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SK Gaming has been dominant through the first two weeks of the EU LCS. After their rocky trip to Worlds in 2014, they made the somewhat controversial decision to acquire former Copenhagen Wolves star AD carry Konstantinos "FORG1VENGRE" Tzortziou (pronounced "forgiven") to replace Adrian "CandyPanda" Wübbelmann. Immediately, fans and detractors speculated on how FORG1VENGRE's presence would negatively affect team chemistry after issues he had on Copenhagen Wolves, and his $1,000 fine for in game toxicity earlier in his career.
In the months FORG1VENGRE has been on SK Gaming, it seems the team has improved his attitude. He's stopped his vitriolic behavior in solo queue and been more publicly supportive of his teammates -- his vocalizations have turned almost positive instead. In every interview and public venue to communicate, FORG1VENGRE is unabashed about his confidence in his team and himself as the best ADC in Europe. Unlike his past toxicity, his honest and blunt commentary has actually endeared him to the community. But how did SK Gaming put together such an impressive roster so quickly, and what makes FORG1VENGRE one of the most talented, and most interesting, ADCs in the LCS?
A MAN ON AN ISLAND
In the 2014 Spring Split, few players were better than FORG1VENGRE. Throughout the Split, his frustration at being a dominant player on an otherwise unimpressive Copenhagen Wolves roster bubbled to the surface. "I was heavily disappointed with how the team progressed," FORG1VENGRE said. "People didn't give a **** that we were losing from bad teams back then."
FORG1VENGRE was among the most toxic players in the history of the European servers, and was fined $1,000 as a result of refusing to correct his behavior. He also had some issues with publicly calling out his teammates that had unintended consequences for the team's dynamic. "Obviously, [the fine is] what should have happened," he said on his Ask.fm. "Although I disagree with players being role models, the hand that feeds me is Riot Games, and they create the rules so I respect them."
Along with Maurice "Amazing" Stückenschneider, who played well for the otherwise shoddy roster, FORG1VENGRE tried to carry Copenhagen Wolves. But they still faced relegation at the end of the Spring Split. This was the end of the Wolves' roster as we knew it, and likely, as a result of his behavior, FORG1VENGRE was not offered a position on another LCS team. "To be truthful, I wouldn't [have] picked myself up."
A SECOND CHANCE
SK Gaming took a chance at the beginning of 2015 by taking their rising star Hampus "Fox" Myhre from SK Prime, as well as FORG1VENGRE. Neither owner Alex Müller nor newly promoted head coach Joe Elou***i commented on FORG1VENGRE's past behavioral problems. Instead, they mentioned his aggressive playstyle and mechanical prowess would be the catalyst the team would need to take their game to the next level. For FORG1VENGRE, this was the opportunity he'd been waiting for. "For a long time, I've wanted to play with the members of the team," he said after signing with SK.
With a 5-0 start in the EU LCS, it's clear that SK Gaming's gamble of adding FORG1VENGRE is paying off. Their more combative style coupled with superior team fighting has easily allowed them to dispatch their opponents in the first two weeks, including the much-hyped team Unicorns of Love. FORG1VENGRE has used his bottom lane dominance to get the rest of his team ahead in the midgame, suffocating out all opposition.
"BY FAR"
It took five games before FORG1VENGRE died a single time and he has a league leading KDA of 53 and GPM of 454. But even more surprising than his astronomical numbers are his hubris and brutal honesty. He has often spoke about the mechanical skill of SK and superior quality of its players (including himself).
When asked whether he and Christoph "nRated" Seitz were the best bot lane in Europe, his response was simple: "By far." It's easy to see why FORG1VENGRE is so confident after SK Gaming's impressive demolition of Europe, but given the standard humble answers players give after wins, FORG1VENGRE's honesty is a breath of fresh air in a region that is lacking in outspoken personalities.
As we've seen in his past, FORG1VENGRE's tendency to speak honestly in the public space is nothing new. But now as a player on SK Gaming, instead of reacting with malice, it is showmanship that is shining through. All of his commentary lately is focused more positively about himself and his abilities, and his critical comments about other players have been more analytic than toxic.
While his behavior may make him out as a villain to some fans, that seems to be fine with FORG1VENGRE. If SK Gaming continues its winning ways, we can expect more bravado from perhaps the greatest villain we have in competitive League of Legends.
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Source: http://na.lolesports.com/articles/unforgiven-how-europes-greatest-adc-found-new-life-sk-gaming