Category Archives: Analysis and Opinion

Is Gamsu the Next Huni?

Despite their excellent performances in-game throughout 2015, Fnatic has had a rough offseason so far, losing three of their five players as well as their Head Analyst. According to a recent report out of the Daily Dot, though, two of the empty roster spots have now been filled, with Spirit, formerly of World Elite, set to replace Reignover in the jungle and Gamsu, formerly of Dignitas, attempting to fill the shoes of the ever-exuberant Huni. By reputation, most analysts would rate Spirit as an upgrade over Reignover, but what about Gamsu? Is he an unpolished gem, a high-potential player who will blossom under Deilor’s coaching? Is Gamsu the next Huni?

If you’d asked me a few days ago, I might have said a simple yes. But after a deeper investigation of Gamsu’s play, I’ve come to a different opinion: it’s possible that Gamsu may, some day, become as good as Huni, but he is definitely not the type of player Huni is, and he probably never will be.

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Chaser: Free Agent Jungle Superstar

Korea has a long lineage of superstar Jungle talent. Players like KaKao, Spirit, Dandy, and Bengi are international household names. After the 2015 exodus of Korean talent to China and elsewhere, the LCK Jungle talent pool was heavily depleted, with three of the four players I just listed leaving the Korean scene.

Other players stepped up, trying to fill the void. One stood out above the rest: Chaser of the Jin Air Green Wings. Now he has declared free agency, and may be following his better known compatriots overseas, or perhaps simply looking to find a better chance to win at home.

What makes Chaser worthy of comparison to the great names I’ve listed? Let’s start with his Summer split stat line.

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The New CLG: What We Learned at IEM San Jose

A month ago, when the unthinkable happened and Doublelift left Counter Logic Gaming for their archrivals, Team SoloMid, the esports world erupted with commentary. Beyond the drama and storylines, most of the analytical work focused on TSM’s prospects and the partnership between Doublelift and Bjergsen. CLG’s side of the transaction was thoroughly dissected for drama and mined for memes, but there was far less conversation about the roster that had been left behind, and what might become of it.

The CLG fanbase was rife with skepticism, some fans saying their loyalty would follow Doublelift to TSM, others simply bemoaning the team’s future. Significant questions were being raised: how might roster changes at AD Carry and Mid lane—where Huhi had already supplanted Pobelter—change the team’s dynamic? Who could possibly fill Doublelift’s shoes?

At Intel Extreme Masters San Jose, we got to watch the new CLG roster in action as they made a run to the Finals. During those games, some questions about the new CLG were answered; others were raised. It was clear that we were watching a different CLG, but how different? Let’s take a look.

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