2020 League of Legends Worlds runner up Suning has announced that support Hu ‘SwordArt’ Shuo-Chieh is leaving the organisation, with reports suggesting he may be heading to one of the LCS’ biggest teams.
The 23-year-old was an integral part of Suning’s incredible run at this year’s Worlds. Coming into the tournament as the LPL’s third seed, Suning beat fellow Chinese teams JD Gaming and Top Esports – the latter of which was a tournament favourite – on the way to the final, only to be defeated 3-1 by DAMWON Gaming. It also notched up a victory against Europe’s top team, G2 Esports, during the group stage.
The news of SwordArt’s departure comes less than a week after Suning’s AD carry Tang ‘huanfeng’ Huan-Feng joked on a livestream that there was no way the support would leave as “SwordArt’s shoes are still here”, before admitting that you have to “respect people’s decisions.”
The Taiwanese support departs from Suning after just under two years of service, and is now reportedly set for a move to North America. Esportsmaniacos’ Pablo Suarez claims that SwordArt will be joining Team SoloMid for the 2021 season, replacing current support Vincent ‘Biofrost’ Wang.
Thank you and goodbye.
Take care👋 pic.twitter.com/8q0QvkrXFI— SUNING (@suning_gaming) November 25, 2020
This could see Biofrost drop into the Academy roster, which recently lost Swedish support Erik ‘Treatz’ Wessén to SK Gaming in the LEC.
League of Legends streamer Joedat ‘Voyboy’ Esfahani appears to have reinforced these reports after claiming TSM’s veteran ADC Yiliang ‘Doublelift’ Peng wants to rewatch the anime series Sword Art Online. Very subtle, Voyboy. Very subtle.
