality
Team Vitality
Europe
Rank #7
trexx
Nikita Cherednichenko
Kicks
Kimmie Laasner
runneR
Emil Trajkovski
ceNder
Jokūbas Labutis
Sayf
Saif Jibraeel
is now:
- Jokūbas "ceNder" Labutis
- Tomas "Destrian" Linikas
- Kimmie "Kicks" Laasner
- Emil "runneR" Trajkovski
- Saif "Sayf" Jibraeel
- Nikita "trexx" Cherednichenko
- Salah "salah" Barakat (Head coach)
- Joseph "Strong" Edwards (Coach)
- Harry "Gorilla" Mepham (Assistant coach)
- Marceau "Placido" Lambert (Performance coach)
- Marcus "marcus_askildsen" Askildsen (Performance coach)