Zdravets Iliev Galabov, better known as Hylissang, is a Bulgarian professional League of Legends player for Team Vitality.[1] He previously played for Fnatic,[2][3] MAD Lions[4] and Unicorns of Love.[5][6] Hylissang plays the support role.

Hylissang
Hylissang at IEM San Jose 2015
Personal information
NameЗдравец Илиев Гълъбов
(Zdravets Iliev Galabov)
Nickname(s)The Professor
Born (1995-04-30) April 30, 1995 (age 29)
NationalityBulgarian
Career information
GamesLeague of Legends
Playing career2014–present
RoleSupport
Team history
20142017Unicorns of Love
20182022Fnatic
2023MAD Lions
2024–presentTeam Vitality
Career highlights and awards

Career

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Unicorns of Love

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Hylissang began his professional career in 2014 when he joined Unicorns of Love.[6] The team's promotion to the EU LCS spring split in 2015 led to a fan-voted entry into the Intel Extreme Masters Season IX. The tournament was Hylissang’s and his team’s first intercontinental experience.[7] In an upset, UOL defeated Lyon Gaming in the quarterfinals and Team SoloMid in the semifinals.[8] They secured second place in the tournament, after losing to Cloud9.[9] Hylissang's and UOL's debut during the EU LCS spring split was also a success, finishing as the runner-up after a 2–3 loss to Fnatic in the finals of the spring playoffs. In the subsequent summer split, the team finished in 4th place. Despite consistent achievements in the regular splits, Hylissang and UOL were unable to qualify for the World Championship in 2015, 2016 and 2017.[9]

Fnatic

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In 2018, Hylissang joined Fnatic,[2] one of the most accomplished organizations in the LEC.[10] Playing as a support to the experienced and now 4-time MVP winner AD Carry Rekkles, Hylissang contributed to one of Fnatic's most successful years to date. Fnatic would go on to win the 2018 spring split against G2[11] and then win the summer split versus Schalke 04.[12]

For Hylissang’s first World Championship in his career, Fnatic qualified as the number one European seed for Worlds 2018. Fnatic then progressed as first seed from the group stage with a score of 5–1, losing only to Invictus Gaming.[13] With a win over China’s Edward Gaming and a sweep against North America’s Cloud9, Hylissang and Fnatic advanced to the Worlds finals. This was the team’s second showing in the finals of Worlds since 2011. At the time, Fnatic was the only western team to ever make it to the World Championship finals. In spite of their accomplishments in the tournament thus far, the team was swept 3–0 by China’s Invictus Gaming in the grand final.[13]

In 2019, Fnatic placed third during the spring split. In the summer, after a long final series, Fnatic lost 2–3 to their rivals G2.[14] While not the best result for the team, Hylissang was awarded the AMD MVP for his individual performance on Fnatic that year.[15] Going as Europe’s second seed in Worlds, Hylissang and his team reached quarterfinals but lost 1–3 to China’s FunPlus Phoenix.[16]

In 2020, Fnatic finished second in the spring and summer split, facing defeat to G2 in both finals.[17] Similar to last year, Fnatic qualified as second seed to the World Championship and endured another quarterfinals loss to Top Esports in the World Championship.[18] Afterwards, Rekkles, Hylissang’s bot lane partner, departed the team.[19] At the same time, Hylissang’s contract with Fnatic was extended for one additional year.[20]

In September 2022, before the start of Worlds, Hylissang and new Fnatic ADC Upset tested positive for Covid-19,[21] causing a delayed start for the two players in the tournament.

