Update 10/16: ESPN reported that in addition to Armut, MAD Lions is also finalizing a deal with the Movistar Riders jungler, Javier "Elyoya" Prades to replace Zhiqiang "Shad0w" Zhao. Elyoya won the LVP SuperLiga Orange league along with his team earlier this year.

According to multiple reports by Turkish esports media, including Esporin and Invade, the top laner for Paparo SuperMassive, İrfan "Armut" Tükek, is headed for LEC team MAD Lions for the 2021 season. Armut recently finished his Worlds 2020 run, falling out in the Play-Ins with a loss to Unicorns of Love in the series that would've sent him and SUP to the group stage. 

At Worlds, Armut met up with MAD Lions multiple times, playing both in their Play-In group stage and in their first best of five series to qualify for groups. Along with the rest of SuperMassive, Armut took down MAD Lions in a 3-2 series victory, showing a strong proficiency in his lane and clearly impressing his opposition. 

Armut has now attended two World Championships, his first being in 2019 with Royal Youth where he was a major boon for the team, alongside Can "Closer" Çelik, who was then signed by the LCS' Golden Guardians. Armut replaced Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik on that Royal Youth roster when Broken Balde was signed by TSM in 2019. And after coming over to NA himself, Closer called out Armut as the next player from Turkey to make it to a major region earlier this year. And if Armut's transfer to MAD Lions completes, he'll be the third player from that Royal Youth team to transfer to the LCS and LEC in three years. 

Andrei "Orome" Popa is the current top laner for MAD. He joined the team during their time in the European Masters and came into the LEC along with many other EU Masters players on the roster. He is signed with MAD Lions until 2022. 

All images via: Riot Games

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