Sources: Shelfmade and Markoon set to join G2 NORD

G2 Academy Shelfmade and Markoon

Shelfmade almost joined Fnatic this offseason

G2 Esports’s academy team already looks like a powerhouse. While G2 is still building its new academy roster, the organization has secured Toplaner Francesco "Shelfmade" Cardia and Jungler Mark "Markoon" for the first phase of G2’s return to the ERL circuit in the Prime League, according to sources close to Sheep Esports.

LEC potential and interest

At only 19, Shelfmade was considered by SK Gaming and Fnatic during the offseason; the later ended up choosing Panagiotis "Empyros" Tantis over him. Meanwhile, Markoon comes off a rollercoaster season with Solary in the LFL. Both players bring valuable experience and confirm the club's intent to compete strongly in the league.

After Fnatic's Toplane decision, Shelfmade had a lot of interest in the ERLs, including from teams like Los Heretics, Joblife, and Solary. However, he decided to join G2 Esports' new team alongside Markoon.

While the decision to sign Markoon adds an experienced and former LEC player to the academy team, all three remaining positions of the roster are expected to be filled with ERL players without previous LEC experience.

High-profile duo locked

Both players bring interesting profiles. Shelfmade will remain in the Prime League after playing the entire year with Berlin International Gaming and won the Prime League Season Finals, joined by Markoon, who, despite being only 23, already has a strong experience at the highest level. Markoon is a jungler who spent three and a half years in the LEC with EXCEL, SK Gaming, and Rogue, but recently came off a mixed year at Solary, a team that struggled with cohesion throughout the season.

Markoon had the sixth-best kill participation percentage (KP%) among junglers in the LFL this year at 77%. Reflecting his proactive early game style, he also had the second-highest first blood participation rate in the league across all roles (45.2%). He maintained a solid 4.1 KDA for the season and ranked second among junglers in average assists (9.5), just behind Mehdi "Boukada" Lahlou, who played only one split and whose stats are somewhat skewed.