Steven "Reeker" Chen is making his way back to the top. According to Sheep Esports sources, the Team BDS Academy mid laner has reached a verbal agreement with SK Gaming to join their LEC team for the upcoming season. The German talent, born in 2001, will once again be on the same team as Team BDS' current assistant coach, Mauro "Garih" Garih. They were both parts of one of the most dominant teams in European Regional League (ERL) history. In addition to this change, further roster adjustments may be on the horizon for SK Gaming.

Reeker is set to replace current mid laner Yasin "Nisqy" Dinçer — but not because Nisqy chose to leave for another team. SK simply determined that Reeker was a better overall fit for the team. Additionally, the organization considered Felix "Abbedagge" Braun, the current mid laner of Karmine Corp Blue. However, Reeker remained the team’s primary choice throughout the whole process.

Several LEC teams expressed interest in Reeker, and he even received an offer from Team Heretics. However, his priority was always SK Gaming, where he now aims to make his LEC comeback.

The ERL King of Mid Lane

As previously mentioned, Reeker and Team BDS Academy are frequently mentioned in discussions about the most dominant ERL teams in history, alongside teams like MAD Lions with Tim "Nemesis" Lipovšek and Oskar "Selfmade" Boderek. Even before these comparisons, Reeker was already recognized as one of the top players in his role before moving up to the LEC in 2022.

His stellar reputation wasn't only just built on solid ERL gameplay—he also won two Prime League titles with BIG and nearly reached the EU Masters finals, losing to Karmine Corp in a close semifinal that KC eventually converted into a championship win. During the November 2021 offseason, Reeker was already one of the most sought-after European mid laners, attracting interest from several interesting LEC teams.

The German player ultimately filled the void left by Marek “Humanoid” Brazda's departure from MAD Lions — he was the top priority for the team's previous coaching staff that offseason. He joined MAD after the team not only changed their mid laner but also swapped Matyáš "Carzzy" Orság for William "UNF0RGIVEN" Nieminen. However, his debut LEC split didn't go as expected, and Reeker soon found himself back on the transfer market.

Challenges Along the Way

Despite this, two powerhouse ERL organizations, KOI and BDS, expressed strong interest in Reeker, both making significant offers for a regional league player. Ultimately, the German mid laner chose to join BDS Academy, drawn in by the opportunity for promotion to the main team. His first split was an undeniable success, with BDS Academy finishing as runners-up in the European Masters, narrowly missing out on the EMEA Masters trophy by a single game.

The following year, 2023, things didn't go as planned. BDS Academy failed to win any titles, and the team underwent a complete rebuild — except for one player: Reeker. The organization placed its trust in him once again for 2024, building a roster with him as the core. That trust was rewarded, and Reeker led his team to yet more success.

Reeker: More Than Titles

Beyond his mountain of titles, Reeker is also considered the best mid laner in the LFL according to Sheep Stats. The LFL, regarded as Europe’s strongest regional league, features many rising star talents, but Reeker stands out — not just for his consistency, but for his impressive individual performances.

Not only is he the highest rated mid laner, but his KDA stats are also outstanding — he ranks fourth among all LFL players in all positions. He also holds the second-best record for kills in a single LFL match, with 14 kills against Solary during the Summer Split.

Beyond individual statistics, Reeker has demonstrated mastery over champions like Tristana, Corki, LeBlanc, and Ahri. While these champions are commonly played, his KDA remains exceptional, particularly with Corki, and his win rates reflect his consistent success in the LFL. Another standout stat from this year: Reeker boasts a 100% win rate on Yone, having won 9 out of 9 matches with the champion.

By the 15-minute mark, Reeker surpasses his lane opponent in CS in over 66% of games and averages a gold lead of 425.

Close to the Golden Road

In 2024, Team BDS Academy was even stronger and came close to achieving the "Golden Road" in the ERLs. Reeker, along with his entire team, won every possible competition during the Summer Split. They set a record-breaking 17-1 score in the regular season, finishing first, and then comfortably secured the LFL playoffs title. These achievements earned them a spot at the EMEA Masters, where they emerged victorious with a 3:1 win against Team Vitality Academy.

However, the Golden Road had already been derailed earlier in the year. They were eliminated in the semifinals by Beşiktaş Esports during the EMEA Masters Spring Split and lost the LFL finals to Karmine Corp Blue, despite showing strong performances throughout.

After a dominant year in the ERLs, Reeker is understandably poised for a second chance at the LEC, this time with SK Gaming. As SK Gaming makes its final decisions about its roster and coaching staff, Sheep Esports will report on any updates. To keep up with the offseason at large, check out the Sheep Esports Transfers Hub.