Evil Geniuses discuss roster, NA competition, roasts LCS teams

Evil Geniuses engaged directly with their growing fanbase through a comprehensive Reddit AMA session, providing unprecedented transparency about their competitive approach. The discussion revealed intricate decision-making processes behind their inaugural LCS lineup, strategic objectives for the 2020 season, and valuable perspectives on esports business operations.

The executive team participating included CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson, Chief Gaming Officer Phil Aram, LCS director Greg Kim, general manager Andy Barton, and team operations specialist Sabrina Wong, representing a diverse leadership structure.

Evil Geniuses sign a disjointed LCS roster

Building a competitive lineup represented the foundational priority for Evil Geniuses’ entry into professional League of Legends. Their acquisition strategy targeted three established players from Cloud9’s system, secured one key contributor from 100 Thieves, and finalized the composition with a strategic import from the LEC region. For the 2020 competitive season, Evil Geniuses will field top laner Colin “Kumo” Zhao, jungler Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, mid laner Daniele “Jiizuke” di Mauro, bot laner Bae “Bang” Jun-sik, and support specialist Tristan “Zeyzal” Stidam.

Initial reactions from the community highlighted concerns about roster cohesion, with many observers questioning the strategic logic behind what appeared to be an unconventional player combination.

“Our roster construction process incorporated input from coaching staff, analytical departments, and existing player perspectives. While external perceptions might suggest random selection, each roster decision followed meticulous evaluation and strategic alignment,” explained general manager Andy Barton. “We possess comprehensive understanding of this lineup’s specific strengths and developmental areas, making adaptation and systematic improvement of our core components essential priorities.”

The AMA session revealed extensive community interest in mid lane selection criteria, particularly the decision to sign Jiizuke over other available options. The organization had nearly secured Korean prodigy Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon from Griffin, but the transfer collapsed when Chovy opted to follow coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho to DragonX instead.

Evil Geniuses conducted exhaustive evaluations of every available mid lane candidate before finalizing their decision. This comprehensive assessment included evaluating Tanner “Damonte” Damonte’s domestic potential and Henrik “Froggen” Hansen’s veteran experience. Ultimately, Jiizuke emerged as the selected candidate through this rigorous process.

“Jiizuke represents exactly the type of mid lane talent that generated excitement throughout our organization. We received overwhelmingly positive assessments from ecosystem references regarding his professional work ethic, identified strong playstyle compatibility with our secured roster pieces, and fundamentally believe he will thrive within the competitive, structured, and development-focused environment we’re building,” stated LCS Director Greg Kim.

Are EG the anti-heroes of the LCS?

Evil Geniuses established pragmatic competitive expectations for their inaugural LCS campaign. The organization finalized their LCS slot acquisition during October, leaving minimal preparation time before free agency negotiations commenced. Despite extensive esports industry experience, Evil Geniuses approached League of Legends as a completely new venture requiring foundational development.

Entering the established league ecosystem necessitated developing interaction protocols with existing organizations. When prompted to deliver organizational roasts, CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson provided pointed commentary about LCS counterparts.

“CLG: James Dolan should have stopped at the Knicks. TSM: When was the last time they won a finals? GGS: Why haven’t they been relegated yet? TL: Team Caption This C9: Are you paying your players yet? DIG: Thanks for the coaching staff. GLHF FQ: FlyQuest. 100T: The clothing company? IMT: Do you miss Noah? We aren’t broke,” Jameson declared.

Unsurprisingly, the targeted organizations responded negatively to these public criticisms. A Cloud9 representative characterized the roast as professionally inappropriate and strategically unnecessary. Evil Geniuses effectively positioned themselves as the LCS’s deliberate anti-hero, with the CEO providing unambiguous clarification when questioned about primary rivals.

“I think we pissed off everyone,” Jameson confirmed.

Evil Geniuses remained unfazed by backlash from their provocative approach, recognizing their organization still required significant operational development. Their primary objective focuses on establishing competitive rhythm and systematic processes before pursuing championship aspirations.

“Once operational systems stabilize, we’ll establish more defined competitive objectives; however, we maintain excitement, optimism, and organizational commitment to supporting player development and facilitating career-defining competitive experiences,” Kim elaborated.

The organization prioritizes player development and systematic talent cultivation for sustainable competitive success. Currently, Evil Geniuses concentrates on constructing their academy infrastructure with emphasis on emerging talent rather than veteran acquisitions. This developmental philosophy aims to create reliable roster depth capable of supporting LCS requirements when necessary. The strategic objective involves promoting at least one rookie player annually to the main roster, simultaneously reducing operational costs while strengthening North American amateur ecosystems.

Evil Geniuses bases this organizational model on European esports ecosystems that successfully develop rookie talent through cost-effective methodologies. The organization actively encourages fan communities to support developmental competitions, academy league viewership, and collegiate esports initiatives.

“Fan engagement directly impacts scene development trajectories. Viewer numbers for Academy competitions and FACEIT amateur tournaments significantly influence business case viability for continued investment in these developmental pathways,” Kim detailed.

Evil Geniuses talks business in League of Legends

Evil Geniuses leadership fielded numerous inquiries regarding esports business operations, particularly concerning revenue generation models and investment returns. The organization acknowledged the industry’s developmental stage, recognizing ongoing experimentation with sustainable business frameworks that benefit all stakeholders. Maintaining competitive presence requires investor partnerships understanding esports as long-term capital allocation rather than quick-return ventures.

“This represents a critical success factor, and Evil Geniuses benefits tremendously from investor and shareholder alignment recognizing that building sustainable competitive organizations represents extended strategic initiatives rather than rapid financial exits,” Jameson explained regarding their investment philosophy.

Jameson additionally shared her professional perspective as a woman of color operating within male-dominated industry spaces. The CEO, with eight months organizational tenure, emphasized allowing professional accomplishments to demonstrate capability. Jameson expressed pride in organizational achievements to date and enthusiasm for 2020 competitive opportunities.

Evil Geniuses prepared to commence their intensive training camp in South Korea, focusing on team integration and strategic development.

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