The Overwatch League’s Los Angeles Gladiators have released Choi “Asher” Jun-sung, Luis “iRemiix” Figueroa, and Ted “silkthread” Wang ahead of the league’s second season.
The L.A.-based Overwatch League team, owned by Stan and Josh Kroenke, put out a YouTube video on Aug. 31 to announce the departure of the three players. “Thank you to iRemiix, Asher, and silkthread for joining us in our inaugural season,” the organization wrote. “They have exemplified what it means to be a Gladiator and will always be remembered in our original legacy.”
Silkthread confirmed his departure from the Gladiators in a lengthy TwitLonger post. “I know for a fact that I didn’t reach my full potential in season one, and it’s completely up to me to reach that ceiling I know I can touch,” he wrote. “I will prove to everyone how talented I know I am as a player.”
All three players will be able to negotiate with current Overwatch League teams ahead of season two. Should they remain unsigned, they’ll become part of the free agent pool opening on Sept. 9, where expansion teams will be able to pick up unsigned players from season one. Expansion teams have until Oct. 7 to sign free agents before the signing window opens to all players outside of the Overwatch League and Contenders.
The Gladiators had an up-and-down inaugural season, but managed to end the Overwatch League’s fourth stage in first place. Overall, the Gladiators placed fourth in the league at the end of the season. The team faced major doubt heading into the fourth stage playoffs when it was announced that star tank player Baek “Fissure” Chan-hyung was benched for the remainder of the playoffs. He was replaced by iRemiix, who helped the team take home the stage four championship.
Fissure later left the Gladiators for Seoul Dynasty.
Blizzard has not announced a start date for the Overwatch League’s second season. More details are expected in the coming months.
