TL;DR
- EG Academy signs veteran jungler AnDa and interim mid laner 5fire due to visa issues
- AnDa brings World Championship experience from 100 Thieves Academy
- 5fire replaces Giyuu temporarily while visa processing continues
- Team faces integration challenges with no practice time before matches
- Early losses highlight roster instability despite LCS player substitutions
Evil Geniuses Academy faces significant roster turbulence as immigration hurdles prevent two key players from competing. The organization has turned to experienced jungler Andy “AnDa” Hoang and promising newcomer Aidan “5fire” Reckamp to fill critical gaps created by visa denials.
AnDa assumes the jungle position following official confirmation via EG’s social media channels. The move becomes necessary as Kadircan “Kadir” Mumcuoğlu, a European competitor, cannot secure entry documentation for North American esports participation. Meanwhile, 5fire provides temporary coverage for Ahmad “Giyuu” Charif in the mid lane.
AnDa signs with EG Academy, 5fire joins as interim mid laner
AnDa arrives with recent championship credentials from 100 Thieves Academy, having secured the 2019 NA Academy Summer Playoffs title. His competitive resume offers distinct advantages over Kadir, who lacks League Championship Series stage exposure. AnDa’s international experience includes representing 100T at the prestigious 2018 League of Legends World Championship, providing valuable big-match temperament.
The circumstances surrounding 5fire’s inclusion differ substantially from the Kadir situation. Giyuu, originating from Lebanon, maintains potential for future roster integration once immigration approvals finalize. However, bureaucratic delays continue postponing his arrival, forcing EG to implement contingency plans with 5fire handling competitive duties.
Both substitute players enter without previous NA Academy or LCS competitive exposure, though domestic league performances demonstrated considerable promise. 5fire particularly impressed by capturing the 2019 NA Scouting Grounds championship.
Can EG improve in the 2020 NA Academy League?
The timing of these roster adjustments creates substantial competitive disadvantages. With the 2020 NA Academy League season already active, the newly configured lineup has zero opportunity for coordinated practice sessions. This proves especially problematic regarding the mid lane situation, where Giyuu’s potential return within weeks creates role uncertainty.
EG Academy debuted their temporary roster using LCS-level substitutes Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen and Colin “Kumo” Zhao during initial matches. Despite fielding two established LCS competitors, the team appeared disorganized and dropped both opening contests. While significant improvement seems unlikely immediately, the situation offers AnDa and 5fire valuable exposure to maintain competitive sharpness and visibility for professional scouts.
Action Checklist
- Monitor visa processing timelines for international players
- Track AnDa’s jungle synergy with new teammates
- Evaluate 5fire’s adaptation to competitive play
- Assess team performance metrics post-roster changes
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