During an LCS-game in march you could see a new face amongst the experienced players in Gambit Gaming. In the midlane, a Swedish soloqueue-star made his LCS-debut after quitting school the year before. About six months later, Felix “Betsy” Edling is a respected LCS-player with no plans on going back to school, but he also has worries about Leagues future as an esport.

– Riot is losing a lot by making the game so team-focused. You should be able to outplay your opponent one on one, he says to Aftonbladet Esport.

The plan was originally to take a one-year break from high school to be able to spend more time playing the game, but after establishing himself in the LCS, Betsys plan is to keep playing fulltime.

– In a way the offer from Gambit came out of nowhere. I barely knew anyone there and to be honest I probably had more foes than friends in Gambit. But it feels great to play in a team like this, with players that has won big tournaments back in the day. Coming in to play with someone like Konstantinos ”FORG1VEN” Tzortziou was also really cool. It feels like I came out of nowhere straight in to Gambit and the LCS, but the adjustment went well, he says.

”Had a decent first split”

The life as a pro-player in Berlin has been relatively problem-free so far, even though Betsy have found both pros and cons in the transition from living in Sweden.

– It’s cool being a pro, especially the fans. The pressure can be tough sometimes, but that can’t be avoided. In the beginning we didn’t do that well, I had a lot of talented players around me but we had a lot of pressure. I think I had a decent first split myself, he says.

During the summer split, Gambit had a very unfortunate opening, with five straight losses. They managed to somewhat bounce back and were close to the playoffs, but ended up in the relegations.

– It didn’t feel good to play in the relegations, but we were almost certain that we would beat mousesports. We felt very secure, partly because it’s such a big difference from playing on stage compared to at home. Getting used to the stage was unexpectedly easy for me. Initially I was really nervous, but when you sit down at the computer all the pressure just disappears, he says.

”xPeke and Froggen are not as good anymore”

Europe has historically been a region filled with midlaners of high international standard. But according to Betsy, Riot has changed the game in a way which makes it very hard to stand out individually.

–I don’t like the game being as team-focused as it is. You can’t play aggressive one on one anymore, it’s a lot more about the team. For example in Gambit, our playstyle is toplane-focused, which makes it so that I can rarely do anything in mid. I don’t remember the last time I died one on one in midlane. I think I would benefit from a play more focused around the midlane, players like Enrique ”xPeke” Cedeño Martínez or Henrik ”Froggen” Hansen are not as good anymore as they once were, he says, and keeps on explaining.

– I think I could be one of the best midlaners in the LCS, but at the same time it’s hard to compare individual skill now that it doesn’t really matter anymore. Sadly it feels like Riot is losing a lot by making the game so team-focused, you should be able to outplay your opponent one on one. They should allow snowballing, like in Dota. It would make the game more fun, both to watch and play. As it is now I don’t watch much League, I don’t find it interesting. If I didn’t play, I probably wouldn’t be watching it, he says.



Going in to worlds, do you get motivated by watching the top teams play, or does it feel bitter not being there?

– I didn’t expect going to worlds during my first LCS-season, but that might be my goal for the next season. I’m rooting for SKT; they are the most fun to watch. When it comes to the Europeans Fnatic is the big hope, but they will never go further than the semifinals. I don’t think H2K or Origen can get out of their groups, Betsy says.