Rogue drops Kikis, Excel finds a new coach prior to LEC summer split

Rogue and jungler Mateusz “Kikis” Szkudlarek have agreed to part ways after what was a disappointing spring split in the LEC.

Rogue is ready to make changes heading into the LEC summer split. After finishing in tenth place with 16 defeats to only two wins, the organization decided to try a different approach to its maligned roster.

Polish jungler Kikis will be the first player to exit the team. In 2018, Kikis was the key player for Team Vitality, leading the team to qualify for the 2018 World Championship. Vitality surprised fans when the organization announced that Kikis would then leave the roster, and he later joined new LEC franchise Rogue.

“We want to thank Kikis for all the dedication and hard work he put into the team,” Rogue general manager Tomislav Mihailov said. “We wish him the best in the future as he pursues other opportunities.”

On social media, Kikis has already said that he’s willing to join a team in the LEC or the LCS as either a starting jungler or as a substitute.

Another struggling LEC squad making early changes is British organization Excel Esports, as the team announced the signing of David “DLim” Lim as its new head coach.

DLim is a Canadian coach that started his career with Team Liquid as an analyst. In 2018 he worked as head coach for Clutch Gaming as the new team took a surprise fourth-place finish in its debut split.

DLim parted ways with the team midway through the summer split when Clutch Gaming began to dramatically underperform compared to its results earlier in the year. He then joined FC Schalke 04 as assistant coach months later.

DLim is now taking the main coaching role at Excel. The team finished the spring split in ninth place and is looking to improve the upcoming split.