Top Laner Cho "Castle" Hyeon-seong has reached a verbal agreement with Immortals to join the League Championship Series (LCS), according to Sheep Esports sources. He is set to represent the final addition to the team's starting roster. Notably, Castle will be reuniting with mid laner Lee "Mask" Sang-hun, with whom he previously competed under KT Challengers in 2022.

Full IMT LCS 2024 roster

Top Lane: Cho "Castle" Hyeon-seong
Jungle: Jonathan "Armao" Armao
Mid Lane: Lee "Mask" Sang-hun
Bot Lane: Edward "Tactical" Ra
Support: Kim "Olleh" Joo-sung

Head Coach: Alexey "Sharkz" Taranda

First Test in a Major League

Following recent trends, Castle is set to be among the several South Korean rookies joining teams in the West this off-season. Since entering the competitive scene in late 2020, he has evolved under KT Rolster's academic divisions, playing alongside several players who have since made a name for themselves, such as Noah and VicLa.

This move will most importantly mark the player's re-unification with Mask, whom was reported to be joining Immortals as its mid laner. In 2022, the duo competed together in the LCK Challengers League, achieving a fourth-place finish in the spring split and finishing in 6th place during the summer split.

Following their separation, Mask pursued competition in the Prime League (The ERL of the DACH region), while Castle remained in Korea. The top laner continued with the organization that initially scouted him, sharing his spot with 19-year-old rookie PerfecT, who eventually replaced him. Before officially departing from the team, Castle accomplished a commendable 3rd place in the league during the spring split.

Known mostly for his strong performances on champions like Gnar and Gragas in recent times, a look at the player's account indicates that his champion pool is not to be underestimated and that Castle might have more tools in his arsenal as he heads into the LCS.

A Dark Horse for the LCS

With their roster now finalized for the upcoming season, Immortals are positioning themselves as a potential team that could cause upsets in the league. While stating that the team is expected to secure a championship might be premature, the newly-formed squad of the North American organization could have the potential to make a significant impact onto the league.

Sources tell Sheep Esports that the team was also in talks with top laner Eric "Licorice" Ritchie prior to locking-in Castle. Further information given to Sheep Esports indicate that the final decision of bringing the South Korean top laner onto the team's roster was made prior to the official announcement that Golden Guardians would exit the North American league.

Aside from the two former KT Rolster players being re-united, Immortals has made pro-active moves this off-season to acquire exciting new prospects such as Jonathan "Armao" Armao who recently had a resurgence in the league, winning the LCS Proving Grounds and reaching a 3rd place in the LCS Summer Split group stage.

While there are several factors that could contribute to Immortals' success in the league, fans are particularly eager for the return of support Kim "Olleh" Joo-sung, who will be re-joining the LCS after a long competitive hiatus. Now paired with Edward "Tactical" Ra for the first time, the two players' ability to mesh well together is expected to be a crucial element that could significantly influence the success or failure of the new squad.

Though many questions still surround this team, it is shaping up as a roster worth keeping an eye on entering the 2024 season.