After an overall unsuccessful 2021 and 2022 for Fnatic, Hylissang had to leave the team. Following nearly 5 years with Fnatic,[3] Hylissang joined MAD Lions as their new support in November 2022.[22]

Seasons overview

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Team Year Domestic International
League Split Rift Rivals Mid-Season Invitational World Championship
Winter Spring Summer Season Finals
Unicorns of Love 2014 EU CS 3rd
2015 EU LCS 2nd 4th Did not qualify
2016 EU LCS 6th 4th
2017 EU LCS 2nd 6th 2nd
Fnatic 2018 EU LCS 1st 1st 1st 3th–4th 2nd
2019 LEC 3rd 2nd 1st Did not qualify 5th–8th
2020 LEC 2nd 2nd None held[a] 5th–8th
2021 LEC 5th 2nd Did not qualify 14th–16th
2022 LEC 3rd 3rd 9th–10th
MAD Lions 2023 LEC 2nd 1st 7th 3rd 7th–8th 12th–14th
Team Vitality 2024 LEC 6th 4th 9th Did not qualify Did not qualify

Awards and honors

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International
LEC
  • Three-time LEC champion – Spring 2018, Summer 2018, Spring 2023
  • Four-time LEC 1st All-Pro Team – Spring 2018, Summer 2018, Spring 2022, Spring 2023
  • Six-time LEC 2nd All-Pro Team – Spring 2019, Summer 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Summer 2021, Winter 2023
  • One-time LEC 3rd All-Pro Team – Spring 2017

Notes

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  1. ^ Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[23]

References

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  1. ^ Seeger, Brieuc (14 November 2023). "Hylissang Set To Join Vitality". Sheep Esports.
  2. ^ a b "Sources: Fnatic to sign Hylissang, re-sign Rekkles". ESPN.com. 2017-11-18. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  3. ^ a b "Hylissang Departs Fnatic". Fnatic. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ^ "MAD Lions signs Fnatic superstar Hylissang | ONE Esports". www.oneesports.gg. 2022-11-10. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  5. ^ "Move, Exileh and Veritas to join Unicorns of Love, sources say". ESPN.com. 2016-05-16. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  6. ^ a b Abbas, Malcolm (2017-11-18). "Hylissang might be leaving Unicorns of Love for Fnatic". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  7. ^ ""We really want to bring the people a good show": an interview with Unicorns of Love – ESL". esl.com. 2015-03-27. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  8. ^ "Will Unicorns of Love surprise for a second time at Intel Extreme Masters San Jose? – ESL". esl.com. 2015-11-20. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  9. ^ a b Wynne, Jared (2020-08-15). "The rise, fall, and potential rise again of Unicorns of love". win.gg. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  10. ^ Stubbs, Mike. "Fnatic Vs Mad Lions Is A Battle For European LoL Esports Supremacy". Forbes. Retrieved 2023-12-13.
  11. ^ Li, Xing (2018-04-08). "Rekkles proves why he's the MVP in Fnatic's dominating victory over G2". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  12. ^ "Fnatic wins 2018 EU LCS Summer Split". Hotspawn. 2018-09-13. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  13. ^ a b "Fnatic, Worlds 2018 and the pain of believing". ESPN.com. 2018-11-05. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  14. ^ "G2 Esports take the LEC 2019 Summer Finals trophy after an epic five-game finale". Red Bull. 2019-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  15. ^ "Hylissang surprised to win Fnatic MVP". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  16. ^ Endres, Elena (2019-10-26). "Fnatic eliminated from Worlds 2019". Dot Esports. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  17. ^ "G2 Esports vs Fnatic 2020 LEC Summer Finals recap". Red Bull. 2020-09-07. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  18. ^ Garnace, Simon Juleovenz. "Worlds 2020: Top Esports Reverse Sweep Fnatic to Deny Upset". esports.inquirer.net. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  19. ^ "Rekkles Departs Fnatic After Five Years". Hotspawn. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  20. ^ "Fnatic brings back Hylissang on one-year deal". Reuters. 2020-11-19. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  21. ^ "Fnatic duo test positive for COVID-19 ahead of League of Legends Worlds Play-Ins test". Yahoo News. 2022-09-24. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  22. ^ Markov, Yohan (2022-11-25). "MAD Lions Hylissang exclusive interview". Jaxon. Retrieved 2023-10-13.
  23. ^ Rand, Emily (April 23, 2020). "Riot cancels Mid-Season Invitational, announces changes to worlds". ESPN. Archived from the original on March 7, 2023. Retrieved March 7, 2023.