TSM was the face of North American League of Legends from its inception. Off the backs of outspoken personalities, TSM dominated the league in each outcomes and fandom. The org got here away with seven LCS titles practically double that of the second most. Not solely have been they profitable titles yearly however they housed the most important names in North America. With Dyrus and Oddone paving the way in which then Bjergsen and Doublelift after, TSM would maintain a few of the largest names North America needed to provide. Creating the most important fanbase within the LCS with TSM chants reverberating at each occasion and recreation whether or not they have been there or not. How then are they now on the backside of the LCS greater than midway by way of the break up? How has TSM, the best org in LCS historical past, collapsed to the underside of the league?
Table of Contents
The Peak
In the summertime of 2016, TSM completed the round-robin with a 17-1 document. They’d a celebrity lineup with Bjergsen profitable MVP within the center lane and main the league with 11 participant of the video games. In tandem with different LCS celebrity Doublelift on ADC, they proved to have essentially the most firepower of any staff in North America. This mixed with unbelievable gamers Haunzter within the toplane and Svenskerin within the Jungle. Rookie of the break up Biofrost would spherical out their roster. They’d a robust coach in former analyst Parth who had lengthy been with the org and meshed properly with the gamers. They in fact had the massive pockets of the proprietor of TSM Andy (Reginald) Dinh. This staff seemed unstoppable and was touted as the best staff NA had ever produced.
At Worlds, TSM would impress with a giant win over the Korean staff SSG and end week one with a document of 2-1. They would wish no less than one other victory over both SSG or RNG to advance to playoffs with their greatest shot coming of their first recreation of week two. After profitable a robust staff struggle to start coming again Doublelift would commit an enormous mistake and push to complete the SSG mid laner Crown resulting in the notorious play that may value them the sport. Whereas this play didn’t single-handedly value them their spot within the playoffs it may be seen because the second earlier than the closest TSM would get to a Worlds title to at the present time. After dropping this recreation TSM would lose to RNG as properly and be eradicated from worlds.
Plateauing
The next yr would begin with star Doublelift taking a break for the spring break up electing to stream throughout this time. This was to the dismay of his teammates akin to Bjergsen who believed that this break was Doublelift exhibiting a scarcity of dedication to the staff. TSM would convey again Wildturtle and win one other break up however fail to get out of group play at MSI. Doublelift would return in the course of the Summer time Cut up. TSM would once more dominate the playoffs and make it to worlds because the primary staff from North America. They might get fortunate getting put within the group dubbed the group of life. They have been in the one group with out a powerhouse Korean staff. It was seen as a straightforward path to the playoffs. TSM would play it shut and on the ultimate day would lose a tiebreaker to the Europeans Misfits failing to make playoffs once more.
Descent
Following one other disappointing Worlds look, TSM over the subsequent two and a half years could be marred by a string of inconsistencies and roster modifications. Roster modifications included the departure of Star ADC Doublelift, Jungler Svenskeren, and Biofrost in 2018. They might herald different large names akin to EU powerhouse duo Zven and Mithy however would proceed to battle. In 2019 they might see the departure of prime laner Hauntzer leaving Bjergsen the only real remaining member from the 2016 squad. Issues would nonetheless proceed to look bleak because the staff was unable to make worlds in each 2018 and 2019.
LOS ANGELES, CA – DECEMBER 06: Kevin ‘Hauntzer’ Yarnell, Mike ‘MikeYeung’ Yeung, Jesper ‘Zven’ Svenningsen, Alfonso ‘Mithy’ Rodriguez and Soren ‘Bjergsen’ Bjerg pose for a photograph in the course of the Gillette x Staff SoloMid Press Convention at Resort Palomar on December 6, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photograph by Christopher Polk/Getty Photos for Ketchum)
Small however Meaningless Rise
In 2020 issues will start to point out a optimistic signal. Originally of the yr, former help Biofrost would return and beforehand added younger prime laner BrokenBlade was exhibiting expertise. In the summertime issues would take one other step ahead with ADC Doublelift leaving TL a staff he had gained 4 consecutive LCS titles for TSM and reuniting with Bjergsen and Biofrost. Parth, the coach who had been upgraded to Basic Supervisor in 2017 would come again because the Head coach as properly. Whereas the common season noticed some struggles in the course of the playoffs TSM would come alive seeing TSM come again by way of the whole losers bracket to make a miracle run and make the 2020 World Championships as North America’s first seed. The miracles stopped right here as TSM would go an abysmal 0-6 failing to win a single recreation on the world championships and bomb out.
