Ruin, Kirei depart from 1907 Fenerbahce after washing out of MSI

Steven Rondina Published 07/05/2019

When it rains for 1907 Fenerbahçe, it pours.

The team is still reeling from its misfire at the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational but now has to deal with a pair of holes in its roster. That’s because jungler Thomas “Kirei” Yuen and top laner Kim “Ruin” Hyeong-min have reportedly both split off from the organization and signed with new teams.

Kirei’s departure from 1907 Fenerbahçe was broken by the official League of Legends contracts database, which suddenly saw his name appear on the roster of the LEC’s Misfits. 1907 Fenerbahçe would later confirm his release on Twitter.

“Our agreement with Kirei, who had a great contribution on the successful season we left behind, is terminated by mutual agreement,” the team said. “We wish the best in his career and thank our player for the contribution he has made so far on behalf of our family.”

Kirei has been a journeyman throughout his career, playing with 16 teams over the last five years. He has found steady work over that time, regularly competing on the Challengers circuit. He will be tasked with helping Misfits scratch its way out of the rut that saw the team go 8-10 in the spring, missing out on a spot in the 2019 LEC Spring Playoffs.

Meanwhile, Ruin’s departure has not yet been confirmed by any involved party, but reports have been circulating that he is set to head to North America to join Counter Logic Gaming. The news was first reported by Esporin.

Just hours after Esporin broke the news, CLG announced the departure of longtime top laner Darshan “Darshan” Upadhyaya, who has anchored the organization’s roster for over four years. That closely aligns with Esporin’s report and while Ruin, Counter Logic Gaming, and 1907 Fenerbahçe have all remained silent on the Korean player’s future, all signs point towards him joining CLG in the immediate future.

Though 1907 Fenerbahçe retains the majority of its roster following MSI, this is still an agonizing blow.

Despite playing in a stacked group, the team was still widely regarded as one of the favorites to hit the main stage of the event. 1907 Fenerbahçe amassed a 4-2 record in the group, which tied them for first with Phong Vũ Buffalo. That led to a best-of-one tiebreaker that saw the Vietnamese team advance to the Play-In phase’s knockout stage over 1907 Fenerbahçe.

There is no word on who 1907 Fenerbahçe might turn to at this time, but expect the team to lock down its new roster before the Turkish Championship League returns in June.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

View full profile