Vitality promoted two players from their academy team
The young Bees have ascended the hierarchy within the Hive. For the upcoming LEC season, Vitality hasvemade two roster changes, promoting players from their academy squad: toplaner Okan “Naak Nako” Kaan and midlaner Mateusz “Czajek” Czajka. Both sololaners earned their spots on the main roster following a satisfactory, albeit somewhat frustrating, year in the LFL. Vitality Bee were among the top teams in the French league but consistently found themselves overshadowed by BDS Academy and Karmine Corp Blue.
In the Summer, the Bees were knocked out of the LFL playoffs in the lower bracket final by the Swiss organization, only to fall to the same team again in the EMEA Masters grand final. Nonetheless, Naak Nako and Czajek have bolstered their résumés since their promotion, having won the Coupe de France last October. Naak Nako entered the LFL in 2024 with the reputation of a promising player. He initially impressed during his early weeks of competition, and after a brief slump, regained prominence at the summer EMEA Masters. He was the player with the most solokills during the Swiss Stage.
Czajek was somewhat less individually outstanding compared to his teammates last year, particularly when contrasted with his botlane. However, his promotion to the first team was decided by the coaching duo of James “Mac” MacCormack and Patrick “Pad” Suckow-Breum, who have a proven track record of nurturing young talent. Notably, they succeeded last summer in attracting jungler Linas “Lyncas” Nauncikas, who will retain his position on the roster. Despite Vitality’s underwhelming 9th-place finish in the LEC Summer Split, Lyncas had only one split—a mere three weeks of competition—to adapt to the LEC stage. It is therefore logical that Mac and Pad have opted to give him another opportunity.
Third consecutive season
In the botlane, Vitality have chosen to stick with Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság and Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov. Already teammates at MAD Lions under Mac and Pad in 2023, the duo is set to enter its third consecutive season together. This decision by the coaching staff reflects both conviction and trust in this pairing: Carzzy is widely regarded as one of the West’s premier AD Carries, while Hylissang remains a benchmark for his role.
However, since their Spring 2023 title—achieved during a particularly lackluster split—the botlane has struggled to deliver consistent results. In 2024, for instance, Hylissang’s tendency to overextend often led to costly deaths for his team. On paper, Vitality’s prospects appear tenuous: two rookies, one near-rookie, and a botlane with immense potential but a poor track record over the past months. Nevertheless, the French organization hopes that this revamped roster will prove to be the right formula, as Vitality have not participated in an international competition since the 2018 World Championship.
Team Vitality's reported 2025 roster:
- Top: Okan “Naak Nako” Kaan
- Jungle: Linas “Lyncas” Nauncikas
- Mid: Mateusz “Czajek” Czajka
- ADC: Matyáš “Carzzy” Orság
- Support: Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov
For more roster changes, don't forget to check out our Transfers Hub.
Header Photo Credit: Team Vitality
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