OpTic Gaming forced to pick Academy player for first LCS match of 2019

OpTic Gaming have had to replace one of their key players with a debutant from their academy for the opening weekend of the 2019 League of Legends LCS Spring Split. 

Toan ‘Asta‘ Tran will play as the LCS’s team ADC (Attack Damage Carry) as Noh ‘Arrow’ Dong-hyeon continues to have visa issues. 

Arrow did play for OpTic in 2018’s Spring and Summer splits, and while he was granted permission to look for other teams during the offseason, he re-signed for the Greenwall in December. However, that hasn’t given the team enough time to finalize the player’s Visa before the first match of the season.

The change to the line-up means that OpTic will play from behind the eight-ball against CLG in their opening game. The new-look Greenwall roster is made up of a number of talented players but without Arrow, they will not be at full strength.

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Asta won’t be the only fresh OpTic face though, as he will be joined by a number of new signings, including former world champion Lee ‘Crown’ Min-ho, and ex-100 Thieves jungler William ‘Meteos’ Hartman. Returning players Niship ‘Dhokla’ Doshi and Terry ‘BIG’ Chuong will retain their places as the the team’s top laner and support player respectively.

That means that Joshua ‘Dardoch’ Hartnett, the squad’s other new jungler, misses out on a place in the first team.

Dardoch, a former rookie of the split, signed for the team shortly after fan favourite Meteos, but the former Echo Fox and Team Liquid player has joined up with OpTic Academy squad and will provide a back-up option to Meteos. 

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OpTic Gaming were rumored to be considering their future in League Of Legends ahead of the offseason. However, they showed their intent to continue when they signed former world champion Crown from Korean team Gen.G Esports.