According to sources close to Sheep Esports, toplaner Eric "Licorice" Ritchie has been granted permission to explore options outside of Team Dignitas in the LCS. Licorice joined the team during the offseason before the summer split, replacing Lee "Rich" Jae-won. His addition was part of what analysts regarded as one of Dignitas’ strongest rosters in recent years. Licorice's availability suggests that Dignitas may be looking to rebuild their roster. Sheep Esports reported earlier that the team's ADC, Jesper "Zven" Svenningsen, is expected to join Cloud9 for the 2025 season.
The potential of a super roster
In recent years, Dignitas have struggled to build a roster that could contend for the LCS championship. After a mediocre Spring Split performance, the organization assembled a veteran roster in a bid for the LCS trophy and one of three potential spots at Worlds 2024. LCS mainstays such as Licorice, Mingyi "Spica" Lu, Nicolaj "Jensen" Jensen, and Zven have a track record of competing at the highest levels while Jonah "Isles" Rosario is no stranger to Tier 1 competition, having previously played under the Cloud9 banner in the 2022 LCS Spring Playoffs. Such a roster left many fans believing this was the year Dignitas would finally make their mark.
Team Dignitas during the 2024 Summer Split Playoffs.
Despite the initial expectations, Dignitas struggled to perform consistently throughout the summer. As Zven mentioned in an interview with Ashley Kang, the team "never found their identity." He described the split as being full of "different opinions" and inconsistent results, with the team alternating between winning and losing weeks. In a post-game interview, Zven also remarked, "We never really clicked as a team," highlighting the internal struggles that plagued the roster.
The future ahead for Licorice and Dignitas
As Dignitas head into the offseason, they will undoubtedly be evaluating the player market and reconsidering their team strategy for the 2025 season. With Licorice being allowed to explore other options and other key players potentially on the move, Dignitas will need to rethink their approach if they hope to build a roster of the same caliber as the 2024 Summer Split roster.
Header/Photo Credits: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
