The unpredictable toplaner carousel in the LEC has now pushed Janik "
JNX" Bartels back to the ERLs. The German player has reached a verbal agreement with
Vitality.Bee and will return to the
LFL, a league he left at the end of last year. He will replace Maximilian "Vertigo" Rassi, who has been allowed to explore his options — and is currently doing so.
JNX, previously mentioned in
our report as “
not necessarily out of the team,” will no longer be part of SK Gaming's starting roster. This marks the end of his stint in the LEC for 2025, but he finds an opportunity to bounce back in a familiar setting. While he once again failed to make his mark in the LEC, JNX was a key member of the BDS Academy “dream team” that dominated the LFL and won the EMEA Masters in 2024.
Vitality.Bee, like JNX, is also looking for redemption. The team finished 7th–8th at the Flash In tournament and only managed a 4th place finish in Spring, far from their title ambitions. With one split left, their goal is clear: reach at least the podium to secure an EMEA Masters spot and salvage the season.
A complicated chapter is coming to a close
No one will be surprised to hear that SK Gaming’s 2025 project has been a struggle. What started with a promise — reuniting the successful JNX and Steven "RKR" Chen duo from late 2024 — quickly unraveled. The team finished second-to-last in both Winter and Spring splits, managing only 6 wins in 28 games, a gloomy 21.4% win rate.
JNX statistics in the first two splits of the year in LEC. Source: Sheep Stats.
The stats paint an even harsher picture. According to Sheep Stats, JNX recorded the lowest rating of any LEC toplaner (50/100). He also ended with the worst KDA among toplaners (1.34), due in part to the fewest kills (2.21) and assists (2.82) per game. These numbers reflect both his individual struggles in lane and the team’s inability to execute in fights.
Another chance to rebuild
Despite one of the most difficult years of his career, JNX still has something to prove. At 26, he carries a history of success in ERLs. While he’s struggled to establish himself in Europe’s top league, he showed less than a year ago that the LFL remains his domain.
The context has changed, but his move to Vitality.Bee might be the fresh start he needs, and perhaps his last shot at earning another chance in the LEC next offseason. There's reason to hope, but first, he must deliver.
Header Photo Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games
