100 Thieves jungler Maurice “Amazing” Stückenschneider revealed on social media he would be exploring options for the 2020 League of Legends season. The German player joined in May for the Summer Split, but the organization finished in eighth place – the bottom half of the bracket.
100 Thieves has allowed me to explore my options for 2020. I enjoyed my time there and was happy about the amount of enthusiasm everyone brought to the table despite a rough season – I always felt supported. Also special thanks to @pr0lly for having the guts to bring me in!
— Maurice "Amazing" Stückenschneider (@Amazingx) November 11, 2019
Amazing and the Thieves
“I definitely do want to win another title though. Worlds is obviously one thing but raising that trophy was my sweetest and most hard earned victory in my career and if I wanna be happy with myself and look back on my career fondly it has to happen,” Amazing stated.
100 Thieves is well known for having the second-highest payroll in the North American League of Legends Championship Series (LCS). This is significant, as LCS commissioner Chris Greeley stated that the average salary for a professional player in the North American scene is over $300,000, even if the minimum salary is $75,000. However, the organization has not achieved better results compared to teams that have paid less. The Thieves did rebound from a dead-last finish in the 2019 LCS Spring Split to an attempt toward a Summer Split Playoffs run, but it wasn’t enough.
Pay cut for a championship?
Amazing has previously competed under organizations like Fnatic, Origen, Team SoloMid, and the Mysterious Monkeys. With his experience in the European scene, it is possible he could explore options and return to the region. However, this would most likely mean a pay cut. Many have commented about how the LCS is often 2-3 times the salary of the League of Legends European Championship (LEC). While the franchising of the LEC has implemented the same minimum base, only star players are likely to also have matching salaries to the LCS.
This news follows 100 Thieves coach Neil “pr0lly” Hammad departing from the organization, and the introduction of veteran LCK caster Chris “PapaSmithy” Smith into a General Manager role. Where will Amazing go next? And what will 100 Thieves’ roster look like for the 2020 Spring Split? Let us know about your opinion, and keep up with Daily Esports for all of your League of Legends coverage.
Published: Nov 13, 2019 12:40 pm