The botlane won it all in Div2 in 2023 with TDS
GameWard is tapping into past TDS success by reuniting a botlane that once dominated the French second division. According to Sheep Esports sources, the club will keep Matias “Matias” Manchin-Opheltes and bring back Théo “HONOR” Magania for the upcoming season of LFL, reuniting the duo that led Team du Sud to victory in Div2 during the 2023 year. Together, they won both splits of Div2 in 2023 and secured promotion to the LFL after their impressive Up&Downs performance.
The pair also made a strong impression in the Coupe de France, where they outperformed first-division botlanes, defeating Solary and Vitality.Bee in clean 3-0 sweeps on their way to the finals. Despite their success, HONOR was the only player to stay with Team du Sud in 2024, while Matias moved on to GameWard. Both players, however, had mixed results in the early part of the 2024 season.
A New Reunion
For HONOR, his first split in the LFL with Team du Sud ended with a 9th-place finish, one spot behind GameWard, who placed 8th in the Spring Split. HONOR subsequently lost his spot in the LFL and returned to Div2 with Joblife, where he finished 4th in the Summer Split. Matias, meanwhile, stayed with GameWard and helped the team secure a 6th-place finish in the LFL Summer Split, earning him a spot at the EMEA Masters for the first time in his career.
Now, HONOR will have a second chance in France's top division, reuniting with Matias in a botlane that has already proven its strength. They will be guided by Head Coach Benjamin “Fara” Stoffel, who remains with GameWard according to Sheep Esports sources. Fara and Matias had previously worked together in 2022 with Yellow Stripes, Vitality’s third team. After reuniting with his coach last year, Matias is now set for another reunion—with his old botlane partner.
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Header Photo Credit: TDS