After 4 seasons of back to back titles, the Dire Wolves have decided to make sweeping changes to their roster, with Rookie of the split BioPanther the only familiar face. Teaming up with UDYSOF, who showed great promise replacing Shernfire at Worlds, the Dire Wolves are full of new blood – a far cry from the high profile names of years gone by.

Getback’s highest accolade is winning “The Next Gamer” series in 2017, while Anderu showed a few promising games under Tectonic. Corporal gets a promotion from OCS after a split with Emprox and a good showing at League of Origin for Queensland.

The Dire Wolves may have lost core pieces to their long-running success but there is a cultural belief at the Den that they can grow and develop top tier talent. When you win four titles in a row and remain undefeated for over a year domestically, internally you probably have a good idea on how to stay on top of the game.

The Roster

Top lane: Brandon “BioPanther” Alexander
Jungle: Toby “UDYSOF” Horne
Mid lane: Jarod “Getback” Tucker
AD Carry: Andrew “Anderu” Baihn
Support: Ian “Corporal” Pearse
Substitute: Curtis “Curtis” Morgan

Coach: Charles “Charlie” Wraith

Who will provide major impact

Going into Split 1, a lot will be asked of Biopanther and UDYSOF. They find themselves the most experienced players in the squad, both with experience at Worlds, that the team will need to lean on.

Dark-horse in the squad

The dark horse of this squad is Getback. In Oceania we’re spoiled for mid lane talent, and with the influential position it holds, Getback will be pivotal to ensure his team are able to start off on the right paw.

The draw

The Wolves have a very rough first game coming up against their grand final opponents in the Chiefs. From then on, however, they have Legacy, Gravitas and Avant. They would be expecting to be at least have a record of 2-2 by the end of Week 2 otherwise they’ll have a big uphill climb for the rest of the split.

2018 was yet another successful growth year for us at the #Wolfpack ?

2019 will see us build the foundation for long term success ? pic.twitter.com/MknrpWpZ2L

— LG Dire Wolves (@DireWolves) January 4, 2019

The Wolves will have a strong split if…

…the coaching and back-end staff can deliver on their high-performance principles that they have so boldly backed. On paper, this squad looks weak and to blow up a championship roster, it will always look questionable.

However, the likes of Triple and Cupcake weren’t the superstars they are today before joining the Dire Wolves. I would argue they did come with more experience and pedigree at the time, but you have to put faith in the system.

Pass mark for Split 1

Every team wants to win. Coming from four-on-the-trot split trophies winning is almost an expectation. However, with significant personnel change, it’s a big roll of the dice. If you apply the ideology of you have to “be in it to win it,” I suppose 5th place is all the Wolves will need this split to make a run at playoffs. Nevertheless, it’ll be uncharted territory for the organisation.

Question marks

I have big question marks on the bot lane. Historically with k1ng at the helm of AD, the Dire Wolves have been spoiled with a stable bottom lane. Now, with Anderu, who has showed some promise, he hasn’t set the world on fire. Along with support Corporal, who has no OPL experience, from the outside looking in it doesn’t look great.

Snowball Esports predicted finish

I was the only analyst last year that predicted Dire Wolves to win the OPL without Chippys in 2018, however this year I’m not so bold and brave. I have them at 6th above Avant and Legacy but that is only due to the organisation’s long-standing history with high performance.

The OPL returns for Split 1 of 2019 on Friday 18 January. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Dire Wolves on Twitter.

The Chiefs Esports Club took full advantage of the silly season transfer window as they head into 2019, stocking up on talented Oceanic names to give further credence to their target of returning to the throne.

While legendary top lane rock Swip3rR and Kiwi sharpshooter Raes have been retained by the former champions, the Chiefs made three key player pick-ups in the off-season – Only and Claire made the switch from a live-wire Legacy outfit, while promising support Eyla made the move from the former Chiefs Academy squad to OPL starter. Former head coach Volt has also returned to the Chiefs hotseat after time away from esports.

The 2019 Chiefs @OPL #LoL Squad have assembled in South Korea to bootcamp for the new season!

Show all the boys, new and old, some love and give them all a follow!

