Upgrade Acquired: Former Fnatic AD Carry Upset to reportedly join Team Vitality ahead of LEC Spring Split

As first broken by blix.gg reporter Alejandro Gomis, and confirmed by independent reporter Brieuc Seeger, Team Vitality have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with former Fnatic AD Carry Elias “Upset” Lipp for the Spring Split 2023. If this roster change goes through, “Upset” will replace current Vitality AD Carry Matúš “Neon” Jakubčík. The former has been sitting on the Fnatic bench since the start of 2023, when the historic organization brough back longtime veteran Martin “Rekkles” Larsson.

“Upset” will join the much touted EU superteam, that is comprised of some of the strongest talent in the region currently. Vitality currently has the following players in each role:

• Kyeong “Photon” Gyu-tae (Top)
• Zhou “Bo” Yang-Bo (Jungle)
• Luka “Perkz” Perković (Mid)
• Matúš “Neon” Jakubčík (AD Carry)
• Norman “Kaiser” Kaiser (Support)

Vitality’s Success During Winter Split

Despite an immensely successful Winter Split debut which saw the stacked roster finish first in the regular season at a record of 7-2, Vitality fell in the Winter Split Group Stage. They lost in the initial qualification match after beating Team Heretics, losing to KOI 2-0. This denied them the 1st seed they sought, and after that, they lost in the elimination match to SK Gaming in another 2-0 fashion.

Ironically, or perhaps in hindsight, Vitality’s sole two losses in the regular season, came at the hands of KOI and SK Gaming. These two teams would go on to eliminate Vitality in the Group Stage in a one-two punch combo.

Vitality’s crucial choice to select Team Heretics as their first round opponents (privilege of the 1st seed from Regular Season), would prove to be a massive miscalculation. Despite all that however, Vitality’s immaculate performance during the Regular Season, has cemented them as one of the best teams in the region. Their loss does not take away from how impressive their debut season has been.

Vitality Botgap?

Despite their massive success during the Winter Split, Vitality’s bot side remains slightly problematic as “Neon” struggles to perform equal to some of Europe’s best bot laners. He had some massive performances, most notable on the Zeri, however, in equal measure, he has also struggled to perform when Vitality needed him most, and can be seen in how some of the early leads from Vitality’s opponents against them, have come from the opposing botlane gaining good leads.

According to gol.gg, “Neon” currently sits at a 56.3% winrate, however, he only finds himself ahead in CS at 15 minutes in 37.5% of the time. In comparison, “Upset” in Season 12, finds himself ahead in CS at 15 minutes 67.1% of the time (stats from gol.gg).

Moreover, “Neon” is -6.1 in CS differential at 15 minutes, -200 gold differential at 15, and only has an 18.8% percentage of first blood participation. By contrast, “Upset” is +8.4 CS differential at 15 minutes, +300 gold differential, and has a 21.1% first blood participation record.

Whilst “Neon” has been performing fairly well, “Upset” would undeniably be a massive upgrade over the Slovakian. Should the report prove through, Vitality will look even more dangerous next season, especially when facing current Winter Split Champions, G2, and perennial challengers and powerhouse, MAD Lions.

Image credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games