Sources: KRC Genk Esports goes budget and signs rookie line-up

One of the most successful organizations in the Benelux, KRC Genk Esports now heads in a different direction, signing untested talents. Per sources, the team has now locked five new members ahead of the ESLOL 2024 Summer Split — Elite Series: League of Legends — formed around top laner "Dr Saw", jungler "Gremy", mid laner "BramGyBhoo", ad carry "Unchained", and support "Cisse", according to sources close to Sheep Esports. The team will also welcome current Chester Gaming coach Tim "Tim" Schauder to lead its squad.

Crowned as one of the most dominant and storied organizations in the Benelux, KRC Genk Esports' story in 2024 has been far from smooth. Initially leaving the Benelux region at the end of 2023, the team re-joined the ESLOL in a surprising move following the disbandment of Team 7AM. Nonetheless, GENK continued its domination in the spring season, finishing first in the league and 3-0'ing its opponents in the grand finals.

Unfortunately, now heading into the summer split with a smaller budget, the team is adopting a new stance for its League of Legends roster. According to sources, GENK did not initially envision staying within the league for the summer split, just as they did not foresee rejoining in spring. While budgets allowed the organization to acquire 7AM's former roster last split, the allocated budget decided at the start of 2024 will not allow the team to make large expenditures in the summer split, justifying this new roster.

While discussing with members close to the new roster, information shared with Sheep Esports indicates that the players and staff are well aware of their current position and, despite being brimming with motivation, know that their path to a potential top-half finish will be difficult. While expectations may be high for the organization, KRC Genk Esports is expected by many to contend for lower spots, with a potential playoff attendance at best.

Returning to their roots, the organization is now set to welcome back Tom "Dr Saw" Willems of Brilman and Cisse "Cisse" Lemmens as starting players, both of whom were part of GENK's very first roster in the Belgian League in 2021. While the two have not competed recently, the players have previously been well-known for their creative insights into the game and should be expected to bring some spice to each match the team plays.

For the mid and bot lane positions, the team will also give Bram "BramGyBhoo" Blockken and Kenneth "Unchained" Frederickx their respective competitive debuts. In the past, neither player has competed within any Elite Series divisions, and this move will serve as a trial by fire for the two players. Accompanied by Cisse, they recently finished in 2nd place during the Belgian Student League 6th Season, losing in the grand finals a few days prior to the publication of this article. The trio also competed in the UNIVERSITY Esports Masters, from which they were eliminated at the bottom of the swiss phase's standings.

As the last piece to GENK's puzzle, the team will also welcome Jean-Philippe "Gremy" Van Ingh, a largely untested Belgian jungler who was most known for his time under SNOOZE Esports in the ESLOL in the spring season. Initially signed as a substitute for the Luxembourgish organization, the player eventually had to compete with the team as a starting support following unfortunate circumstances. Prior to this, Gremy competed in the 2nd Division with Aurora Gaming.

Three of the team's new players, with the exception of Dr Saw and Gremy, will be joining as part of a collaboration with PXL Esports, the team of the Hogeschool PXL. This move was also facilitated by the fact that GENK had previously worked with the student organization, and due to the fact that the team's current esports coordinator, Alexander "ADUMON" Dumon, oversees both organizations.

Another external addition, Tim Schauder, is expected to bring a strong leadership figure to the rather inexperienced team. Currently a coach for Chester Gaming, Tim is most known for his involvement in the women and non-binary scene, where he currently assists his squad in the Equal Esports Cup. Despite joining GENK, the coach will retain his existing position within the EEC while assisting this budding roster. In the past, he was best known for his time with NOVO Esports and Angry Bats in the Italian regional league.