Mad off the Top: Reports indicate Chasy will join the MAD Lions roster as the new top laner for 2023.

Always a Korean who can do it Better

According to LEC Wooloo, MAD Lions is set to acquire a new top laner ahead of the 2023 LEC season, replacing long-standing veteran İrfan Berk “Armut” Tükek. Upcoming South Korean laner Kim “Chasy” Dong-hyeon will replace the Turkish brawler in the upcoming 2023 season on the MAD Lions roster.

[embed]https://twitter.com/LEC_Wooloo/status/1590333606282825729[/embed]

Whilst likely unintentional, the addition does add some humour, with the recent dominance of the LCK at Worlds. Four of the eight teams in playoffs were from the LCK and the finals was a showdown between T1 and DRX, two LCK teams. An addition of a South Korean to an esports lineup to power up is a meme that transcends titles, seen in games such as Overwatch, Valorant, and of course League of Legends (especially in the LCS).



“Chasy” has spent the majority of his League of Legends career thus far competing in Tier 2. However, for a stint between 2020 and 2021, he spent a period as the sub top laner for DAMWON KIA. Up until now, “Chasy” has been playing for X7 Esports, competing in the LCK Challengers League and NLC. With a 65.1% winrate across the Summer Split and 13 champions played on stage as of now (according to gol.gg), the young South Korean shows great promise.

 

Hear them Roar

This, in conjunction with recent developments that indicate a shift in MAD Lions botlane, indicates the beginnings of another promising world contender from the LEC. According to reports from Blix.gg journalist Alejandro Gomis, support player “Hylissang” of Fnatic will join veteran AD carry Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság to form a deadly bot lane duo under the MAD Lions banner in 2023. Read more here.

In years past, the LEC has produced some excellent world class talents of the likes of Rasmus “caPs” Borregaard Winther and “Carzzy.” MAD Lions has previously managed to win the Spring and Summer Splits, as well as qualify for Worlds twice, managing a deep run to the quarterfinals in 2021.

In fielding a roster stacked with this much veteran experience, “Chasy” will have access to a wealth of information from his future teammates.



 

Not the Meta

“Armut” joined MAD Lions back in 2020 after an impressive demolition of MAD Lions by “Armut” and his former team, Supermassive Blaze in the Worlds 2020 Play-ins. The Turkish top laner put on a superb showing on his signature Wukong, ending the game at an 18 to 5 score and a KDA of 7/0/8.



Despite a successful 2021 and middling 2022, MAD Lions had shown signs of struggling coming into Worlds and likely the new season. The roster lacks the punching power to overcome the best EU teams in Rogue, Fnatic and G2. “Armut” personally, has been shown to struggle in the current meta. According to gol.gg, a 40% winrate on Aatrox, 50% on Sejuani and a 53.8% winrate in 2022, speaks to both his and the team’s struggles.

 

As it stands, if confirmed, the MAD Lions roster will look as such:

• Kim "Chasy"Dong-hyeon (Top)


• Javier Prades “Elyoya”Batalla (Jungle)


• Yasin “Nisqy”Dinçer (Mid Lane)


• Matyáš “Carzzy”Orság (AD Carry)


• Zdravets “Hylissang”Iliev Galabov (Support)

 

Image credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games/Riot Games