? @Swip3rR
? @JordayMD
? @ClaireOCE
? @ChiefRaes
? @SupportEyla #WeAreChiefs | #IAMOPL pic.twitter.com/iYdkfGfuVI

— The Chiefs Esports Club (@ChiefsESC) December 14, 2018

The Roster

Top Lane: Brandon “Swip3rR” Holland
Jungle: Jordan “Only” Middleton
Mid Lane: Brandon “Claire” Nguyen
ADC: Quin “Raes” Korebrits
Support: Bill “Eyla” Nguyen
Substitute: Andy “Cupcake” van der Vyver

Coach: Tim “Volt” Clay

Who will provide major impact

You can never go past Swip3rR, one of the most seasoned players in the Oceanic competition, as someone who is going to stand tall in any given split. After falling to the Dire Wolves in three grand finals in a row, Holland will be at the forefront of the squad that are looking for revenge, and a chance to show the organisation hasn’t lost the prestige that saw them claim four back-to-back championships in 2015 and 2016.

As one of the key leaders in the squad, and a workhorse in the top lane no matter what the meta holds, ‘Big Swips’ will be a key factor in the Chiefs’ charge back to the final.

Dark-horse in the squad

With new faces across the squad, including an academy product moving to the top ranks, many of the Chiefs could be named a ‘darkhorse’ for the upcoming season, but former Legacy jungler Only may provide the biggest X-factor for the boys in blue. After a mixed 2018, Middleton clicked into a gear many didn’t realise he had in the 2018 Split 2 playoffs, as well as the miracle run-in to qualification itself.

Leading from the front for a struggling Legacy, Only put in top-tier performances across a number of series to put Legacy into a bronze finish. If Middleton can repeat those performances across the extended regular season, he will be a focal point of the Chiefs’ offensive plays.

The draw

The Chiefs open their 2019 season with a rematch against their grand final rivals the Dire Wolves. The current reigning champions have made a number of changes in the off-season, with most of their core moving across the rest of the OPL as players or coaches. If the Chiefs can show their improved strength with a victory against their rivals, before beating out Avant Gaming in the opening weekend, they will be set for a strong run into the early half of the season. Question marks begin to be raised in the second week of the competition as they clash with Melbourne’s Order, a regular top table competitor in 2017, before they face the Bombers in their fourth fixture.

If the Chiefs can secure three or four victories across their opening two weekends, they may be able to keep the momentum going until at least the half point of the season, especially if they can earn a 4-0 right off the bat in the OPL. Chiefs fans – and former Legacy combo Claire and Only – will also have their eyes fixed on February 8, as the squad come face to face with their oldest rivals in the ‘OP-El-Clasico’. This fourth week clash should also be a good judgement of the Chiefs new-look team, and if they can swipe aside their long-standing rivals in one of the longest grudge matches of the competition, they will be sitting pretty for a deep run into the playoffs in Split 1.

The Chiefs will have a strong split if…

For the Chiefs, nothing but the crown is good enough now that there’s been major change in the OPL. Four splits without domestic silverware is long enough for the once-reigning champions of Oceania, and a dominant first split may lay the groundwork for a return to Worlds in 2019.

Pass mark for Split 1

Returning to the grand final may be the only pass mark that the Chiefs can earn in Split 1 of 2019, but a top two finish in the regular season and a strong showing in the playoffs off the back of that may also be fine for the organisation as they bed in their new recruits.

Using Split 1 to work out the kinks in the squad before they ramp it up in the Worlds qualification split in the second half of the year may be the target for the former kings.

Question marks

The Chiefs have returned to coach Volt for the 2019 season. Major question marks will swirl around the Chiefs’ returning helmsman at the beginning of 2019, after Clay’s last season at the head of the organisation’s training and drafting saw the team finish fourth in the playoffs after a 3-2 defeat at the hands of Sin Gaming.

While Split 1 of 2017 was arguably one of the worst in the Chiefs’ storied history, many believe it was outside circumstances that led to the disappointing finish rather than any specific coaching failures, and fans of the Oceanic scene will be eager to see the org’s new coach stepping back into a leading role since he took a step back from the scene in mid-2017.

Snowball Esports predicted finish

Top 3.

