Why is Nemesis not in pro play?
The plain truth is that Nemesis remains teamless and out of pro League of Legends primarily due to being released by Fnatic in late 2020, taking an extended break from competing, and now facing an incredibly stacked field of mid lane talent across the LEC.
As a long-time fan of pro League myself, I‘ve followed Nemesis‘ career with great interest. Let‘s take a deeper look at the intertwining factors that have kept this talented young player off the Rift.
Departing Fnatic and Losing His LEC Spot
Nemesis‘ departure from Fnatic in November 2020 marked the beginning of his absence from pro play. As a refresher, here is a recap of the news that shocked League esports at the time:
After two years with Fnatic, Nemesis was released from the team‘s League of Legends roster on November 6th, 2020. This followed Fnatic failing to qualify for the 2020 World Championship after placing 4th in the LEC Summer Playoffs.
Analyzing the move in hindsight, it unfortunately made sense for Fnatic. While Nemesis had flashes of brilliance, he struggled with consistent dominance in the mid lane – earning middling stats for the 2020 season compared to his elite peers:
| Player | KDA | CSPM | DMG% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caps | 4.8 | 9.5 | 30.5% |
| Larssen | 4.2 | 9.1 | 28.4% |
| Nemesis | 3.4 | 8.2 | 24.1% |
With Fnatic missing Worlds for the first time in 8 years, changes were expected. And fairly or unfairly, Nemesis bore the brunt and was replaced by Nisqy. This left Nemesis teamless and outside pro League – with no clear option to fight for an LEC starting spot.
Taking An Extended Break from Competing
In the months following his release, Nemesis took time away from pro play and instead focused on streaming and recovering mentally:
After grinding League for years, the last two took a toll on me mentally. I feel like I need a break from pro play. I‘ll take this time to recover and get my motivation back.
This break lasted nearly five months, leading into March 2021. And while likely necessary personally, this extended absence didn‘t do Nemesis any favors in plotting an LEC return. Rosters shifted dramatically during the 2021 Spring Split without him. And with every passing week, the mountain to come back grew taller.
Ultimately the break lasted too long in my opinion. By March 2021, most LEC teams had settled on mid lane starters and had gelled as units. Nemesis missing that first split may have closed the door completely on his LEC aspirations.
Facing a Stacked Field of Mid Lane Talent
Beyond just missing his window for tryouts, Nemesis‘ path back narrowed due to the ridiculous depth of EU mids:
| 2023 LEC Mids | 2022 KDA | 2022 DMG% | 2022 CSM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caps | 6.3 | 32.5% | 9.8 |
| Vetheo | 4.1 | 27.9% | 9.0 |
| Larssen | 3.7 | 28.1% | 8.8 |
| Nisqy | 3.5 | 25.2% | 8.5 |
| dajor | 5.3 | 29.1% | 9.3 |
Simply put, every LEC team has an accomplished mid laner already signed for 2023. Nemesis would have to dramatically outshine these stars to claim a starter job. And with unproven motivation levels and two years removed from pro play, LEC teams seem unwilling to take that risk.
Lingering Questions Around Motivation
Of course, even if the talent gap closed slightly, Nemesis would need the fire and determination to grind 70+ hours per week in practice. And some close to the scene have questioned if returning as a pro is truly his priority:
"From what I understand, Tim‘s main focus is on streaming right now. He seems happy doing his own thing. I‘m not sure if he still has the itch to be a pro."
Comments like this continue to raise doubts about his commitment to pro play. And any skepticism around work ethic or priorities would certainly prevent a team from signing him.
Ultimately, while Nemesis possesses the skill to compete with the world‘s best mids, the circumstances outlined above have aligned to keep this supremely talented player from returning to pro League of Legends.
Is There Still Hope?
As someone who fondly remembers Nemesis outplaying Faker at the 2019 World Championship, I hold out hope that he makes it back one day. And objectively, there remain a few possible paths where he returns to glory:
- A Mid Gets Hurt Long-Term – If an LEC mid laner endured a split-ending wrist injury for example, Nemesis could get a tryout call.
- A Team Implodes – If interpersonal drama blows a team up mid-split, Nemesis might get tapped as an emergency sub.
- Rising Rookie Squad – An ERL team like BT Excel could sign Nemesis as a veteran leader for young stars.
Each of the above scenarios remain long shots. But in a volatile esport like League, you can never fully count someone out…
So in closing, while the present remains bleak for this exiled mid laner, the future offers glimpses of hope. As both a fan of the game and of Nemesis, I‘ll be rooting for the triumphant return of the Prodigal Son.
