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Dignitas Signs Shiphtur and ZionSpartan

Riot·5/2/2014, 10:30:43 PM·0 votes·5,249 views

In the most significant talent acquisition of an already exciting offseason, Dignitas has acquired former Team Coast stars ZionSpartan and Shiphtur.

Both players have been LCS stars for over a year and are currently touted as two of the best players in North America, with Shiphtur earning the All League 2nd Team Award for the 2014 LCS spring split. This move is perhaps the most notable talent acquisition in the history of the LCS.

Dignitas Owner and General Manager, Michael O'Dell:

"We are excited to sign two top class players in ZionSpartan and Shiphtur and I look forward to seeing them team up with our guys for the Summer Split. This was not an easy decision to make but I hope it shows our intent to compete at World’s in October. I would like to thank our friends at Team Coast for making this acquisition an easy process to complete and we wish Coast all the best in their efforts to regain an LCS spot. With these additions to the squad and also with Scarra in as Full time Coach we feel that we have a good chance to succeed in LCS."

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Coast Owner and General Manager, David Slan:

"Despite our disappointing finish in the LCS, we were extremely fortunate to have a team of talented players. Rather than have these two guys miss the Summer LCS Split, we made the decision to allow ZionSpartan and Shiphtur to be acquired by Team Dignitas. We hope that our fans will appreciate how difficult this decision has been for all of us in the Coast family. We wanted what was best for the team, but also what was best for ZionSpartan and Shiphtur. Dignitas is a quality organization, and we feel this is an opportunity our players should be allowed to pursue. Our problem wasn’t skill level. But we were missing team synergy. We need to rebuild with that in mind—and that rebuilding process will begin right away.

We have a wonderfully supportive group of fans who’ve stuck with us. We have fabulous sponsors who believe in our philosophy of good sportsmanship, inclusiveness, and positive attitude. And Coast is committed to the e-Sports community. It’s been a tough couple of weeks, but Team Coast will survive and thrive again. We will soon be announcing our roster that will compete in the next Challenger Series."

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Esports Manager, Nick Allen:

"As fans of the league ourselves, it's exciting for us to see transfers like this one. Winning now is more important than ever, and as the general talent level continues to rise in both NA and EU, winning has become more difficult, resulting in some meaningful roster movements.

Teams pursuing acquisition of new talent is a strong sign of the maturity and increasing sustainability of the competitive ecosystem in the LCS, and we are excited to see the impact that this transfer (and any others yet to occur) will have on the Summer Split and Worlds. ZionSpartan and Shiphtur both clearly demonstrated their talent over the course of the Spring Split, and we look forward to watching their performance as members of Team Dignitas."

Update to Story: This means that Cruzer will be stepping down from the main lineup and switch to a sub position, while Scarra will move to a full-time coaching position

108 Comments

Deadz ft 2chainz5/2/2014, 11:47:25 PM30 votes

Very good desicion by Coast, I respect their Owner/GM and he is doing a good thing of letting their two greats be in the summer split with Dig. Jax summoner 6 summoner 4

Illya and Miyu5/2/2014, 10:59:16 PM25 votes

DIGNICOAST Hype Ahri Jax

Lightingstrike195/2/2014, 10:49:21 PM20 votes

Ahri item 3100

Jorrk5/2/2014, 11:41:08 PM18 votes

Dignitas with a HUGE power play for the summer split of 2014, picking up these two top tier solo laners should allow them to compete with the big three c9, clg, and tsm and they will be able to throw thier weight around in the games against the new lcs teams, clb and lmq, this should help to cement them as one of the best teams in the lcs

LeafOnTheWind055/3/2014, 3:10:13 AM9 votes

Im so happy I saw this article, the only reason I was sad to see CST leave the LCS is because of zion and shiphtur, both of whom I think are easily in the top 2 or 3 in their roles (in NA at least). I think shiphtur might even be the single best mid laner in the lcs, dudes a rock

3X15T3NC315P41N5/3/2014, 5:45:00 PM6 votes

Zion and Ship was way too good for the rest of Coast anyway. Coast bottom lane is a joke, and NintendudeX is so terrible I'm laughing out loud everytime he plays. Trading their best 2 players to Dig should make a stronger team.

Tilted Cause RNG5/3/2014, 12:32:41 AM5 votes

Zion is a good pick-up, I think shiphtur is too hit and miss. Never did like coast that much, cause it always seemed to be a 1 man team . . .

Star Wardz5/3/2014, 1:58:17 AM4 votes

Shiphtur is an amazing playmaker which is something dignitas lacks aside from Crumbz.

FastSkills5/2/2014, 11:31:33 PM4 votes

Thank You Dignitas, These players deserved to stay even if i hate team Coast because of the junglodex. With 3 potentials carry and a strong jungler (Crumbzz) in Dignitas, I am sure they going to be BIG and STRONG in this summer split. Smart Move by Dig. Curse might do his move to get Mancloud. By the way hate all those teams, but i am an NA fan and would like NA to have a chance at World. I hated the fact that NA LCS is CLOUD9.........................TSM-CLG...........................................................................and the others

Trauts Sudaru5/2/2014, 11:05:42 PM4 votes

sooo...what happens to cruzer then? did he get fired/benched/sub positon etc etc

Kalmageddon6675/3/2014, 12:19:19 AM3 votes

Damnit, I wanted Shiphtur to go to Curse and Vooby move to top.

finallylupus5/3/2014, 7:23:24 AM3 votes

I'm fine with Zion heading over to Dig. Zion's a great player with poor shotcalling ability, so put him on a team with a decent shotcaller in Crumbz and Zion will be great. I've got very mixed feelings about shiphtur, especially after he threw their relegation series really hard. I honestly don't think he deserves it based on his attitude.

Titanius5/3/2014, 8:22:52 PM2 votes

Scarra finally gets his retirement that Goldenglue wouldn't give him.

ajaxthelittle5/3/2014, 6:12:11 AM1 votes

i still dont understand why dig is so intent on getting rid of Scarra. I think he is still one of the top 4 mids, behind berg hai and link, but those guys are godlike. I think his mechanics are far greater than that of shiphtur. just dont get it.