LoL - LEC Winter Split: Caliste, Lot, Loopy... A Spotlight on the Ten Rookies' Debut

As this offseason has brought more rookies than ever into the greatest League of Legends EMEA league, it's time to take stock of each one's performance now that they have faced all their opponents at least once. Some have surprised, others have lived up to expectations, and a few still need more time to emerge fully. But one thing is certain: they are one of the reasons why this LEC season feels like a breath of fresh air.

As the 2025 LEC Winter Split reaches its midpoint, the league's ten rookies have showcased a spectrum of performances across their first nine matches. Among them, Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert (ADC, 18 yo, Sheep Score 70/100), Rudy "SkewMond" Semaan (jungle, 20 yo, 69/100), Eren "Lot" Yıldız (top, 21 yo, 60/100), and Paul "Stend" Lardin (support, 23 yo, 59/100) have stood out as the most impressive, consistently delivering high-impact plays that have helped shape their teams’ successes so far.

Caliste has been a revelation for Karmine Corp, demonstrating exceptional positioning and synergy in team fights while individually gifted as he already delivered some pretty flashy plays in just nine games. Not to mention he had to live up to very high expectations from all European observers and fans. SkewMond’s seems to have slightly suffered a bit more from pressure. After a rough first week in the LEC, he has found himself more at ease with his team game by game.

His aggressive jungle presence has enabled G2 to dictate the pace of games, proving he earned the trust of his team. This is evident in his champion pool, primarily featuring Vi, Wukong, and Xin Zhao, along with two AP carry junglers. He played a crucial role in G2’s flawless 3-0 run last week, making his performance even more impressive given the inevitable comparisons to Martin "Yike" Sundelin, who made a significant impact when he joined G2 two years ago.

Alongside them, Lot has established himself as a dominant force in the toplane for GIANTX. He was the toplaner—and rookie—who delivered the most impressive opening week of all, holding his own against well-established names in the league. Not only did he manage to stay solid in lane despite the frequent lane swaps, but he also showcased his ability to outplay and decisively dominate some of his opponents. Identified early through GIANTX’s refined scouting methods, he has already demonstrated the depth of his champion pool, a crucial asset in a format where fearless drafting will play a key role.

Although less flashy and obvious to all, Stend has been crucial to Team Heretics’ cohesion with his intelligent roams and team fight setups. In a team many had placed 10th before the split even began, he has stood out by consistently providing key engages in team fights with his Rell and Leona. While he still has plenty of room for growth, the level he has displayed in just nine matches offers plenty of hope for his future in the league.

Other rookies, like Kaan "Naak Nako" Okan (top, 19 yo, 62/100) and Mateusz "Czajek" Czajka (mid, 21 yo, 65/100), have provided solid and steady performances. While they may not have stolen the spotlight, their contributions have been a big part of Vitality's ability to end 5th in the standing despite a very rough start, with Czajek in particular showing notable improvement as the split has progressed.

Meanwhile, players like Kamil "Kamiloo" Haudegond (mid, 19 yo, 47/100), Carl Ulsted "Carlsen" Carlsen (top, 19 yo, 49/100), and Polat "Parus" Furkan Çiçek (support, 21 yo, 71/100) have had their moments of brilliance but still need adjustments to reach their full potential. Kamiloo’s mechanics shine, but decision-making and positioning inconsistencies hold him back, while Carlsen has delivered decent laning phases but struggles to translate his leads into game-winning impact. Parus, despite massive expectations, has yet to meet them, showing glimpses of promise fully but overall failing to live up to the hype.

Unfortunately, not all rookies have made a strong entrance. Kim "Loopy" Dong-hyeon (support, 20 yo, 58/100) has struggled the most, with frequent mispositioning and a lack of synergy with his team making it difficult for him to find his footing in SK Gaming’s lineup. He is the only rookie already eliminated from the split and struggles even more in comparison to his predecessor, Lee "Luon" Hyun-ho, who displayed much stronger synergy with Cho "Rahel" Min-seong—at least during their early matches together last year.