The OPL returns for Split 1 of 2019 on Friday 18 January. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow The Chiefs Esports Club on Twitter.

Order’s 2018 – and their entry into the Oceanic Pro League – was marred with struggles when it came to crossing the final hurdle of their campaign’s race.

Both splits in their debut year saw them place a strong third behind league stalwarts the Dire Wolves and Chiefs Esports Club, before taking a fourth place finish thanks to a Legacy Esports upset in both the Split 1 and Split 2 playoffs.

After a repeat of their haunting disappoint from Split 1, Order could do nothing but affect change heading into their third campaign, and that came in the bot lane swap that saw Dream and Jayke replace the outgoing Victor “FBI” Huang and Jake “Rogue” Sharwood.

The Roster

Top Lane: James “Tally” Shute
Jungle: Samuel “Spookz” Broadley
Mid Lane: Simon “Swiffer” Papamarkos
ADC: Ronan “Dream” Swingler
Support: Jayke “Jayke” Paulsen
Substitute: Gian “Styled” Leon

Coach: Aaron “ChuChuz” Bland

Who will provide major impact

The Melbourne-based esports club have kept their veteran core intact as they continue to chase their first League of Legends silverware, and the top side of the map has to be looked as the key to their success – Tally, Spookz and Swiffer are all founding members of the OPL, and have spent most of the league’s history playing in its ranks.

It’s time for the big boys to make a huge statement in 2019, and if they switch it on for the fans heading into their ninth splits then Order will be a dominating force to be reckoned with.

Dark-horse in the squad

Dream enters the OPL for just his second second split after an undefeated run in the Oceanic Challenger Series regular season last year. Although his invincible squad fell against Chiefs Academy in the promotion final, Dream showed he could once again bump shoulders with the top Oceanic talents, and Order general manager Jake “Spawn” Tiberi clearly took notice – expect the former Sin Gaming AD Carry to return with a bang as he looks to prove a point to the rest of the Oceanic experts and the community.

The draw

Order had a mixed opening to their OPL campaign in 2019, with the focal point of the early draws coming in just their second game. After an opening round clash against Avant Gaming, Order and their new-look bot lane will come face to face with their old AD Carry and Support under the banner of the Bombers. A second week, third fixture clash against the Chiefs ramps the stakes up even higher for the Melbourne outfit, before they face new entry Gravitas to round out their opening fortnight in the league.

If the organisation can claim victories in three out of their four opening fixtures, they will have started off on the right foot for 2019, especially when it means they’ve claimed the spoils against one of the Chiefs or Bombers – both strong looking outfits heading into the new year. If the table slips the other way, and Order stumble against most of their opponents and emerge with just one win, or even none, they may face a major uphill battle for the remaining eight weeks of the competition.

Wow #ORDERLOL ( – @dreamOuO) actually managed to get a nice photo together in Korea ?

Not long now until they’re back and ready for the 2019 @OPL season! #ORDERUP?? pic.twitter.com/qE2o3WBio0

— ORDER (@ORDER_army) December 14, 2018

Order will have a strong split if…

Order can make sure they have a strong Split 1 in 2019 by going one step further than they have before in the OPL – move past their fourth place finishing in the postseason gauntlet and stake a claim for silverware under the Melbourne banner.

With their bot lane swap, and retained roster outside of that change, the organisation must show that they can move their hunt for a title to the next level, and potentially break into the final two organisations vying for that crown. With so many changes swirling in the OPL, the veteran trio that Order have retained may prove key to their ambitions in that regard.

Pass mark for Split 1

Although the organisation may not be happy with a three-peat of their top three finish, top four playoff run, if they can meet the same mark that they did across 2018 they will have achieved a decent start to their 2019 showing.

Question marks

Despite a repeat of last year’s splits providing a pass mark in the eyes of the community, question marks do circle the roster that has only seen one of their three lanes swapped after back-to-back tumbles in the playoffs.

Can Tally, Spookz and Swiffer, as well as the backroom staff guided by ChuChuz, brush away the cobwebs of their 2018 years and go one step further, or are they destined to round out the trilogy of their playoff upset story in 2019?

