Complexity left to rebuild after expansion failure

Complexity entered two teams into the recent expansion tournament, a clever way to increase the organization’s chances of returning to League of Legends’ biggest competition. But both teams failed to advance, leaving the organization in limbo.

The organization will still compete in League of Legends, but without any of the five players that took them to the LCS last year.

The mid lane and bottom lane from the Complexity White team that entered the expansion event will continue with the organization. Tryouts will decide who joins Greyson “Goldenglue” Gilmer, Joshua “Impactful” Mabrey, and Derek “Lohpally” Abrams on the squad. Jungler Kevin “Kez” Jeon is retiring from competition, while Jonathan “Westrice” Nguyen is taking a break but stays on as a substitute for the team.

“These talented, young players are among the most recent additions to the compLexity family,” the statement reads, “but we have faith that with continued growth they will be able to compete with the best that North America has to offer.”

The core trio of the Complexity Black team in the expansion tournament, the most popular players from the LCS team, are going their separate ways. Robert Lee had already announced his retirement, taking a step away from competition to focus on streaming full time.

His support player, Royce “Bubbadub” Newcomb, will also leave League of Legends competition, returning to the “real world,” as the Complexity announcement puts it. Newcomb’s wife gave him an ultimatum when he set out to become a professional player: make it work as a career in a year, or give it up. He succeeded, at first, but with Complexity outside the League Championship Series, Newcomb is retiring his mouse.

Neil “Pr0lly” Hammad, perhaps the highest profile player on the squad, requested to be released from his contract, and Complexity obliged. That leaves Hammad a mid lane free agent.

The new Complexity team already got their first taste of competition in the North American Challenger League New Year’s Kick-Off Tournament. Complexity fell to Enemy Esports 2-1 in the first round of the eight team double elimination tournament.

It’s a rough place to be for an organization that was sitting in a League Championship Series playoff race just a few months prior, but League of Legends is a harsh mistress.