Update: Nov. 17, 2020 at 23:20 CET — Finn "Finn" Wiestål has joined Counter Logic Gaming, as announced by the team on social media. The news follows Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu's signing with Rogue, which would have made him redundant.
Original report: Finn possibly joining Counter Logic Gaming for 2021 — written Nov. 11, 2020
Top laner and 2020 World Championship participant Finn "Finn" Wiestål is reportedly headed to Counter Logic Gaming for the 2021 League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) season, as the organization is negotiating buyout terms with his current organization, Rogue. Investigative journalist Jacob Wolf was the first to report on the rumor.
With Finn's time at League of Legends European Championship (LEC) franchise Rogue reportedly over following Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu's rumored arrival, the top laner was hard pressed to find a landing spot to keep playing professionally at the highest regional level. The move to North American organization Counter Logic Gaming would help him do so, albeit in a different region.
Finn would replace Kim "Ruin" Hyeong-min, who joined the lineup in after the 2019 spring split and whose contract expires Nov. 16. The Swedish top laner has shown versatility, capable of playing carry champions and tanks alike at a solid level, although his playstyle proved exploitable by G2 Esports' Martin "Wunder" Hansen in the LEC, and by JD Gaming's Zhang "Zoom" Xing-Ran at Worlds.
With ample room for growth, Finn could create a difference in the top lane should the matchup allow, and should he be playing on the strong side — which was not always the case at Rogue. With that in mind, and with itemization changes possible changing the optimal way League of Legends is played, Finn's creativity may surprise opponents and onlookers alike.
CLG's roster currently counts several players under contract throughout 2021, and have little room to retool their roster unless they become a significant actor in the transfer market. The team notably struggled in 2020, ending ninth in the summer split with a 5:13 record as a result of an eight-game losing streak, and later parted ways with head coach Kim "SSONG" Sang-soo and League of Legends coach Weldon Green.
