Following an unexpected defeat to Vietnam’s GAM Esports, Team Liquid’s League of Legends squad has concluded their journey at the 2023 World Championship. As the season wraps up, players, coaches, and staff must regroup for the upcoming year, and Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon, in particular, faces a series of decisions for 2024.
If Pyosik opts not to extend his contract with Liquid, he will become a free agent during the upcoming offseason. This would grant him the freedom to remain in North America, return to his home country of Korea, or explore new opportunities in a different region. While his tenure with Liquid hasn’t yielded the desired results, the skilled jungler has shared how he gradually warmed up to competing in North America over the course of a year.
In an interview with Korizon’s Ashley Kang, the 23-year-old revealed that, initially, he wasn’t enthusiastic about competing in North America and only joined Liquid because there were no other viable options. However, as time passed, he began to recognize the appealing aspects of the region, particularly its emphasis on player satisfaction.
“I realized that NA engages in a variety of creative team-building activities, both in and out of the game, and the way I perceived NA changed after being here for a year,” Pyosik expressed. “In terms of happiness, NA has been the best, out of the four years I’ve been a professional player.”
Ultimately, Pyosik’s perspective on the LCS has evolved throughout the season, and he now acknowledges that North America isn’t as unfavorable as he initially believed. Nevertheless, he remains deeply dissatisfied with his performance at Worlds, especially given the improvements he made in shotcalling, communication, and his overall knowledge of League. Pyosik also mentioned that Liquid’s rookies faced considerable pressure after experiencing losing streaks in scrims against LCK teams, which may have impacted their performance on the competitive stage.
As he looks ahead, Pyosik faces significant decisions regarding his career. During the upcoming offseason, he could opt to continue competing in the LCS as a top contender in the jungle position or take the risk of moving to the LPL or LCK, where securing a starting spot on a competitive roster may be more challenging. Regardless of the path he chooses, he has ample time to contemplate his options before the start of free agency.