It has been a suspenseful six days since the rift between Eric "2Easy" van Hoorn and his fellow REUNITED founders and now former team mates became very public. After the story broke on Friday it still seemed possible, even if improbable, that 2Easy could continue to play for REUNITED, but today both parties involved have confirmed that his "step down" from the team will be a permanent one.

Taking to Facebook to announce their changes, REUNITED also officially revealed their newest recruit:

"Today REUNITED and Eric "2Easy" van Hoorn have decided to part ways. This has not been an easy decision for the team given the long-term friendship between 2Easy and the remaining players. Over the years we have had some amazing experiences together and we will be parting ways as friends.

Both the team chemistry and performance have been on a downfall for some time. These issues have been holding the team back and we believe that this decision is the best for the team as a whole going forward. With an ambition of becoming the best Overwatch team in the world hard decisions have to be made – and this is one of them.

Finley "Kyb" Adisi will replace 2Easy. The 17 year old British national was spotted via leaderboards (http://masteroverwatch.com/profile/...) during our scouting process. Finding potential replacements for 2Easy was not a simple task but we are confident that we have found the right talent in Kyb who has only played Overwatch since the official release.

2Easy will continue to play Overwatch, but not under the REUNITED banner. We fully support 2Easy in finding a new home where his talent can shine. We wish him all of the best in the future and hope to see him in the Overwatch scene for the years to come."

A virtual unknown in competitive circles, Kyb was seen turning heads for REUNITED last night in the ESL Atlantic Showdown Qualifier #1 in a 3-0 romp over Northern Gaming Blue, where he was interestingly facing off against another REUNITED applicant Shadez, who had trialled for them during the GosuGamer Weekly #14 EU on Saturday.

Speaking on Twitter, 2Easy confirmed the situation and offered his own personal reflections:

"Well... from today forward I will no longer play for reunited or be part of the organisation. officially out of Reunited. I have played with some of them for over six years we always aspired to play together in a succesful game. Now when finally that moment has arrived I have to leave. At the moment I don't really know what to do because leaving reunited and not being able to play with (some) of my best friends is not easy for me and it really makes me sad. For the fans that supported me, I will probably play in another team or make my own team again but for now I just need a little break. I really hope to compete again with a group of players like Vallutaja, Morte, Winghaven and Unfixed. I really enjoyed playing with them.

A lot of people probably wonder why they decided to let me go. The reason is basically because they felt like I wasn't good for the team environment. I have always been a vocal (or toxic whatever you want to call it) player at times but it was never at a level that it was unbearable so to say. The last 2 months however I have to admit that it got worse. I am not a person that likes to shift the blame but but it must be said that I really had a tough period the last few months (personal & family issues which I don't really want to discuss) so it is entirely possible that this may be the cause of my increase in toxicity. I don't blame them for kicking me because of this reason but I do think that after so many years playing together I deserved an official warning before they decided to let me go.

I would like to end saying that I respect their decision and it has been a great pleasure playing with these guys. They are incredibly talented and I am sure they will kick ass on Gamescom.

Peace."

It has clearly been an unpleasant period for everyone involved, but a mutual respect is apparent today in the statements released on social media which constitute a clean break and the start of exciting new chapters for both 2Easy and REUNITED.

One final development in the story comes as it has emerged that REUNITED had been recently been working with a coach known as lirreboss to try and remedy their problems. He also spoke on his short time with the team on Twitter today:

"My journey with REUNITED!

As this comes as a shock to most, I was previously an interim coach for REUNITED during a period of seven days. I was brought up as a name due to the team needing a motivator, a mediator and a person that works with them daily. After such seven dramatic days, I was given the bye from REUNITED as interim coach.

Let me start first with describing the "2easy ordeal". First, I wish to state that 2easys resignation wasn't a total shock as the players atmosphere was bad, as it was partially one of the reasons behind the performance decline. After a hard time with more instigated "discussions" mid practice/official matches, it came to an end.

Therefore, 2easy had to be benched and the players wished to try out shadez.

Shadez was a promising fit but due to his lack of experience in playing with international team, the communication wasn't as fluid as they hoped it to be. That itself created obstacles which I believed was too big for the team. He wasn't living up to the expectancy that the team originally had, as a replacement for such a big name as 2easy.

I still believe that shadez would have been a great addition, as he is an hardworking ambitious person. But due to differences of opinion and shadez not being selected, the team decided not to continue with me as a coach. Originally, Me and REUNITED had different of opinions as I was the one that tried to mediate between 2easy and the players. Therefore him being ultimately removed, and shadez not getting picked up. My vision had become different to REUNITEDs vision.

I personally believe that the decision to remove 2easy was a neccesity to bring up the team performance steadily upwards. However, it created a hole as 2easy brought the team forward with ideas, visions and shared his belief on how to play as a team.

I also want to point out that the teams previous addition Kruise was the best player decision that they ever made. Kruise is doing a phenomenal job and he already has a highly respected opinion to any decision being taken internally in the team.

I want to stress that I'm pre-statement in good standing with the players, and that I left on what I wish to believe was good standing. I also want to stress that I just wasn't the jigzaw puzzle piece in their grand play of puzzle, we together were simply too different in the vision of how to reach success. But do not leave out the fact that I do believe that the team is in need of a coach. I just wasn't the right man for the job done.

I wish REUNITED all the best in the future!

With sincerest of regards to REUNITED

lirreboss"

The new REUNITED roster is:

  • Hendrik-William "Vallutaja" Kinks (DPS)
  • Andrei "uNFixed" Leonov (DPS)
  • Finley "Kyb" Adisi (DPS)
  • Thomas "Morte" Kerbusch (Support)
  • Harrison "Kruise" Pond (Support)
  • Sergi "Winghaven" Torras (Tank)