en
IgNar set to return to LEC in 2024 with EXCEL
NRG Support Lee “IgNar” Dong-geun has reached a verbal agreement with Excel Esports. He is set to join their League of Legends roster in 2024, competing in the LEC from the Winter Split onwards.
The South Korean support most recently achieved a top 8 placing at Worlds 2023, having qualified via his most successful split to date. “IgNar” won the LCS 2023 Championship and alongside his teammates on NRG, achieved the distinction of being the Western team to make it the furthest at Worlds 2023.
With news also surfacing that the supply of F/A Support players in the LEC is rising, Support slots on teams are rapidly being filled. The question now becomes, who will fall short of earning a spot?
A Return to the LEC
“IgNar” returns to the LEC after 4 years of competing in the LCS. He has been competing in North America since 2020. The last time he participated in Europe, he was a member of Schalke 04. Under their banner, “IgNar” placed 3rd in the LEC in the Summer Playoffs and Regional Finals.
However most European fans will remember him for his time on the legendary Misfits roster, with “Hans Sama”, “PowerOfEvil”, “KaKAO”/“Maxlore”, and “Alphari”. That roster’s most notable achievement was making not just the Quarterfinals of Worlds 2017, but taking SK Telecom to a 5 game series. For context, this was an SKT fresh off two Worlds trophies (2015 and 2016), and before their loss to Samsung Galaxy.
NA Journeyman
Since that time, “IgNar” has spent most of his career journeying through NA’s rosters. He initially joined FlyQuest in 2020, where he managed to help secure back-to-back LCS finals appearances (placed 2nd both times). However, despite his initial success, “IgNar” has struggled to find stability and longer tenures in recent times, having been a part of 5 NA organizations since 2020. His resume includes teams like Evil Geniuses and Immortals.
Furthermore, it was only in the Summer of 2023 when he finally turned around his fortune for the first time since 2020. Under NRG’s banner, “IgNar” won his first LCS Championship, qualifying for Worlds, where NRG earned the distinction of being the sole Western representative in the Quarterfinals.
Now with this return, it marks a reunion with former teammate Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu. The pair last played together in 2019 for Schalke.
Confirmations for Excel’s Roster
Weakside king “Odoamne” was the biggest confirmation. He, along with Patrik “Patrik” Jírů have been kept for the 2024 season. Sources indicate that Felix “Abbedagge” Braun is on the way out, with Excel looking to replace him with upcoming talent, Adam “Jackies” Jeřábek. The final piece, Excel’s jungler in 2024, has yet to be confirmed as of the time of this writing.
Excel 2024 LEC Starting Lineup
- Top Lane: Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu
- Jungle: ?
- Mid Lane: Adam “Jackies” Jeřábek
- AD Carry: Patrik “Patrik” Jírů
- Support: Lee “IgNar” Dong-geun
Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
Read More:
