Will FlyQuest win the LCS in 2023?

League of Legends teams rarely start from scratch in an offseason, but it has happened. When it does happen, the team that undertakes the daunting task of completely rebuilding its starting quintet usually gets noticed and immediately enters the championship discussion.

The expectations for FlyQuest heading into 2023 are the same. The team says goodbye to its starting five from 2022 and brings in a new starting lineup. The new roster is a potent mix of seasoned veterans on the domestic scene, promising players joining the LCS from overseas, and young players who may become the team’s foundation for the future. These three elements are usually present in winning teams.

Changes in FlyQuest

FlyQuest has been in the midst of two seasons of renovation. As a result, the team committed to looking for younger and less experienced players to develop its next generation of champions. This decision was made after losing the five players who led the team to the World League Championship in 2020.

Over the past two seasons, 13 players have worn the FlyQuest jersey in the LCS. FlyQuest, however, hopes to end player turnover this year by assembling a group that will shine in the LCS.

Why FlyQuest’s 2023 roster could be exciting

With an entirely new roster, FlyQuest is focused on winning the LCS. The starting players in the starting lineup are a marked mix of veteran homegrown players and intriguing world-class athletes. This strategy of mixing potential with experience has already paid off.

The most recent result is last season when Evil Geniuses used a combination of some of NA’s most promising rookies and its veterans to win the LCS Spring Split.

FlyQuest intends to follow suit this season. The team will debut in the North American competition with promising LCK signings Lee “VicLa” Dae-Kwang and Lee “Prince,” who played respectively for KT Rolster and Liiv SANDBOX last season.

Prince was arguably the best player in the world who missed the World Championship; he was one of the best players in the LCK last season. According to the league analytics website Oracle’s Elixir, his KDA of 6.2 in the summer split was the third highest of all LCK players.

Beyond their imported players from Korea, FlyQuest stayed at home at every other position, signing former Liquid great Eyla full-time to support and bringing in Impact and Spica. The latter are former LCS champions and come to the team to play in the top lane and jungle. However, FlyQuest confirmed on January 17 that Eyla would not be available to start its 2023 campaign. Instead, winsome will take his place as FlyQuest’s starting support to open the 2023 LCS Spring Split.

Many fans will be excited to see how these five players work as a team. It is safe to say that the organization has a quality team to be a title contender.

Strengthening the staff

Management turnover at FlyQuest may have been the company’s most critical summer turnaround aspect. Chris “PapaSmithy” Smith, former general manager of the 100 Thieves, joined FlyQuest almost immediately after the Viola family acquired the club, owners of the NHL’s Florida Panthers.

While managing 100 Thieves, Smith led the group to two consecutive World Championships and the LCS title in 2021.

In addition to PapaSmithy, FlyQuest hired Ssong, the former DRX head coach, who is an authentic World Championship caliber coach. The veteran coach guided DRX to the Summoner’s Cup two months earlier. Ssong is now in charge of FlyQuest on his second North American assignment (he previously served as head coach of four LCS teams from 2017-2020).

Championship aspirations

FlyQuest heads into the 2023 season with an entirely new starting lineup, coaching staff, and management team. Arguably, no other team in the World League has made as many substitutions to go from outsider to contender during the 2022-2023 offseason.

Therefore, winning the LCS should not be FlyQuest’s only goal. However, this squad has assembled enough components for a lineup and roster capable of winning championships, so competing and succeeding at the global level should be a goal. The minimum for a squad with assembled players and coaches that demonstrate the ability to excel domestically and internationally should be to make it to the 2023 Worlds.

FlyQuest has already laid its cards on the table for the 2023 season. Expecting them to succeed at home and abroad is not just a fantasy. It is probably a reality.

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