The 23-year-old mid laner Felix “Abbedagge” Braun has had a tough few months in League of Legends: first he contracted Covid, then he and his team 100 Thieves were eliminated unimpressively at the LoL World Championship 2022. Eventually, his team replaced him with the 3-year-older Dane Bjergsen. Now the former Schalke player is returning to Europe, but only as a substitute for a mid-tier team in the LEC. The problem: the Spring MVP of the LEC is playing the mid lane there.
Abbedagge performed well in 2021:
- Abbedagge played for Schalke from 2018 to 2021 and made a name for himself as the German hope in the mid lane. He was considered a huge talent.
- 100 Thieves recognized this as well, buying him from Schalke for $1 million in 2021: This suited Schalke quite well, as they planned to give up their pro team in LoL anyway. Allegedly, Abbedagge earned €600,000 per year in the USA.
- Abbedagge had a great impact in the USA at 100 Thieves: he led a team that had been performing mediocre until then to a surprising championship.
What went wrong? For Abbedagge himself, nothing: he also had a good season in 2022, statistically, according to the metric “KDA”, he was the second-best mid laner in the USA in summer, only Bjergsen was better.
However, 100 Thieves did not win any championships anymore and were eliminated unimpressively at the Worlds – like all US teams.
Abbedagge was hit particularly hard by the Worlds, he contracted Covid and suffered from Long Covid.
The harsh awakening came after the Worlds: Abbedagge was suddenly replaced at 100 Thieves by the significantly older Bjergsen and found himself teamless all of a sudden. He became a “McDonald’s” player, as he puts it. So someone who earns his money at the cash register of McDonald’s.
Abbedagge is switching to the team with the MVP in the mid lane
This is what Abbedagge is doing now: The 23-year-old apparently did not manage to find a “real team” for 2022. According to credible reports, he is returning to Europe and will be a substitute player for Excel Esports, who finished sixth in the LEC in 2022.
At the British team, however, plays the young Frenchman Vetheo, one of the few mid laners (20) who is even younger than Abbedagge and who is considered quite competent. He was even the MVP in spring. The question is whether Abbedagge can secure a starting position in England and if he even wants to.
According to reports, he is expected to have the opportunity at Excel Esports to look for a new team after the season starts. If there are issues somewhere after the season starts, that could be the opportunity for the 23-year-old.
The best German professional players in LoL are currently facing a problem as they are being replaced by older Scandinavians:
LoL: Two of the best German pros are currently without a team – Number 3 is likely also affected
