One of the most iconic team members in League of Legends esports is leaving his home. Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov, who played the support role in Fnatic’s LEC team for five consecutive years, parts ways with the organization.
Fnatic made the announcement on its site, saying, “All of us at Fnatic want to say thank you for everything over these past years. You have provided us with countless unforgettable and truly iconic moments. You have defined yourself as one of the region’s best and brightest. We are immensely proud to have been such a pivotal part of your journey, and we look forward to seeing your continued growth.”
Team director Javi “Dardo” Zafra added, “It’s always hard to say goodbye to players like Hyli. As a staple of the roster for the last few years, Hyli has brought a lot during his time here and remains an extremely unique and skillful talent with a lot to give. More than that, he is one of the most lovely players I’ve had the privilege of working with, a true professional both in and out of the game.”
Two LEC titles and a Worlds final
Hylissang joined Fnatic in the LEC (then named EU LCS) in 2018 after spending almost four years on Unicorns of Love. With bot laner Martin “Rekkles” Larsson by his side, Hylissang took over the bot lane. The chemistry between the two was odd—Hylissang preferred playing aggressively while Rekkles pumped the brakes. However, over the years, the two became one of the most recognizable bot lanes in the world.
On Fnatic, Hylissang found success quickly. The team won the 2018 EU LCS Spring Split and qualified for the Mid-Season Invitational. They had to make do with a semifinal finish, losing to eventual MSI champion Royal Never Give Up. Fnatic returned to the European competition determined to assert their dominance. Hylissang and his teammates scooped up the Summer Split trophy too and made it to the 2018 League of Legends World Championship. They made it out of the Group Stage in first place, beating Invictus Gaming in a tiebreaker match. Fnatic seemed unstoppable and battled its way to the grand final. But the ball stopped rolling. Fnatic lost 3-0 to their Group Stage nemesis Invictus Gaming.
Fnatic’s flagship player
In the past four years, Hylissang led Fnatic to four additional LEC finals and four world championships, though the trophy remained out of reach. Hylissang’s flame had far from extinguished, though. His aggressive playstyle kept defining him and his team across many splits. In the 2022 LEC Spring Split, he put on a phenomenal performance and was almost crowned the MVP of the Spring Split. The Summer Split was more difficult for Hylissang, but Fnatic still qualified for Worlds 2022. The team escaped the Play-In Stage, but their run ended in disappointing fashion in the Group Stage.
Hylissang has not yet announced which team he’ll be joining for the 2023 season.