Image credit: LoL Esports
Update: Nov. 25 at 15:30 CET — German top laner Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik has joined Schalke 04 Esports' League of Legends European Championship (LEC) roster. The team announced the news on social media 10 days after Jacob Wolf first reported the move.
The team has yet to announce its starting AD carry for 2021, as Matúš "Neon" Jakubčík's contract has expired.
Original report: Broken Blade reportedly going to European-side Schalke 04 Esports — Nov. 16, 2020
German top laner Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik is reportedly headed to Schalke 04 Esports for the 2021 League of Legends European Championship (LEC) season, according to investigative journalist Jacob Wolf, further confirming initial speculation by anonymous insider Wooloo.
Following the signing, Schalke 04 Esports can address its bot lane situation. The team previously renewed the contracts of mid laner Felix "Abbedagge" Braun, jungler Erberk "Gilius" Demir and head coach Dylan Falco, and are looking into their bot lane situation as AD carry Matúš "Neon" Jakubčík and support Han "Dreams" Min-kook become free agents.
Broken Blade emerged as one of the top free agent prospects in the top lane alongside Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu in Europe and Eric "Licorice" Ritchie in North America. Following Odoamne's departure, he had the opportunity to reunite with friend and former teammate Abbedagge, with whom he played on Royal Bandits (now Royal Youth) in the Turkish Championship League in 2018.
TSM has already covered his position in the lineup with a sidegrade as they signed Heo "Huni" Seung-hoon away from Evil Geniuses, triggering another domino effect with Jung "Impact" Eon-yeong at the center. The team is expected to make further moves as it seeks a support of its own, with the support consuming the import slot that was freed with Broken Blade's departure.
According to investigative journalist Jacob Wolf, Heo "Huni" Seung-hoon is set to join TSM for the 2021 season. The top laner would possibly be teaming up with rumored hire Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage.
