TL;DR
- Team Liquid replaces veteran jungler Xmithie with Fnatic’s Broxah for 2020 LCS season
- Broxah brings international experience from Fnatic’s 2018 Worlds finals run
- Xmithie departs after securing four consecutive LCS split titles with Liquid
- Fnatic counters with Selfmade acquisition and mithy coaching addition
- Roster move represents calculated risk rather than complete team overhaul
Despite Team Liquid’s impressive 2019 competitive performance, the organization has made a bold strategic move by overhauling their jungle position for the upcoming season. This decision demonstrates that even successful teams must continuously evolve to maintain their competitive edge in the rapidly changing esports landscape.
According to industry insider Jacob Wolf during ESPN’s League of Legends Free Agency broadcast, Liquid has secured the services of Fnatic’s accomplished jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen. The Danish player will be taking over the starting jungle role previously held by Jake “Xmithie” Puchero in what represents one of the most significant roster changes of the offseason.
Broxah concludes his tenure with Fnatic after establishing himself as one of Europe’s premier junglers across three impactful seasons. He originally joined the organization through their academy system in 2016 before rapidly earning promotion to the main roster, showcasing the effectiveness of Fnatic’s talent development pipeline.
Throughout his time with the European powerhouse, Broxah consistently demonstrated world-class performance on the international stage. He played an instrumental role in guiding Fnatic to the World Championship tournament every year since his debut, with his most notable achievement being the team’s impressive run to the 2018 grand finals against Invictus Gaming.
The 2019 competitive season featured Broxah generating significant attention for both his exceptional mechanical skills and off-stage team dynamics. Persistent rumors regarding tension between himself and star bot laner Martin “Rekkles” Larsson circulated throughout the year, creating additional pressure on the organization. Although Broxah repeatedly and emphatically denied any substantive conflict with his teammate during multiple public statements, former Fnatic head coach Joey “YoungBuck” Steltenpool indirectly referenced internal team challenges that required management attention.
With Broxah’s arrival at Team Liquid, Xmithie now faces the challenging position of being a free agent in the competitive jungle market. The seasoned jungler represents one of North America’s most experienced LoL professionals with a competitive career extending back to 2012, giving him nearly a decade of professional experience.
Xmithie initially gained widespread recognition during his breakout 2015 season with Counter Logic Gaming before joining Team Liquid’s roster in 2017.
Xmithie’s two-year stint with Team Liquid established an unprecedented period of domestic dominance within the LCS. Under his leadership, the team captured four consecutive split championships while qualifying for the World Championship in both 2018 and 2019. Although Liquid failed to advance beyond the group stage during both international appearances, the organization achieved notable success by reaching the championship match of the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational, demonstrating their capability to compete against the world’s best teams during tournament play.
Filling Broxah’s position on Fnatic’s starting lineup will be SK Gaming’s accomplished jungler Oskar “Selfmade” Boderek. The European organization has also strengthened their coaching staff by adding former Origen player Alfonso “mithy” Aguirre Rodríguez to assume head coaching responsibilities for the 2020 competitive season, indicating a comprehensive approach to their roster reconstruction.
Broxah likely represents a tactical upgrade at the crucial jungle position for Team Liquid, though the ultimate impact on team performance remains uncertain. Xmithie delivered consistently strong performances throughout his tenure with the organization, and the acquisition of Broxah doesn’t appear to signal a comprehensive organizational restructuring or fundamental strategic shift within the team’s core identity.
Supporters will have their first opportunity to witness the revitalized Team Liquid lineup when the 2020 LCS Spring Split commences, providing immediate insight into how this roster change will affect team coordination, early-game strategies, and objective control throughout the competitive season.
Action Checklist
- Analyze player statistics across domestic and international competitions to assess upgrade potential
- Evaluate team chemistry factors and communication styles when considering roster changes
- Monitor early split performance to identify integration success or challenges
- Compare international experience levels when assessing player acquisitions for global competition
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Broxah splits from Fnatic, replaces Xmithie on Team Liquid Analyzing Team Liquid's jungle roster swap: Broxah replaces Xmithie after two successful seasons