Natus Vincere jungler Enes "Rhilech" Uçan has been officially named the Rookie of the Year in the European LEC 2026 league. Riot Games announced the winner and presented the award this Friday on stage in Berlin, just minutes before NAVI's elimination match against GIANTX.
In the voting for the best rookie title, Rhilech edged out SK Gaming AD Carry Josip "Jopa" Čančar and Shifters toplaner Shin "Rooster" Yun-hwan. The Turkish esports athlete inherits the title from Karmine Corp's star franchise player Caliste "Caliste" Henry-Hennebert. With this victory, Enes also joins an elite list of junglers who have previously won the award and left a significant mark on the league's history: Selfmade, Elyoya, Yike, and Inspired.
In a post-match interview, the 20-year-old player noted that this is just the "tip of the iceberg." Rhilech admitted he entered the league with a clear understanding of his own potential, even though many might have underestimated him due to his age compared to other junglers. He attributes his success to strict self-discipline, trust in his teammates, and the immense work of the coaching staff. The player also emphasized his drive to become better and win new awards, particularly MVP titles.
This result ultimately confirms the success of NAVI's long-term plan. Last summer, making their LEC debut after acquiring Rogue's slot, the Ukrainian organization signed Francisco "Thayger" Mazo for the Summer Split. At the same time, the club bought out Rhilech's contract from BK ROG Esports, keeping him in reserve for 2026. During the offseason, Fnatic showed active interest in the player, but he started 2026 in NAVI's starting lineup, making his debut at the LEC Versus tournament.
Throughout the season, Rhilech emerged as a key player and the main driving force behind a relatively inexperienced roster. Following the end of the Summer regular season, he was the only NAVI representative to make the league's 3rd All-Pro Team. Although NAVI had shown mixed results in the past (finishing 5th-6th at LEC Versus and in the Spring Split), their 3:2 victory over GIANTX allowed the team to surpass its previous achievements—largely thanks to the jungler's individual success.
As a reminder, “Holding on is always harder than getting there” — a Ukrainian became world No. 1 in UFC 6, playing as Taras Shevchenko