Snowball Esports predicted finish

Top 4.

The OPL returns for Split 1 of 2019 on Friday 18 January. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Order on Twitter.

Legacy had an enviable track record in the Oceanic Pro League. Since the birth of the competition in 2015, Legacy has competed in four grand finals, and has never placed lower than 4th. This split, they look to continue achieving more of the same by doing something completely new – Legacy’s roster has five new faces.

While this may come as a surprise to some OPL fans, Legacy’s roster shake-up was inevitable. The team’s success over the last two splits could be attributed to Claire’s individual brilliance and a hearty dose of luck.  Victories were often scrappy and the team wasn’t showing any signs of growth.

However, Legacy’s pursuit to keep things fresh may have come at a price. The team now consists of three players who are stepping up from the OCS, the top laner from Tectonic (the team relegated from the league at the end of 2018), and a top laner stepping into the bot lane position for the first time in his career. It feels like an investment in the future of the organisation that may not pay top four dividends this coming split.

Ready for Season 2? ?#weflyasone #LGCWIN pic.twitter.com/5GF3hONFt6

— Legacy Esports (@LegacyOCE) January 9, 2019

The Roster

Top: Daniel “Papryze” Francis
Jungle: Eldin “Guts” Skenderovic
Mid: Jesse “Chazz” Mahoney
Bot: Mark “Praedyth” Lewis
Support: William “Crayzee” Dobie for the opening two OPL fixtures – starting player TBA
Sub: William “Crayzee” Dobie

Coach: James “Denian” Goddard

Who will provide major impact

The players on this new Legacy roster have little experience playing together in a competitive environment, are playing off-role, and/or come from the OCS or a recently relegated OPL team. They will benefit greatly from an experienced hand to guide them through this transition period, unite them, and inspire some confidence. Coach Denian can provide this. Recently, Denian was coach of the highly successful Chiefs Academy and the Queensland League of Origin team. His pre-existing relationship with several of these players, and experience coaching and competing for an OCS team makes him an ideal candidate to help Legacy succeed.      

Dark-horse in the squad

Praedyth moving from the top lane to the bot lane should be highly anticipated. Throughout his time on numerous OPL rosters, we have seen Praedyth emerge as a ruthless and effective split pusher, while also being completely unafraid to 1v1 an opponent. He will hopefully bring some much needed confidence and aggression to the bot lane of the OPL, and give Legacy an edge over their unsuspecting opponents.

The draw

The first four rounds may give OPL fans an indication of where Legacy will end up on the OPL ladder at the end of the season, as they face two teams predicted to dominate the competition (Mammoth and Bombers) and two teams who may fall in to the bottom four (Gravitas and Dire Wolves). The first two rounds against Gravitas and Dire Wolves are crucial for Legacy, as losses to opponents perceived to be weaker may permanently knock their confidence.

Legacy will have a strong split if…

Despite the inexperience of this roster, a 5th or 6th place result is not unachievable – especially with the new best-of-one format meaning the potential surprise picks or unconventional play styles of the OPL newcomers could have a big impact. Further, nobody knows what to expect from Praedyth in the bot lane. A key predictor of success for this Legacy team will be their ability to develop strong bonds, effective communication, and maintain focus and positivity throughout the split. Resilience is crucial.  

Pass mark for Split 1

A win rate of 30% during the regular season – this may seem like a low pass mark, but it puts Legacy on par with the results of Avant and Tectonic during split 2 of 2018. While also learning and growing as a team, a 30% win rate is the very minimum of what they should look to achieve.

Question marks

This is a roster on which 60% of the confirmed players have not played in the OPL or experienced a gaming house environment as part of a competitive team. It will be down to Papryze or Praedyth to adopt a leadership role in-game. Is either of these players up to that task? Or will Legacy be a team of five individuals?

Snowball Esports predicted finish

7th or 8th place.

Since its inception, the Bombers esports team has struggled to break into the top half of the Oceanic Pro League ladder. A 6th place finish in the first split of 2018 preceded a scrappy 5th place finish in Split 2.

In both cases, it felt like the high-flying, impact-making team the organisation dreamt of never really took off. Instead, the handbrake was on and they were parked in struggle street.

