Call of Duty player Pierce ‘Gunless’ Hillman has been moved to the team’s substitute position as LG continue to struggle in the CWL Pro League.
The organization’s Black Ops 4 season started well, finishing fourth and CWL Las Vegas, and securing victory at CWL Fort Worth – an event where Gunless was named the “most valuable player”.
Since their win in Texas, LG have struggled, placing top eight at CWL London, while sliding down the CWL Pro League table, currently sitting bottom of Division A with a 5-12 record.
Luminosity drop Gunless, bring in Ricky
In a statement released on Twitter by founder Steve Maida, Luminosity confirmed that Gunless “will move to the substitute roster and our coach and former professional player Richard ‘Ricky’ Stacey will be moved to the starting roster.”
Maida stated that following the tournament win at CWL Fort Worth “the team atmosphere slowly deteriorated,” and “despite attempts to rectify the situation, we’ve reached a point where change is necessary.”
“We ask that you respect our judgement, decision, [and] the players” concluded the Luminosity founder, “And do your best to support them in this temporary time of turbulence.”
Gunless and more react to benching
Following the announcement that he was being benched, Gunless tweeted that it wasn’t his decision to be removed the the starting lineup, but he accepted the decision made by Luminosity.
“The only thing I’m going to say about the situation is that I didn’t force myself on the bench,” wrote the Fort Worth MVP. “I respect the organization’s decision and whatever they decide to do.”
The only thing that I’m going to say about the situation is that I didn’t force myself on the Bench and that I respect the organizations decision and whatever they decide to do
— LG Peirce (@Gunless) May 23, 2019
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Michael ‘Spacely’ Schmale immediately told Gunless to “hit [his] line” if he would like to “run [the] open [bracket],” while FaZe Clan’s Matthew ‘Skrapz’ Marshall asked him if we wanted to win a “proper event” this time.
Yo @Gunless hit my line if u wanna run open :sob:
— Spacely – Mike (@SpaceLy) May 23, 2019
You wanna win a proper event this time m8?
— FaZe Skrapz (@skrapzg) May 23, 2019
The benching of Gunless comes during a week where rumors circulated that he wasn’t scrimming with his team, and arrived at the MLG Arena just 15 minutes before their Pro League match started.
Fellow pro player Patrick ‘ACHES’ Price defend the player throughout the week, pointing out that during LG’s 3-1 defeat to Reciprocity, Gunless was the only player to finish with a positive kill/death ratio.
Luminosity’s new-look lineup will be in action for the first time on May 23, when they take on Division A leaders OpTic Gaming in the CWL Pro League.
Luminosity CWL Pro League Starting Lineup
- Josiah ‘Slacked‘ Berry
- Johnathan ‘John‘ Perez
- Matthew ‘FormaL‘ Piper
- Nicholas ‘Classic‘ DeCostanzo
- Richard ‘Ricky‘ Stacey
