Fissure Responds to Comments on His Position in the LA Gladiators
Robert Paul for Blizzard EntertainmentLos Angeles Gladiators main tank Baek ‘Fissure’ Chan-hyung has responded to rumors of internal conflict in the team.
Fissure’s relationship with the LA Gladiators came under scrutiny after it was announced that he would not be playing in the first series of their quarter-final match against the London Spitfire.
With Fissure having been the most highly-praised member of the Gladiators since his addition after Stage 1, and credited with a large amount of their increasing success since, naturally there was much speculation as to the reason for his absence, with the Gladiators’ rather vague official statement offering little explanation.
Esports journalist Rod ‘Slasher’ Breslau subsequently reported in a series of tweets that Fissure was unhappy in the team and wanted to move to an all-Korean squad, resulting in a lack of motivation.
LA Gladiators Fissure is not playing tonight. Source: Fissure was unhappy with players on the team not trying hard enough in scrims as preparation for the playoffs and stopped communicating in the scrims. Gladiators chose to play iRemiix instead.
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) July 12, 2018
Source: Fissure has been unhappy on the Gladiators since joining and his own commitment/practice to the team has waned going into playoffs, prompting his benching by LAG not that his teammates aren’t trying. Wants out of LAG to an all-Korean team.https://t.co/S0DZ26Y1j7
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) July 12, 2018
Fissure’s desire is to be on an all Korean-speaking roster for the spring (prior to OWL season 2 franchises), with the Seoul Dynasty as the preferred destination given the current options. All OWL teams may retain their players for S2.https://t.co/5wPcoI0jBq
— Rod Breslau (@Slasher) July 12, 2018
Fissure, however, has now given his own explanation of events, highlighting that his removal from the starting squad was primarily a matter of the team performing better with Luis ‘iRemiix’ at main tank. He also touched on some of the internal matters, explaining that discussions of his future with the team had taken place but that he hadn’t outright asked to leave.
Fissure’s commentary on the subject was translated and posted on Twitter by TISRobin:
Fissure explained a bit about the ‘controversy’ regarding his absence in the OWL playoffs (summary): pic.twitter.com/GUusf6uDyi
— Robin311 (@tisrobin311) July 12, 2018