An underwhelming ESL Pro League campaign has prompted Imperial to bring in Lucas “LUCAS1” Teles as a stand-in ahead of BLAST Showdown as Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian drops out of the quintet
Imperial, the Brazilian esports organization, has made a significant decision regarding their roster by removing rifler Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian from the starting lineup. This strategic shift follows a series of disappointing performances, with the team failing to advance through the IEM Cologne Play-in and the ESL Pro League group stage.
Comunicamos que o jogador @jotafps será movido para o banco.
Agradecemos toda a dedicação e esforço dele nas competições e treinamentos.
Juntos escrevemos uma importante parte de nossa história.Com isso, @LUCAS1 completará nosso time somente na Blast, que começa no dia… pic.twitter.com/eKruxsHzNR
— Imperial Sportsbet.io (@imperialesports) September 25, 2023
Imperial Drops JOTA Following Two Dismal Campaigns
Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian has been a mainstay in Imperial’s roster since the start of the year when he made a noteworthy transfer from MIBR. Throughout 2023, he has been a consistent performer, maintaining an average rating of 1.12. There has been a noticeable dip in his performance in the latter part of the year, however, with his rating decreasing to 1.06 in his last two events following the summer break.
Imperial Continues To Struggle In The Post-FalleN Era
Imperial is currently in a transitional phase, grappling with the repercussions of losing their captain, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, who moved to FURIA during the summer transfer window. This departure has presented Imperial with a mix of challenges and growth prospects.
The team’s performance at the IEM Cologne Play-in stage provided a glimpse into their evolving identity. Despite the absence of FalleN’s leadership and influence, Imperial exhibited promise and resilience. Their most memorable moment during the tournament was an electrifying showdown against Ninjas in Pyjamas, which culminated in a tightly contested three-map series.
In that thrilling encounter, Imperial pushed Ninjas in Pyjamas to the absolute limit, showcasing their determination and competitive spirit. Although they narrowly missed victory in that particular match, it was a testament to the team’s potential to compete at the highest level of competitive Counter-Strike even in the absence of their seasoned captain.
The ESL Pro League group stage served as a critical juncture for Imperial. Within this phase, they grappled with three demanding defeats at the hands of formidable adversaries – Fnatic, Apeks, and 5yclone. Although they managed a lone victory against 9z, it couldn’t salvage their campaign, compelling the team to make a critical choice – a roster change.
a imperial perde para a 5yclone e está eliminada da Esl pro league 😭 pic.twitter.com/p2mrbwFLh9
— Fer da Depre (@Ferdepre) September 16, 2023
The string of losses to Fnatic, Apeks, and 5yclone undoubtedly highlighted areas where Imperial needed improvement. These matches exposed vulnerabilities and underscored the fierce competition within the league, prompting the organization to reassess their lineup.
The Teles Brothers Reunion Can Fulfill Imperial’s BLAST Premier Fall Showdown Ambitions?
In preparation for the impending BLAST Premier Fall Showdown, Imperial has identified a substitute player to bolster their roster. Lucas “LUCAS1” Teles, a player with a solid reputation, will be reuniting with his twin brother, Henrique “HEN1” Teles, exclusively for this one-off event.
The Teles twins, LUCAS1 and HEN1, reuniting is an exciting turn of events that carries substantial sentimental and strategic weight. Their exceptional synergy, both inside and outside the gaming realm, has the potential to enhance their team’s dynamics in a unique way during the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown.
The imminent Showdown event is of great importance to the 28-year-old player, marking his official match return after a hiatus of more than a year. Lucas “LUCAS1” Teles is now gearing up to make his comeback to the competitive scene.
The single-elimination bracket of the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown will see Imperial starting their journey on October 4th with a match against TheMongolz. The anticipation for this clash is tangible, as it marks not only LUCAS1’s return but also a key opportunity for Imperial to set the stage for their campaign in the tournament.
The lineup that Imperial will be deploying at the BLAST Premier Fall Showdown Americas is as follows:
- Henrique “HEN1” Teles
- Ricardo “boltz” Prass
- Vinicius “VINI” Figueiredo
- João “felps” Vasconcellos
- Lucas “LUCAS1” Teles (stand-in)
- Rafael “zakk” Fernandes (coach)
- Jhonatan “JOTA” Willian (benched)