Going into 2021 the staff of the previous would dissipate. ADC Doublelift who had simply rejoined the staff for the summer season break up in 2020 would retire and go into full-time streaming. The longest-tenured single-team LCS participant would step again from enjoying and change into the Coach for TSM. 2021 would mark the tip of 2016 and see an enormous roster overhaul with the remaining participant being Spica from the 2020 staff. TSM did herald large title gamers akin to Huni, and SwordArt with the star help from the LMS and LPL. Unimaginable expectations have been positioned on the newly signed PowerOfEvil as he tried to interchange the enduring Bjergsen within the mid-lane. This staff would present good outcomes however would falter within the large moments failing to succeed in worlds.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 25: Peng Yiliang aka Doublelift of TSM poses for photograph throughout characteristic pictures session on Riot Video games World Championship Opening Day on September 25, 2020 at Grand Hyatt in Shanghai, China. (Photograph by Lintao Zhang/Getty Photos)
Free Falling
On the finish of 2021 information started to return out on inside points at TSM. Doublelift the previous star participant would come out in opposition to Proprietor Andy Dinh detailing a tradition of toxicity and bullying. Discussing extra on his wish to play in 2021 with new help Sword Artwork however poor communication and enormous egos would get in the way in which of constructing that occur. The staff would half methods with SwordArt and see long-time member and now half proprietor Bjergsen go away the staff to affix Staff Liquid as their new mid laner. TSM would additionally see the departure of the long-time president of TSM Leena Xu and basic supervisor Parth. Each have been supposedly attributable to variations in opinions with Andy on methods to correctly construction the staff. With Xu popping out detailing points within the path of the org in addition to the wanting of a veteran contending lineup whereas Dinh needed a younger lineup each of which value across the similar. The group as an entire had begun focusing extra on shifting in the direction of different video games and areas.
TSM created large expectations in the whole lot they did. They molded a neighborhood that was constructed on profitable titles and having the most important names within the league. Proprietor Andy Dinh pushed this together with each staff he put collectively. He and the followers anticipated greatness and would settle for nothing else, however with excessive expectations, a poisonous surroundings can fester.
Lately Riot has begun an investigation into Andy the proprietor of TSM trying into claims of bullying and a poisonous work surroundings. One which has staff detailing totally different occasions Dinh would yell at staff and create a tradition of concern all through the org. A tradition that has pushed all of the star gamers away from the org.
Rock Backside
TSM was the staff to beat in North America for years. They grew with the league creating personalities that helped foster a devoted fan base. They created superstars and introduced in new ones to be able to create the groups that may maintain onto the league. From the previous fan favorites of Dyrus and Oddone to the rising tradition round Bjergsen and Doublelift. The staff fostered followers from its personalities and their outcomes. When Doublelift dashed onto Crown’s Viktor the staff and the org would cease rising and finally collapse.
TSM at the moment sits on the backside of the LCS with a younger however struggling roster that’s coping with problems with communication and seeing many gamers being despatched right down to academy. They at the moment have an proprietor being accused of abusing gamers and staff mentally with a poisonous work surroundings that has pushed away each one who has been very important to the org prior to now. TSM had fallen. It has lengthy since been the years during which they dominated the LCS. TSM stars are gone and the org is a shell of its former self. Whereas this roster could enhance sooner or later, TSM is not the TSM that we as followers knew and liked. The hope is that while you attain all-time low there is just one place to go and that’s up.