James “Mac” MacCormack, the head coach of MAD Lions, has made the difficult decision to not attend the 2023 League of Legends World Championship in person. Instead, he will be supporting the team remotely from the U.K. This choice was made because Mac and his wife are expecting their first child next month, and he wants to be present for the birth.
Mac expressed his gratitude for the understanding and support he received from the team and OverActive Media, MAD Lions’ parent company. He emphasized the importance of prioritizing family and acknowledged that becoming a parent is a significant moment in one’s life.
While Mac’s absence will pose a challenge for MAD Lions at Worlds, the team fully supports his decision. The strategic coach, Patrick “Pad” Suckow-Breum, will step in as the acting head coach, while Mac continues to contribute behind the scenes.
MAD Lions has had a somewhat turbulent year, with inconsistent performances during the spring and summer seasons. They recently secured a third-place finish in the 2023 LEC Season Finals after a hard-fought five-game series against Fnatic.
Despite the absence of one of Europe’s top coaches, MAD Lions will do their best to prepare for the upcoming Swiss stage of Worlds 2023, which commences on Thursday, Oct. 19.
| Date | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Monday, Nov. 6 | Expected birth of Mac’s child | N/A |
| Thursday, Oct. 19 | Start of Worlds 2023 Swiss stage | N/A |
| Last month | 2023 LEC Season Finals | MAD Lions finished third after a five-game series against Fnatic |
Source: DOTESPORTS
