Top Laner Jeong "Impact" Eon-young has reached a verbal agreement with Team Liquid to compete for the organization in the League Championship Series (LCS), according to Sheep Esports sources. Having already competed for 3 years with the organization between 2018 and 2020, the move will mark the South Korean top laner's grand return to Liquid.
A Return to the Glory Days?
The organization is making its first move this off-season by striking a deal with Jeong "Impact" Eon-young to rejoin its LCS roster after a 3-year absence. To date, Impact's tenure with Team Liquid remains the longest of his career. This strategic move by Liquid will also open up an import slot on the team's roster, as Impact officially changed his residency status in late 2018.
During the 2023 season, Team Liquid experienced one of its most challenging seasons since the introduction of the LCS franchise. Finishing 8th in the spring split, the team at least managed to find improvements in the summer split, finishing in 3rd place. Although they narrowly secured a spot at Worlds, the team failed to win a single match at the tournament, managing only one victory against Vietnamese representatives GAM Esports against which they eventually lost 1-2, resulting in their elimination.
Despite efforts to assemble super-teams in 2021 and 2022, the Dutch-American organization has been unable to earn itself an LCS Champion title since its golden age in 2019, a roster that Impact was a part of. During said golden age, Impact and Team Liquid also achieved one of North America's highest accomplishments in recent years, reaching MSI grand finals in 2019 and ending as runner-ups in the tournament.
With this move, the future of Park "Summit" Woo-tae is currently unknown. The South Korean top laner's contract is currently set to expire at the end of November, meaning that he will become a free agent for the upcoming 2024 year and will be free to explore his options without fears of a buy-out fee.
Impact's Homecoming
Since parting ways with Team Liquid, Impact has consistently proven himself as one of the LCS's top-performing top laners, from 2021 to the present. He spent two years competing with EG, delivering strong performances and helping the organization secure an LCS title in the spring of 2022. During the same split, EG also reached the MSI semifinals, showcasing their prowess on the international stage.
In 2023, Impact joined FlyQuest, achieving a 3rd-place finish in the spring split. However, the team faced challenges and struggled during the summer split, ultimately landing in 9th place and falling out of playoff contention.
With this move, Impact will be returning to his former organization, with whom he managed to win four consecutive titles. While the future of Team Liquid's remaining players remains uncertain, this move could also signify a potential reunion between the top laner and Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-in if Liquid chooses to renew their agreements with the support player.
