Image credit: LoL Esports
Former 2014 and 2017 League of Legends World Champion head coach Choi "Edgar" Woo-beom has joined the League of CK's new franchise, hyFresh Blade, as their head coach for 2021. The move, which was announced on social media, follows the organization's admission into the LCK after a successful application to become a franchise.
Edgar's move kickstarts hyFresh Blade's free agency on a strong note, as his proven track record speaks for itself: a successful 2014 campaign capped by a World Championship for Samsung White and a Worlds semifinals appearance by then-sister team Samsung Blue; a fruitful rebuilding period that saw Samsung Galaxy develop young players into back-to-back Worlds finalists in 2016 and 2017, with a victory against SK Telecom T1 in the 2017 finals; and another qualification to Worlds for good measure in 2018.
Although he and the organization mutually parted ways mid-way through 2020, Edgar's efforts from 2019 and during the free agency bore fruit in his absence, as Gen.G reached the 2020 Worlds quarterfinals, where they fell to G2 Esports 3-0. The coach's search for a team began after a lengthy break, which he ended on Sept. 9 as he officially declared his intent to seek offers.
Edgar brings former Gen.G manager Lee "Drinker" Seung-hoo, who returned to coaching after his departure from Gen.G in 2019. Previously known as David, Drinker was one of the first coaches that JD Gaming's current top laner, Zhang "Zoom" Xing-Ran encountered, as they worked together in the LoL Development League in 2016. Later on, he returned to coaching in the Latinamerican circuit, scoring middling results on XTEN Esports in 2019 and 2020.
The organization's player moves are unknown at this time, although they have been allowed to offer contracts to SeolHaeOne Prince's former players, after the latter organization's unsuccessful bid for a free agency spot. SP's players and staff members are allowed to look for opportunities ahead of the beginning of free agency proper, set to Nov. 16 2020.
