Griffin adds Ucal to its mid lane for 2020 LCK Spring Split

In a strategic roster move, Griffin has officially confirmed the acquisition of Son “Ucal” Woo-hyeon, previously with Afreeca Freecs, strengthening their mid lane options for the upcoming competitive season.

Following extensive organizational turmoil and competitive setbacks, Griffin enters 2020 with a fundamentally restructured team composition. The organization has implemented comprehensive changes across its player lineup, with Ucal representing the newest strategic addition. The mid lane position will now feature a three-player rotation system including Shin “Rather” Hyeong-seop and Yoo “Naehyun” Nae-hyun, creating dynamic matchup possibilities.

For teams managing multiple players in key roles, establishing clear communication protocols from day one is essential. Many organizations fail to define role expectations early, leading to internal competition rather than strategic flexibility.

This newly formed mid lane trio assumes responsibility for a position previously dominated by Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, widely regarded as one of the LCK’s most talented emerging players. Chovy, alongside top laner Choi “Doran” Hyeon-joon, aligned with controversial head coach Kim “cvMax” Dae-ho, transitioning together to DragonX in a significant roster shakeup.

Replacing a player of Chovy’s caliber requires not just individual skill but strategic adaptation. Teams often underestimate the tactical void left by star players, focusing too much on mechanical replacement rather than systemic adjustment.

Strategic Roster Construction: Griffin’s Multi-Mid Approach

Maintaining three mid lane specialists may appear excessive to Western esports audiences accustomed to stable starting lineups. However, in China’s LPL, deploying multiple players for identical roles represents standard competitive practice, with teams strategically selecting participants based on specific matchup requirements and current form.

Previous LCK seasons witnessed organizations like Afreeca Freecs and KT Rolster successfully implementing multi-mid laner systems throughout their campaigns. Griffin appears poised to adopt this flexible roster methodology for their 2020 season approach.

Successful role rotation requires meticulous scouting of opponent tendencies and clear performance metrics. Teams should establish objective criteria for player selection rather than relying on subjective coaching impressions alone.

The 2020 competitive year represents a pivotal moment for Griffin’s organizational trajectory. For the first time since establishment, the squad operates with completely new player personnel and coaching infrastructure. The team must now forge a fresh competitive identity while maintaining their characteristic aggressive style.

Griffin’s revamped lineup already experienced initial competitive testing during the 2019 KeSPA Cup tournament. The team confronted Sandbox Gaming during quarterfinal matches, ultimately falling with a decisive 2-0 defeat.

Throughout their series against Sandbox, Griffin demonstrated encouraging individual performances and strategic concepts, though team coordination and synergy development remained visibly incomplete.

Early tournament performances often reveal fundamental issues that require 4-6 weeks of focused practice to resolve. Teams should prioritize specific synergy drills rather than general gameplay during this development phase.

The squad demonstrated inconsistency in execution and suffered from ineffective communication structures. On several critical occasions, Naehyun initiated engagements without adequate teammate support, resulting in unnecessary eliminations and objective losses.

Ucal’s integration into the existing roster structure presents intriguing strategic possibilities for Griffin’s competitive evolution. Observers will closely monitor what distinctive elements he contributes to the reformed lineup configuration.

Griffin commences their 2020 LCK Spring campaign on February 6 with a compelling matchup against Afreeca Freecs, Ucal’s former organization.

New player integration typically requires 2-3 weeks of dedicated practice with starting members. Organizations should schedule additional scrimmage blocks specifically focused on communication and role understanding during this period.

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