Splyce Stars Refuse Their Contract Renewals As They Hold The Organisation To Ransom

For the LCS’ breakthrough squads, the off-season is certainly a worrying period. Indeed for Splyce – a team that fought off relegation in Spring, before ascending to World Championship qualification in the Summer Split – holding onto the entirety of their roster was only going to be a struggle.

Splyce were the fairytale story of last season’s EU LCS, placing second at the Summer Playoffs in August and first at the EU Regional Finals to reach Worlds. The World Championship proved to be a tough challenge for Europe’s third seed as they finished last in a difficult group – still a fantastic achievement, given that many had written them off after spring.

Source: Riot Games Flickr
Source: Riot Games Flickr

Given their remarkable performance last season, the value of Splyce’s roster has increased significantly. With their year-long contracts drawing to a close, the majority of the squad have announced themselves as free agents – opening themselves to offers from rival teams from both the European and North American regions.

Top laner Martin “Wunderwear” Hansen, Mid laner Chres “Sencux” Laursen and Support Mihael “Mikyx” Mehle are all prepared to field offers from rival teams as they look to negotiate a better contract for themselves.

Importantly, every player is open to re-signing with Splyce for their 2017 campaign – and it’s quite likely that they will – but not until they’ve made the team management sweat a little as the empowered talent hold them to ransom.

The announcement certainly came as a surprise to Splyce’s newly acquired fanbase, who surely expected the team to stay together after their heroics during Season 6. Wunder has developed tremendously as a player over the past year, now pitching himself to play for another EU or NA LCS team.

Mid laner Sencux posted some really impressive games during what was otherwise a subdued World Championship for Splyce – a stand out performer throughout the year. Sencux’s strong showing against strong international competition will certainly make him an interesting prospect for both PSG eSports and Fnatic.

Source: Riot Games Flickr
Source: Riot Games Flickr

As saddening as it would be to see the Splyce organisation fall apart, regardless of what sport you’re competing in, athletes will often declare free agency to leverage a better financial deal, even if they plan on staying with their original team.

Encouragingly for Splyce, star Jungler Jonas “Trashy” Andersen and coach Jakob “YamatoCannon” Mebdi have signed contracts to keep them at the organisation for next season – hopefully this move will persuade Splyce’s other members to rejoin the core.

Splyce need to lock down their roster as soon as possible, or else run the risk of repeating the Immortals implosion. It’s a testament to the development of the eSports scene that players are now in a position to negotiate from a position of power, but it’s a double edged sword.

The uncertainty of every off-season is arguably a primary cause for why western teams never get anywhere, very few talented rosters make it to the one year mark anymore.

 

 

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