SK Gaming’s reported acquisition of Ricardo “boltz” Prass is not yet permanent, and João “felps” Vasconcellos will play at least two major LANs with SK Gaming in the next few months, according to sources close to the team.
HLTV and Flickshot reported Thursday that felps would leave SK Gaming to be replaced by boltz, who is playing with Immortals. But according to sources, it is not a done or permanent deal. Felps recently expressed he would like to leave the team and is homesick, but SK Gaming intends to attempt to retain him. If felps does choose to return home, only then would boltz replace him permanently in the active lineup.
Further, one source said felps has not yet left the SK Gaming house, contrary to HLTV’s report. Felps will remain with the team and play from the team house for ESL Pro League matches. The team also plans for felps to attend the ECS Season 4 Finals (if SK qualifies) and the ELEAGUE Major. It is possible Boltz could play additional events with the team in felps’ place, such as EPICENTER, which begins Monday, but that remains unclear. One source described the conversations between SK Gaming, felps and boltz as “ongoing.”
SK Gaming has had a recent downturn in performance after winning ESL One Cologne in July. SK reached the semifinals of ESG Tour Mykonos and ESL One New York but did not advance out of its group at the ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier.
SK Gaming declined comment.