THE ROMANIAN CONNECTION
Is EXCEL Creating the New LEC Superteam?
After years of hardships, EXCEL Esports finally made it to the LEC playoffs this year for the first time in the history of the organization. Now it looks like the team is looking to reach new heights with an almost complete roster makeover, and we got to say, the new roster is looking promising.
Many of us remember EXCEL as the team that barely made playoffs every season. However, this year we got to see a new side of Excel. Mid-season, the team took a drastic choice and signed one of the greatest European supports, Mikyx and the team, and for the first time ever, made it to the LEC Playoffs.
Now that we find ourselves at the end of this year's season, we see a team that looks to be making some radical changes, and only one player from the old roster will remain for another year. So let's take a look at the new (and improved?) Excel, shall we?
Verbal Agreement: Odoamne to Excel
Everything has to come to an end at some point. After finishing the 2022 season with the League of Legends World Championship, Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu has decided it's time to leave Rogue.
For the first time in his career, Odoamne and Rogue proved everyone wrong after a convincing 3-0 victory in the LEC Summer Split finals against G2 Esports. Placing first in Europe gave the team a free ticket to Worlds 2022. However, even though Rogue was the only western team to make it to the Knockout Stage, they could not get past JD Gaming, and it was time to return back to Europe.
The report of the roster change comes from Alejandro Gomis, Esports-Insider and Reporter from blix.gg. According to his sources, there is already a verbal agreement between the Romanian top laner and the British Esports Organisation. The step was finally taken after Odoamne did not extend his contract with Rogue for 2023.
Interestingly, next season Rogue will be known under a new name. As we already know, Rogue and KOI decided in October to join forces for next year, and the team will apparently join the LEC next season as KOI. Whether this collaboration is the reason for Odoamne's departure is unknown.
Xerxe Leaves Astralis to Join His Former Teammate
It looks like Odoamne is not the only player to join Excel next year. According to LEC Wooloo, Excel Esports also plans to add Andrei "Xerxe" Dragomir to the 2023 roster. Xerxe spent the last split playing for Astralis in 2022 and is now looking to join forces with Odoamne and Excel.
With this exchange, Excel will not only have the power of a Romanian top-jungle duo but will also join two former teammates. Xerxe and Odoamne played together in Splyce in 2018 for a year before they decided to go their separate ways. Going into next year, we are excited to see how this roster will play out.
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Since 2018, Odoamne has had quite an impressive run. Last split, Odoamne won the LEC Title with Rogue and belonged to one of the best top laners in Europe. Odoamne was also a big part of the Schalke 04 Miracle Run, where they went from 1-10 to 8-10 in the LEC Summer Split 2020.
Even though Xerxe's record does not look as impressive, according to gol.gg, the Romanian jungler had the second-best KDA and the highest Team Damage of all the jungles in LEC Summer 2022. So what do you think? Is Excel currently assembling the new powerhouse in Europe?
With this exchange, Xerxe will replace the Dutch jungler Mark "Markoon" van Woensel.
5 Champions with the Most Skins
Targamas Set to Join EXCEL With Patrik as His Duo
After the news about Mikyx returning to G2 Esports with Hans Sama broke, many fans were wondering what would happen with the G2 rookie Raphaël "Targamas" Crabbé.
The Belgian support did not necessarily have a bad performance last year, but it looks like G2 Esports were willing to let him go in order to reunite the bot lane duo.
Even though Targamas got only a year to shine with the G2 squad, it looks like he did make an impression, as he has, according to LEC Wooloo, reached a verbal agreement with Excel for next year. So basically, with Mikyx joining G2 again and Excel getting Targamas, the teams just did a support swap.
Vetheo Set to Complete EXCEL Roster for 2023
Last but certainly not least, EXCEL Esports is looking to put the cherry on the cake by signing Vincent "Vetheo" Berrié for next year.
Ever since Vetheo came to the LEC from LFL, the French mid laner has been under contract with Misfits. However, now that Misfits has decided to sell their LEC sport to Team Heretics, Vetheo has been free to look for other options.
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According to LEC Wooloo, Excel Esports and Vetheo have reached a verbal agreement, and Vetheo looks to play with the new roster next year.
What About Nukeduck?
It is still unsure where EXCEL's current mid laner, Erlend "nukeduck" Våtevik Holm, will go next year.
The Norwegian mid laner has been part of the competitive League of Legends since 2013, playing for teams like Lemondogs, Gambit Gaming, Team ROCCAT, Team Vitality, EXCEL, Astralis/Origen, and Schalke 04.
Finn Leaves Excel - No One Knew
With Odoamne joining the team, someone's gotta go, and this time it will be the current XL toplaner, Finn "Finn" Wiestål, that has to say his goodbyes to the team. The fact that Finn was leaving XL next season was, according to LEC Wooloo, not even under consideration for a long time.
However, once Excel realized Odoamne was up for grabs, they were not holding back and were quick to secure the deal. As a result, it is currently unclear where Finn will play his next season.
It is not the first time EXCEL has made radical changes without giving their teammates a proper heads-up. In 2022, Excel decided to sign Mikyx Midseason, and Advienne was suddenly benched.
What do you think about the new EXCEL Roster? Do you think the team will be a complete flop, or do you think think the organization is onto something, and we will see a new team on the top of the standings?
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