Over the break, Bombers management has been busy turning their dream into reality. Bombers enter Split 1 of 2019 with a completely new roster comprised of OPL players from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th place teams of last split, and Balkhan – a player from South Korea who has no prior team history, but boasts a high ranking on the Korean solo queue ladder.

Having fallen to Legacy in the first round of the gauntlet, Bombers are hoping this roster shake-up will see them earn a spot on the podium for the first time in the organisation’s esports history. On paper, Bombers is a team of experience, existing connections, and a wild card. In picture, the team looks just as promising.

The Roster

Top: Min “Mimic” Ju-Seong
Jungle: Choi “Balkhan” Hyun-jin
Mid: Tommy “Ryoma” Le
Bot: Victor “FBI” Huang
Support: Jake “Rogue” Sharwood
Substitute: Sebastian “Seb” de Ceglie

Coach: Scott “Westonway” Farmer

Who will provide major impact

FBI is a powerhouse AD who carried Order (his former team) to victory on numerous occasions during the last OPL split. Given that he moves to Bombers with former teammate and support, Rogue, there is no reason FBI cannot continue to have a major impact on the rift. I mean, you can’t spell Victory without Victor.

Dark-horse in the squad

There has been much discussion about the FBI and Rogue duo, Mimic’s strength in the top lane, and the X-factor that is Balkhan. However, it is Ryoma whom I expect to surprise many OPL fans. Ryoma had a quality year with the Chiefs, but was drowned out by the noise generated around established team mates. This season, expect Ryoma to turn heads as he turns games on theirs.

We are excited to announce that Jake ‘Rogue’ Sharwood will be the captain of the 2019 Bombers team.

Take a behind the scenes listen to the final minute of @RogueOCE captain speech to the team. #TakeFlight #BMRWin pic.twitter.com/P4aA2bJL7u

— Bombers (@bombers) January 9, 2019

The draw

Bombers have an uphill start to the season. In the first four rounds, they face three of their toughest opponents based on strength of roster – Mammoth, Order, and Chiefs. Bombers could start the season with anything from a 4-0 to a 1-3 record.

An early negative record should not discourage Bombers fans, as players will still be settling in to the new team and the new best-of-one format the league will be re-implementing in 2019, and comparatively easier opponents await them in the later rounds.

Bombers will have a strong split if…

…Rogue (the team’s newly appointed captain) demonstrates strong leadership skills. While Ryoma, FBI and Rogue have played together on a previous team, they have not played with Mimic and Balkhan before. Furthermore, all five players are new additions to the Bombers organisation.

A strong leader will help them gel as a team, establish effective communication within and outside the game, and ease the transition to the new living and training environments. Success for the Bombers will also be predicated by how quickly Balkhan settles in to the team, and more broadly, the organisation.

Pass mark for Split 1

Based on their strength of roster, a satisfactory result for this Bombers line-up would be to achieve and maintain a top four position during the regular season.

Question marks

Balkhan is an imported player with no competitive experience, who has been plucked from the Challenger ranks of a region with a play style that is distinctly different to Oceania and now with the Bombers he will step straight in to a playmaker role. Will he be able to adjust to the OCE play style, lifestyle and vernacular?

Snowball Esports predicted finish

3rd or 4th.

The OPL returns for 2019 on Friday 18 January with the Bombers going into what looks to be an explosive match against Mammoth. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Bombers on Twitter.

Mammoth as an organisation replaced the cult-followed Sin Gaming in 2018, an organisation known for its “Sinderella” stories. The rebrand to Mammoth felt anything but, as the organisation went on to have a sub-par year with a roster that left a lot to be desired.

This year, however, is a different story. This year feels like it’s a Mammoth year. It’s a star-studded roster, and the team is now in position to be a certain favourite for the Oceanic Pro League crown.

While the top laner Topoon is an unknown player to most people, it appears the squad Mammoth has developed and will be following a similar model to the 2018 iteration of the Dire Wolves, with a serviceable top laner holding the fort while the other 4 members lead the way on the rift.

