FURIA are prepared to move on from Henrique ‘HEN1’ Teles, sources tell Rush B Media. DBLTAP first reported that FURIA was exploring potential replacement options for HEN1 within the starting lineup. However, sources tell Rush B Media that FURIA may have already found their replacement for HEN1. Triumph’s growing star AWPer Paytyn ‘junior’ Johnson is in talks to join FURIA’s starting lineup following HEN1’s final run with the team through the IEM Global Challenge.
HEN1’s exit means the end of a 14-month run in the lineup that includes over 100 wins, 13 top-three finishes, and a victory at ESL Pro League Season 12 North America. The other pieces saw massive growth during the iteration of this lineup and will look to continue that growth with junior.
Junior’s impressive potential was recently put on display in perhaps the most impressive showing of his career just two days ago against Team Liquid. In the semi-finals of the IEM Beijing-Haidan 2020 NA, junior bested the former IEM Grand Slam winners through three maps, ending with a server best 1.36.
Rush B Media contacted a representative from Triumph Gaming who declined to comment on the story, as well as a representative from FURIA who has not responded at the time of publication.
UPDATE: In response to the various reports today, FURIA CEO Jaime Padua has issued the following statement on Twitter:
Como todo mundo já sabe, nós estamos sim buscando um jogador extra pro nosso elenco, mas isso não tem nada a ver com o @HEN1.
Além dele ser meu amigo pessoal, estamos muito felizes com ele na @furia e enquanto o sentimento for mútuo, não temos pq pensar diferente disso.
Jaime Paduia
