In 2023, the world champion head coach of DRX will join the LCS.
Don’t look now, but the 2023 LCS roster for FlyQuest has just grown scarier.
Kim “Ssong” Sang-soo, the head coach of the current global champions DRX, will join FlyQuest in the LCS for the 2023 season, according to League writer Brieuc Seeger. Ssong’s contract with DRX, like that of the rest of the team’s lineup and staff, ended in late November of this year, according to the esport’s worldwide contract database.
Ssong and assistant coach Lee “Mowgli” Jae-ha guided the global champions to their most unlikely victories in 2022, culminating in a five-game victory over Faker and T1 in the San Francisco finals.
Ssong has participated in the LCS before. The 33-year-old veteran competed in Worlds that year with NaJin Sword and played as a mid laner back in 2012. Since then, he has led Immortals to a Summer 2017 LCK championship and the 2016 ROX Tigers to a Worlds qualifying spot. Prior to moving back to South Korea and joining DRX’s coaching staff before the 2021 LCK Spring Split, he remained in North America and served as a coach for TSM, Echo Fox, and CLG.
The new roster for FlyQuest is being constructed from the bottom up in every aspect. After serving as the general manager of LCS powerhouse 100 Thieves for three years, the organization’s new president and chief gaming officer, PapaSmithy, has joined the organization.
Under new management, FlyQuest is not holding back this season, immediately investing a large amount of the newly discovered funds from its recent acquisition by the owner of the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League. Despite having a reputation as a likeable, mediocre LCS squad, the 2022 roster, which included fan favorites Josedeodo in the jungle and Toucouille in the mid lane, among others, put together a good season, was eliminated entirely.
After many splits of dominance in North America’s amateur divisions, FlyQuest has recruited support Eyla from Team Liquid Academy for the next season. This player is widely regarded as the region’s top potential. Along with AD carry Lee “Prince” Chae-hwan, who recently completed his second professional season on Liiv SANDBOX, 2022 LCK Rookie of the Year Lee “VicLa” Dae-Kwang will be wearing green in the mid lane. Lee “Prince” Chae-hwan has earned LCK second and third-team All-Pro recognition in two of his most recent three splits. Impact and Spica, who play in the top lane and jungle, respectively, are apparently joining FlyQuest to complete a strong squad.