Babip had an exceptional 2018, helping the Chiefs to two OPL finals, and with Shernfire no longer competing in the league Babip is certainly a name pundits could throw around as the best jungler in the OPL. Triple and K1ng stay together to bring a winning team chemistry with them, while Destiny – a previous champion with the Dire Wolves in 2017 and a double finalist in 2018 with the Chiefs – reunites with K1ng in the upcoming season.

The Roster

Top Lane: Jihoon “Topoon” Kim
Jungle: Leo “Babip” Romer
Mid Lane: Stephen “Triple” Li
AD: Calvin “K1ng” Truong
Support: Mitchell “Destiny” Shaw
Sub – Support: Mike “Cuden” Le

Coach: Richard “Phantiks” Su

Who will provide major impact

With a roster that has lofty ambitions and is brimming with proven Oceanic talent, it can be difficult to isolate who will stand tall to provide the x-factor to this team. Thinking long and hard about it I think Destiny will be the X-factor for this team. Destiny is a leader on the rift with his communication, and excels when he is playing on play-making supports. Additionally, Destiny has had experience playing with almost every player on the starting five at a competitive level, meaning he will be instrumental in helping the team gel together and hit the ground running.

Dark-horse in the squad

It’s hard to identify a dark-horse in a team that is so well known, and while you could choose Topoon as the player that will fly under the radar, I think Babip had a stellar year in 2018 and with big personalities in the Chiefs 2018 lineup like the rock in the top lane and the penta-kill king in the bottom lane, Babip’s contribution could have flown under the radar for some people. I thought Babip controlled Shernfire very well in the 2018 grand final and with his rival not competing in the OPL this split it’s his time to show he’s a cut above the rest.

The draw

Mammoth’s title credentials will be tested early, with the first game of the split seeing them face fellow title contenders the Bombers. Past their major opening clash, they have an exceptionally easy draw in the second week, teeing off against Avant and Legacy before they will be forced to test their mettle in week three against the Chiefs Esports Club, where we’ll have a proper read on whether the Mammoth organisation has been able to take this squad to its maximum potential.

Mammoth will have a strong split if

This team can hit the ground running, especially considering it’s a team stacked with proven talent, but it’s not a playing roster that has stuck together from 2018, and as a result there maybe some communication and player-style kinks that will need to be ironed out as they progress through the first split of the year.

Pass mark for Split 1

The expectation for Mammoth should be to win the league and stomp their name into the history books, but a close grand final defeat would also grant a marginal pass mark. However, these five players have eight OPL titles and twelve OPL finals appearances between them over the last two years, so anything less than touching distance of the title could be classed as a failure in the split.

Question marks

The only player not to feature in a finals series so far in his career is league rookie Topoon, which raises questions as to whether he will be able to compete against the best top laners in the league, and how he’ll be able to meet his teammates’ demanding expectations.

Snowball Esports predicted finish

If everyone loves a winner I get the feeling we’ll be seeing #tuskup gaining a lot more traction on Twitter – 1st place.

The OPL returns for 2019 on Friday 18 January with Mammoth debuting their new roster against Bombers. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Mammoth on Twitter.

Following their second to last place finish at the conclusion of the 2018 Oceanic Pro League season, and a required 3-2 thriller against the now-relegated Tectonic in the promotion tournament, a fresh roster leads Avant into 2019 as players are gathered from all levels of the Rift.

With the exception of former Mammoth top laner Chippys, Avant Gaming’s roster hails either from the relegated Tectonic or from OCS champions Chiefs Academy’s former roster. With a majority of the players having been on teams with one another in the past, the team is more likely to click from the beginning, having an immediate advantage over lineups with no prior history.

In terms of matching against other teams in the league however, things aren’t looking fantastic due to the large gap in experience when compared to other teams heading into 2019. However the return of OPL veteran Rusty to the scene as their coach and the proper utilisation of the double jungle in the upcoming single fixture format, there’s potential for them to surprise the mid-tier teams with their play.

