After missing about a month of competition due to a thumb injury, the loudest voice and leader of OpTic Inder “iLLeY’ Dhaliwal is returning to the squad. OpTic’s head coach Raymond “Rambo” Lussier confirmed that iLLeY will start practicing with the team starting this week.
Related: [Top Five Teams Heading Into Major 4]
OpTic had missed him
At the beginning of the year, iLLeY and OpTic were in their best form. Undoubtedly the best team in the game. Winning most of their placement matches and highlighted by winning the Major 1 event. Heading into Major 2, OpTic were clear favorites to win the event. However, after some unfortunate plays, they were unable to recover and ended up placing T-6. Even though they didn’t place well, everyone knew, as long as OpTic has iLLeY and their other three stars, they’re still a top team in the game.
Solid Substitutes
Realizing iLLeY can’t play, OpTic brought on their already signed substitute Jordon “General” General to fill in. Even though they had an impressive game five win over FaZe, they ultimately ended up losing in the next round to LA Thieves, placing T-4.
Heading into Major 3, everyone thought OpTic would just keep playing with General until iLLeY gets back. Being that General has been their substitute all the way back in Modern Warfare (2019) and a dominate Challengers player this year. However, OpTic decided to go in a different direction.
Instead they decided to pick up Byron “Prolute” Vera, a somewhat interesting choice. Regardless, OpTic still did their thing in the qualifying matches but wasn’t able to get the job done at Major 3 only finishing T-6. Although, Prolute played well and did what he needed to do for the team. But going into battle without your leader is always going to be difficult, no matter the game or sport.
What OpTic Has Been Missing
Having multiple championships and a ring to his name. iLLeY brings a championship mindset whether it’s a game five in the Grand Finals or a placement match vs the Paris Legion. Having that passion for the game is something OpTic, known for slacking off at the end of the year, has needed for years.
This season, although iLLeY may not have the same stats has he did in years past but he also wasn’t playing with three of the best players in the game. In years past, his teams relied on him to get kills while his teammates did the dirty work. However, with this game everyone on his team can easily get kills. iLLeY brings something to the game that you don’t see on the stat sheet. Along with his leadership game and communication throughout the game make him someone very hard to replace.
Even though he has been struggling on the stats side, his injury could have been bothering him for longer than the public knows. Regardless, now that he’s healthy and back playing with the team. Hopefully heading into the Major 4 qualifying matches, OpTic fans will get to see the iLLeY of old.
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