Victor “Nias” Shelstad was one of only a few teamless players to qualify for the Hearthstone World Championship. After courting several offers, he’s found a sponsor just in time.
Ahead of today’s Hearthstone World Championship group stage opener, Shelstad signed with Hearthlytics.
Shelstad’s signing means that Hearthlytics will be represented by two players in the Americas cohort, with veteran Justin “JAB” Black also having made the finals.
According to team sources, Shelstad has been bootcamping with the team ahead of the biggest tournament of the year, so his signing was not a major surprise. Still, Shelstad did turn down a number of other offers to join the team.
Hearthlytics formed in January and have risen to be one of the top teams in North America. With Black and “Muzzy” leading the team, journeyman Andrew “Kitkatz” Deschanel joined in July. Deschanel took the spot vacated by Christopher “PHONETAP” Hunyh, who won the team’s first major at the ESL Legendary Series season two finals before jumping to Luminosity.
The team is just one of three organizations represented by two players in the Hearthstone World Championship. Only G2 Esports and Celestial have equaled that feat.
Photo by Carlton Beener via ESL/Flickr