The Roster

Top Lane: Ryan ‘Chippys’ Short
Jungle: Ryan ‘Swathe’ Gibbons
Jungle: Lachlan ‘Sybol’ Civil
Mid Lane: Ari ‘Shok’ Greene-Young
AD: Vincent ‘Gunkrab’ Lin
Support: Ryan ‘Aladoric’ Richardson

Coach: Zack ‘Rusty’ Pye
Stage coach: Kai ‘Kai’ Stewart 

Who will provide major impact

The seasoned players of the Oceanic scene will be key in leading the team to victory, especially with the combined experience of Chippys and Sybol. In particular however, another OPL veteran in Rusty is making his coaching debut in the competition after making his return from the League of Legends Pro League in China. This will give the squad a crucial mentor with valuable experience brought back from a world title-winning region and exposing the rookies on the roster to a fresh and valuable perspective of the game.

Dark-horse in the squad

The decision to double up on junglers in Sybol and Swathe is an extremely interesting choice for Avant, with both players bringing experience from a variety of teams that have been led to success. With the newly established single-fixture format now introduced in the coming split, Avant is able to pick their starting jungler based on the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents as successful teams in international competitions like the LCS and LEC have done in the past.

With the ever-present possibility of it backfiring entirely in terms of team communication, if the team is able to play in accordance with their junglers’ playstyle, it could prove extremely advantageous for them in the long run.

The draw

After their disappointing slip into a relegation dogfight last season, Avant has a long road ahead of them. The new roster will look to establish themselves as a threat in the competition, and their first test comes in their opening fixture – a showdown against Order. The boys from Melbourne are set to give them a run for their money, and that opening challenge is followed soon after by the experienced roster of the Chiefs Esports Club. The following week, their limits will be truly tested in their match against Chippy’s former organisations in Mammoth, followed by the fellow rookie roster of the Dire Wolves.

As they go up against some of the Oceanic League’s stronger teams, their true potential may not be shown in their debut fortnight, especially as they attempt to find their footing in the league, and settle on their path forward with the duo-jungle strategy they are bringing to the competition.

? Coach Profile: @RustyLoL

“I do sincerely hope that all of our fans continue to rally behind the new direction we have taken. There’s a lot of shifts, a lot of new faces and star players gone…”

?? Read here: https://t.co/I2F7agg07g#AVANTARMY | #AVWIN | @OPL pic.twitter.com/uXe9UfC0fn

— Avant Gaming (@AvantGaming) January 6, 2019

TEAM will have a strong split if

If one assumes the resources at their disposal are correctly utilised, Avant could have a strong split and easily contest the other mid to lower tier teams, with hopes they would be well clear of the relegation scrap they slipped into in 2018. As improvements in skill are seen, and if the dedication among the players remains, they could even give the stronger rosters a run for their money. If they maintain the correct mentality and don’t tilt after their difficult opening fixtures in 2019, the organisation be able to maintain a steady and humble position in the rankings.

Pass mark for Split 1

With the current roster, Avant must aim to fix the mistakes of the last split, after a ranking that was far too close to relegation for comfort – their aim is to not repeat their mistakes. At least for the first split of this season, they’ll be looking to show Oceania that Avant Gaming is here to stay, needing some ground before they’re able to establish themselves as a bigger threat in Split 2.

Question marks

A complete revamp of the roster from the top to bottom of the Rift occurred following Avant’s placement at the end of the 2018 season. Avant looks to switch things to a new formula to avoid their past mistakes, with the addition of Rusty as an unproven coach and the bold move to bring two junglers to the roster.

Will their coach’s experience in casting and analysing China’s LPL be in the key in Avant’s success, or is Rusty too far from the OPL’s chaotic playstyle? Are the two junglers going to be their greatest weapon – fueled by the power of Ice Break (Real Coffee) – or will they remain as unutilised potential?

Snowball Esports predicted finish

7th or 8th.

The OPL returns Friday 18 January and Avant Gaming will go toe-to-toe in their first match against Chiefs, Saturday 19 January. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Avant Gaming on Twitter.

As this is the debut of the organisation in the Oceanic Pro League, Gravitas has extremely high stakes in the first split. The new-look team will be aiming to set their position among the other already established names in the league and prove themselves to Oceanic players and fans alike.

