Justinas “jL” Lekavicius is set to travel with Vitality to ESL Pro League Season 24 as an emergency substitute for Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, according to James “BanKs” Banks on the All About Counter-Strike podcast. Vitality are still expected to begin the tournament with their regular five-player lineup.
The additional player is a precaution in case apEX has to leave Katowice early for the birth of his child. If that happens during the event, jL would be available to step into the lineup.
jL will be on standby in Katowice
BanKs revealed that jL will travel with Vitality even though the team currently plans to use apEX, Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, Robin “ropz” Kool, Shahar “flameZ” Shushan and William “mezii” Merriman from the start of ESL Pro League Season 24.
The arrangement gives Vitality an immediate replacement if apEX needs to leave the tournament on short notice rather than forcing the team to organize an emergency substitute after the event has already begun. HLTV highlighted the information in its Short News section.
There is no indication at this stage that apEX will miss any specific match at ESL Pro League Season 24.
Another temporary spell with Vitality
This would not be the first time jL has joined Vitality as a substitute in 2026.
Vitality officially announced in August that jL would stand in for the team during two events because mezii and apEX were both expecting periods of parental leave. He later played with Vitality at BLAST Open Porto, where the team finished in 3rd-4th place.
The previous arrangement also included jL replacing apEX at PGL Masters Bucharest later in October.
ESL Pro League Season 24 begins October 3
ESL Pro League Season 24 will take place in Katowice from October 3-11. Sixteen teams will compete for a $1 million prize pool, with the tournament opening with a Swiss group stage before eight teams advance to the playoffs.
The final three days of the event will be played at Spodek Arena. Vitality are among the 12 teams that received direct invitations through the VRS.
For now, jL remains a backup option rather than part of the starting five. His participation would depend on whether apEX needs to leave during the tournament.
