In a significant roster adjustment, Vitality has announced that Audric “JACKZ” Jug will replace William “mezii” Merriman for the upcoming BLAST Premier World Final. The event, set to take place from October 30 to November 3 in Singapore, coincides with the birth of Mezii’s first child, prompting his absence.
Timing of the Decision
While the decision might appear sudden, it has been in the works for a while. Team coach Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam stated that the organization began planning two months prior to the event. This foresight allowed the team to adapt and prepare effectively for the change.
“William will become a dad around the World Final, so we decided about two months ago to take JACKZ as a stand-in. We’ll still use mezii for practice ahead of the Major, though,” remarkedXTQZZZ.
JACKZ’s Familiar Role
JACKZ is no stranger to Vitality, having previously stepped in for Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen during ESL Pro League Season 17 when dupreeh was on parental leave.
Despite being without a team since his departure from TSM in January and a brief stint with Project G, JACKZ brings valuable experience and familiarity with Vitality’s core roster, including in-game leader Dan “apEX” Madesclaire. This rapport is crucial for maintaining team chemistry, especially in high-stakes competitions.
Impact on Vitality’s Major Preparation
Following the BLAST Premier World Final, Vitality’s primary focus will shift to the Perfect World Shanghai Major, with the European RMR scheduled to take place shortly after the World Final. XTQZZZ reassured fans that preparations for the Major would proceed as planned, highlighting the team’s adaptability:
“We’ll still have time to practice with mezii before the Major,” heemphasized, instilling confidence in the team’sability to balance both events.
Conclusion
While some may express doubts regarding this roster change, JACKZ’s extensive experience and previous success with Vitality position him as a strong stand-in for this critical period.
As the BLAST Premier World Final approaches, JACKZ will have a chance to demonstrate his skills once again, aiming to help Vitality finish the year on a high note in Singapore.
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