Although there aren’t any established expectations in results from previous years, it’s likely this split will be key in their bid to gather momentum as a newer unit. With the duos of Pabu and Praelus and Raid and Decoy recruited from Avant and Legacy respectively, the pre-existing synergies will potentially ease any adverse results in the process of bringing the roster together. As game veterans like former league champion EGym and regional star Juves man the reigns behind the scenes, Gravitas has the potential to be an extremely strong contender in the upcoming split.

The Roster

Top Lane: Jackson “Pabu” Pavone
Jungle: Jordan “Praelus” Fernandes
Mid Lane: Harry “Haeri” Kang
AD: Julian “Raid” Skordos
Support: Daniel “Decoy” Ealam

Coach: Bryce “EGym” Paule
General Manager: Brandon “Juves” Defina

Who will provide major impact

Following his outstanding performance in the All-Star Las Vegas 2018 1v1 Tournament, Gravitas were quick to launch the ‘Pabu Project’ after one of their strongest players. The colourfully-headed top laner comes into this split after an off-season to remember, with many considering the ‘People’s Champion’ one of the key reasons Oceania has been ‘put on the map’; if all goes well, he’ll be one of the key factors in doing the same for Gravitas.

Dark-horse in the squad

From his first appearance in the competitive Oceanic scene, Haeri has competed in the OCS and after a time in the region’s second division, expectations are high as he makes his OPL debut. With teams such as Legacy Genesis and Intuition already marked down on his resume, the upcoming split provides him with a chance to showcase his true potential in Australia and New Zealand’s professional league. Although his teammates have the advantage of prior experience with one another, if Haeri is able to stay cool under pressure in this new environment, it could prove to be his breakout season.

The draw

Heading into the split there’s certainly a challenge ahead of Gravitas as they look to stake their claim to fame in the OPL, but with the roster Juves has founded they have a fairly strong foundation, especially for a new team. For Gravitas, the key will be to hit the ground running as they play in the first game of the split against Legacy Esports, before moving on to face Juves’ old organisation Mammoth and their brand new roster on Sunday. In the second week, they face the graduated Academy roster of the Dire Wolves before their first match against the boys from Melbourne in ORDER.

For the opening fortnight, the new single fixture format provides Gravitas with an opportunity to challenge teams from all across the draw, and give an indication of their campaign’s starting point. If they’re able to achieve two or more wins, it proves they’ll be on the right path for the season. Anything less than this, and it’s likely the Gravitas boys still have some way to go in coming together as a functioning unit; they’ll need to fix their mistakes and step up their game if they want to contest playoffs throughout the remainder of the season.

Don’t mess with @Haeri_Oce killing it at Media Day #GravitasGlory pic.twitter.com/jpNN5ZziUw

— Gravitas (@GravitasOCE) January 4, 2019

Gravitas will have a strong split if…

Gravitas will have a strong split if they manage to cement themselves into the OPL and come together as a team. Coming from a range of different environments, there’s likely to be an adjustment period as they go against their former team members. The sooner they overcome this period, the sooner they’ll be able to push themselves and see how well they match up against the other recently changed rosters across the league.

Pass mark for Split 1

Despite the lack of former reference in terms of their placement, Gravitas aims to be a strong contender for Split 1, with a focus placed on proving this to others. For their current roster, having a consistent contest within the top four teams would be ideal.

Question marks

After SportsGeek acquired Tectonic’s slot and Juves took the helm as the organisation’s general manager, the group set about put together a roster from a variety of different teams, even plucking their members of staff from different positions within the OPL as EGym makes his coaching debut.

With pieces of the puzzle coming from all across the competitive scene, and EGym’s main behind-the-scenes experience coming in the form of GM of New South Wales in the annual State of Origin, the question remains – can this combination of players, fresh-faced backroom staff and sporting knowledge click in 2019? Will they find the winning formula to lead the team to victory, or will they fall short of #GravitasGlory?

Snowball Esports predicted finish

Gravitas has cemented themselves in a good position in terms of their roster as a strong mid tier team – 4th – 5th.

The OPL returns for 2019 on the 18th of January with Gravitas facing off against the new-look Legacy Esports. Watch live on the new RiotGamesOCE Twitch channel, find more information and the full fixture schedule at oce.lolesports.com.

Follow Gravitas on Twitter.