acend trialed him more than 2 weeks and picked him probably he fit the roster. i saw so much about performance in this thread so here is what i think. this split both players (zeek and link) had bad performances and they couldn't help with the team and wanted to change roles, zeek was playing aggressive style duelist/initiator like raze and kayo but he wanted to play smokes so he moved to omen while starxo to raze. Link also wanted to play something more aggressive but liquid didn't wanna give him the chance and he wanted to bench himself.
If u watched 2021 u probably know that both players have so much potentional because link was the liquids second best player for me (clutches important decisions even aim wise, 2021 link > soulcas, jampi and kryptix.
Acend after link came put starxo on IGLing and i think he will play smokes because he already has smoker experience, vakk is aggressive player aswell but he couldn't show up his skill on brim, sova and igling didn't work out with him. Vakk probably will play more aggressive and without igling he will full focusing on his gameplay.
Everyone saying link is bad but Acend already has so much firepower with cned,monsteer,starxo(don't underrate him) and vakk(without igling he will be better i think) so acend doesn't need firepower they need player who can work with their strategies.
About link's role. I actually don't know, monsteer is already at sentinel role and if starxo is smoker so he will be initiator with skye, kayo these stuff i guess?