Team Liquid's Rebuild Begins: Impact Departs

This has been far from a successful year for Team Liquid over in the LTA. Going from better to worse, the team that won the very first LTA trophy back in February began to collapse as the season progressed, ultimately missing out on Worlds 2025 altogether.

Now, it's time for Team Liquid to begin a rebuild, and the first player to depart is none other than veteran Top Laner and former World Champion Jeong "Impact" Eon-young.

A Liquid Legend Exits the Fray

Impact's stay with Team Liquid came in two parts. The South Korean veteran first joined TL all the way back in 2017, completing a fruitful 3 year run with the team which saw Liquid come away with 4 LCS trophies over that span of time.

After exiting the team at the end of the 2020 season, Impact spent the next few years competing for Evil Geniuses and and FlyQuest. The Top Laner returned to TL for the start of the 2024 season, however, kickstarting the second half of a lucrative partnership.

Over the course of his 5 years with the team, Impact powered Team Liquid to a total of 6 trophies, earning himself an MVP award in the process (Summer 2024).

Impact is no stranger to the feel of an LCS trophy. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

Team Liquid Falters

Despite all of their past success, Impact and Team Liquid failed to win even a single game during the two series they played at the 2025 LTA North Split 3 Playoffs. With Impact's form taking a hit in recent months and Team Liquid failing to find answers to their team-wide woes, the time for change was now.

What's Next for Impact?

It's now been 12 years since Impact won Worlds with SK Telecom T1. Currently at 30 years old, there's been much debate about whether the Top Laner would retire once his tenure with Team Liquid came to an end or if he would continue in his quest for League of Legends silverware.

Now that his exit from TL has been announced, Impact disclosed in a post on X that he still has the drive to compete, as well as the full intention to continue to do so.

"I kept asking myself over and over… should I keep playing? Try coaching? Or even do something completely different? I thought about it a lot. But deep down, it just doesn’t feel right to step away like this. I still believe I can play well, and I want to prove that. I’m not ready to give up yet."

Currently in what is perhaps the biggest slump of his 13-year-long career, Impact knows he deserves a better sendoff than this. Regardless, the South Korean player admits the future remains uncertain, and a number of possibilities remain on the table.

"I don’t know what next year will look like. Maybe I’ll still be a player, maybe a coach, maybe something else. But whatever it is, I’ll give it everything I have and show the best version of me."

Wherever Impact goes next, he's bound to be met with endless support. (Credit: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games)

Follow Strafe Esports for all the latest League news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Stefan Wisnoski/Riot Games

Read more: 

Knight Makes LPL History as BLG Lift Another Trophy

Peanut Announces Departure from League of Legends After Worlds 2025

New Worlds 2025 Details Unveiled: New Trophy, Anthem Performer, and More