Overwatch League: NYXL Releases Mandu
| Tags: Overwatch
| Author Ophelie Castelot
The New York Excelsior releases flex support player Chan-hee “Mandu” Kim.
Less than a day after the departure of Dong-gyu “Mano” Kim, who is joining the Philadelphia Fusion, the NYXL announce another release. The team is parting ways with flex support player Chan-hee “Mandu” Kim.
Thank you @mandu_ow for all of your hard work and contributions. Wishing you all the best in your journey. #EverUpward pic.twitter.com/xLgYk5rFeu
— NY Excelsior (@NYExcelsior) November 3, 2020
Mandu didn’t really get a chance to shine with the NYXL. He joined the team back in November 2019, but warmed the bench most of the season. He was underaged until June 3, and per the Overwatch League rules, he couldn’t compete with his team. Even when he turned 18, Mandu didn’t have much game time. The team already settled with another healing duo: Taesung “Anamo” Jung and Sung-hyeon “JJoNak” Bang.
Despite being able to rotate and help his team, the special situation of the Overwatch League during the Covid-19 pandemic and his young age didn’t play in his favor. Will Mandu get a second shot at the Overwatch League? The next few weeks should reveal what is next for the South Korean support player.
As Mandu leaves the team, the NYXL is down to four players. The support duo formed by Anamo and JJoNak has been working for over two years now, and the team doesn’t seem ready to part ways with their back lane. The NYXL is also keeping its team captain, Jong-ryeol “Saebyeolbe” Park, as well as flex DPS player Hae-seong “Libero” Kim. These four players joined the team in 2017 and early 2018, gathering a lot of experience playing together.
Ophelie is both an esport and journalism lover. She is the former head of the CS:GO section for a major esport website. Ophelie has been analyzing Overwatch ever since its release in 2016.