After a semifinal finish at APAC Premier 2017, Afreeca Freecs have announced that they are disbanding their roster and ceasing operations.
안녕하십니까, 아프리카 프릭스 오버워치팀입니다.
— 아프리카 프릭스 오버워치 (@AfreecaFreecsOW) November 4, 2017
짧았지만 1년이라는 시간동안 아끼고 언제나 응원해주셨던 팬분들께 진심으로 감사드립니다.
While no official reason for disbanding was given, there is speculation that it is partly due to the departure of the Afreeca Freecs staff. It was recently revealed that coaches TaiRong and HyeonWoo would be coaching the Houston Outlaws.
Afreeca Freecs (who were previously known as Afreeca Freecs Blue) competed in OGN APEX for four seasons, and earned a reputation for unpredictable performances. The team started off APEX Season 1 hot, knocking teams such as REUNITED and BK Stars out of the bracket. They ended up in the finals but were halted by Team EnVyUs from snagging the trophy.
After Season 1, they saw more limited APEX success and were unable to make the finals again, although they periodically caused upsets in the league. Their APEX record includes a 7th-8th place finish in APEX Season 2, a bronze medal in APEX Season 3, and most recently, a group stage exit in APEX Season 4. The team's last tournament appearance at APAC Premier 2017 saw them finish in the semifinals.
Afreeca Freecs went under multiple roster changes during their time, keeping the core of ArHaN, Recry, and JIN throughout their time. They most recently had a few former members move over to Overwatch League franchises, including Kalios for the Boston Uprising, and Mano for the New York Excelsior (after joining the LuxuryWatch Blue roster in August that was transferred over to the franchise).
The Afreeca Freecs' lineup was:
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