Coach Erlend "Nukeduck" Våtevik Holm has reached an agreement to join FlyQuest in the League Championship Series (LCS), according to Sheep Esports sources. Spending most of 2023 as assistant coach for 100 Thieves, the Norwegian ex pro-player is now set to get his first full tenure as head coach of a team in a major region. Per sources, he also received interest from other LCS teams during this off-season.
Full FLY LCS 2024 Roster
Top Lane: Gabriël "Bwipo" Rau
Jungle: Kacper "Inspired" Słoma
Mid Lane: Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen
Bot Lane: Fahad "Massu" Abdulmalek
Support: Alan "Busio" Cwalina
Coach: Erlend "Nukeduck" Våtevik Holm
A Promising Line-Up
Once regarded as a star in the EMEA region, Nukeduck is now embarking on new adventures with FlyQuest, where he will join forces with three other European veterans. Drawing from extensive experience both as a player and coach, the Norwegian coach aspires to be a formidable catalyst for the newly formed roster. Armed with deep game knowledge, he is set to serve as a great mentor to the young bot lane of the team.
Despite not having collaborated with Bwipo, Inspired, or Jensen previously, one can expect that the Nukeduck should seamlessly integrate into the environment that FlyQuest is building. A highly respected pro player in his prime, Nukeduck should prove to be a great fit for the team's three star veterans.
While uncertainties surround the veteran players' capacity to regain their former primes, the team currently boasts one of the most exciting rosters of this off-season. The team's fate will also likely depend on the ability of the young bot lane to step up to LCS standards and establish themselves as a powerful tandem among some of the league's most established duos.
Looking to Improve
Previously having competed for eleven years as a mid laner, Nukeduck first
transitioned into a coaching role by joining 100 Thieves during 2023. Helping the team for a full year, the Norwegian coach has now earned valuable experience in his new position. Despite this, things have not been all sunshine and rainbows during his first tenure.
Working as an assistant, Nukeduck helped his team reach a 3rd place finish in the spring split's group stage. Originally brought in to support head coach
Christophe "Kaas" van Oudheusden, Nukeduck eventually assumed the position of interim head coach when his mentor
departed the organization in March. Despite these changes, 100 Thieves unfortunately fell to Golden Guardians in the first round of the playoffs phase.
Following major events surrounding the team's roster, including the
retirement of
Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg, 100 Thieves would struggle throughout the rest of the year. Displaying growing pains in the group stage, the team would fail to redeem itself in the playoffs and would eventually fall to Team Liquid, causing an early and disappointing end to their 2023 competitive season.
With this new lineup, the Norwegian coach aims to redeem past results and prove his abilities in a coaching position that he is still mastering.
