The changes to the top competitive teams following the World Championships continue as Counter Logic Gaming loses one of its founding members Steve “Chauster” Chau.
The announcement comes in a post on the official CLG website, where both the CLG organization and president George “HotShotGG” Georgallidis wished Chauster all the best with his future plans, commending what he did for the team and stating that “CLG would not be what it is today without him”.
Chauster, as one of the founding members of the North American CLG squad, played for the team for over three years, and was feared by many for his game knowledge and mechanics. Over his CLG tenure, Chauster played every role, making him one of the only competitive players to have ever played every position at a top level. Another notable aspect of his career is the development of his lane partner Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, who attributes much of his current skill to Chauster’s mentoring.
In his statement, Chauster cited a decline in his dedication to competitive play, and said that “I am no longer the player I was two years ago and I do not see myself eclipsing my former self”. His respect for CLG and all who played there over his time is apparent, and clearly he leaves with heavy heart.
The loss of Chauster is a heavy blow to CLG, as not only was he an experienced and talented support player, but also the shot-caller and tactical mind behind CLG’s play. Whether or not one of the remaining members will take up the heavy burden Chauster leaves behind is unclear, or if his replacement will step into Chauster’s shoes.
Attached to the announcement, CLG also stated that they have decided to move starting jungler Michael “Bigfatlp” Tang to the bench. The team is currently trying out new talent, and hopes to have new players to fill both positions shortly, giving the new roster time to prepare for the upcoming IEM Cologne.
Source: CLG Website
