After 8 years, several Worlds appearances and success in both the EU LCS and LCL, Gambit Esports is saying goodbye. The organization confirmed in a tweet that they have closed their League of Legends division, released its roster and thanked players, staff and fans for their support.
Today we close our League of Legends roster.We are grateful to the guys for victories under our banners and wish them success in the future pic.twitter.com/i7j3iOwYWR
— Gambit Esports (@GambitEsports) April 22, 2021
Gambit Esports, previously known as Gambit Gaming, broke into the League of Legends scene by acquiring the former Moscow 5 roster: Evgeny "Darien" Mazaev, Danil "Diamondprox" Reshetnikov, Alexey "Alex Ich" Ichetovkin, Edward "Edward" Abgaryan and Evgeny "Genja" Andryushin. The squad was widely seen as the strongest team of LoL Season 2 and as great innovators in areas such as counter-jungling and playing around the map. Their aggressive play and victories against many top international teams made Gambit one of the most popular teams in the early EU LCS. Under the Gambit name, the team reached quarterfinals in the season 3 World Championship, won several Intel Extreme Masters tournaments and consistently made playoffs in Europe.
However, consistent visa issues and high expenses led to the team selling its EU LCS spot to Team Vitality prior to the 2016 Spring split. The organization would reemerge as Gambit Esports in the LCL, the Riot circuit for the CIS region. There, the team won several championships and went to Worlds as the CIS representative twice.
Diamondprox, the last member of the original Gambit roster to play for the team, left the organization last fall. Two of the other founding members of the Gambit roster retain a connection to League of Legend: former mid laner Alex Ich is currently working at Riot Games, while support Edward is the head coach of Brazilian team FURIA Esports.
Today I part ways with @GambitEsports. Its not easy to leave something you once considered home, especially after so many years together. But time moves on, priorities change and ambitions grow.I wish the best to GAMBIT! Our days together will always have a place in my heart<3
— Danil Reshetnikov (@tehDiamondz) October 22, 2020
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