SK Gaming 2022 LEC Team Breakdown | Potentially Quite Solid

SK Gaming’s 2022 LEC line-up is pretty darn impressive and we’re mighty glad for that being the case! It’s somewhat rare for a mid-tier gatekeeper to retain its most important players and, even rarer, to sign someone who’ll elevate the team even further and give it a fighting chance. 

So, if you’re a fan of SK, you definitely have a reason to celebrate! This line-up isn’t going to upend the LEC status quo nor will it dethrone the reigning champions any time soon (if ever), but it’s nonetheless going to put on a show and is not to be trifled with. The SK bunch has been quite impressive back in Spring, and that would’ve probably been true for Summer as well were they not forced to alter their starting line-up.

All in all, SK were dealt quite a bad hand, so it should really come as no surprise that they failed to huddle up and persevere amidst the worst possible circumstances. With that being said, at least there’s a silver lining in all of this: they were able to retain their top laner, AD carry, and support — a stellar core that’ll no doubt make this incarnation of SK pretty competitive going forward with the 2022 LEC season. And, better yet, they’ve brought on a seasoned veteran jungler (and a shotcaller, no less) and a very promising ERL mid laner (and LFL champion) who, coincidentally, had played with said jungler years ago.

So, all things considered, SK have upgraded in the most crucial of ways, and are surely motivated beyond measure to get back on the “right path!”

The following five players will all compete under the SK Gaming banner for the 2022 competitive LEC season:

Top Lane: Janik “Jenax” Bartels

Jungle: Erberk “Gilius” Demir [formerly of Schalke 04]

Mid Lane: Daniel “Sertuss” Gamani [formerly of Berlin International Gaming]

AD Carry: Jean “Jezu” Massol

Support: Erik “Treatz” Wessén

What a fascinating mix, one that is comprised of both seasoned veterans and promising young talents alike. And while none of these players are going to etch their names in history they’ll at least make things highly competitive and could, by all means, turn some heads. Jenax was surprisingly solid last Spring; he had really found his footing after role swapping to top and had very respectable stats for a player who wasn’t expected to accomplish much.

Gilius, on the other hand, needs no introduction. He’s been a starter in the LEC for what feels like an eternity, and when that wasn’t the case he didn’t take long to climb the ranks and once again compete on the biggest stage in Europe. He’s a great, albeit flawed jungler. Fortunately, his flaws are by no means severe enough to negate his many strengths and overall qualities. Gilius was never really a part of a truly great roster, and yet he had always found a way to be relevant.

After his incredible run with Schalke, we know for a fact that he’s still clutch and can deliver when it matters most, which is why we’re so glad to see him on SK for the 2022 LEC season — it’s a good fit stylistically and should, by all means, yield great results. Moreover, the fact that he’ll compete alongside his former teammate Sertuss is also a very promising sign. They already have synergy and probably won’t need much time to get on the same page with the rest of the team.

Speaking of Sertuss, he hasn’t been a pro player for long, but has nonetheless accomplished great things in the ERLs. His stint with Schalke 04 Evolution was respectable, albeit devoid of any great triumphs. It wasn’t until he signed with Misfits Premier that he was really able to shine and make a name for himself. He’s a reigning LFL champion, mind you, and the fact that he had to go through Karmine Corp to become one makes it all the more impressive.

The only part of this 2022 SK Gaming line-up that leaves a bit to be desired is the bottom lane duo. Now, Treatz is an absolute beast and has impressed us a ton ever since he came back to Europe, but the same cannot be said for Jezu. This French native was always okay but never great, and even his “okay” moments didn’t blow anyone’s mind. Far from it, in fact. It’s not that he’s a liability per se, but having a clutch marksman in today’s meta can often make or break a team’s chances in the late game.

And, well, Jezu is not the kind of individual who’s going to make the game-winning play. Or he wasn’t, rather, which doesn’t mean he can’t become one. Still, we haven’t seen anything overly promising, so it’s hard to believe in his hypothetical growth.

Treatz, on the other hand, has really grown into a capable leader and a support worthy of mentioning. His highs didn’t last long because he had to role swap to jungle, but we know what he’s capable of and can’t wait to see him in action!

And, frankly, that holds true for SK Gaming as a whole. They’ve made the right changes to their roster and should, by all means, be able to contest for a spot in the playoffs. How high they’ll eventually soar still remains to be seen, but they’re capable, experienced, and are not to be trifled with. 

On paper, they have all the right tools to beat the likes of Misfits, Team BDS, EXCEL, Astralis, and maybe even Rogue (if they happen to implode after losing two of their most important catalysts). All in all, SK has made two great roster changes and should, as a result, be able to climb the ranks during the 2022 LEC season. And, well, if Sertuss lives up to the hype, they might even do some damage to the status quo!

The 2022 LEC Spring Split is scheduled to begin on January 14 and, by the looks of it, we should be in for one heck of a ride!