TSM Leaves LCS Officially, Sells Its Spot for $10 Million

TSM Leaves LCS after 11 years, promoting its spot to up-and-coming group Shopify Revolt.

It’s the tip of an period within the North American League of Legends circuit: one of many oldest, however undoubtedly probably the most iconic group, Crew Solomid, in any other case generally known as TSM is formally leaving the LCS.

Whereas this may increasingly come a shock to many, those that adopted TSM for some time know that this isn’t a sudden resolution: the crew introduced its deliberate departure from the league again in Could by way of a video on X by Andy “Reginald” Dihn, the founding father of the crew.

TSM Leaves LCS – a quick historical past of the crew

TSM began to compete within the North American scene again in 2011, 2 years after League of Legends formally launched. They participated in small tournaments like Go4LoL, successful a pair hundred {dollars} with every occasion they gained. They participated within the first League of Legends World Championship, the place they completed third after aAa beat them earlier than the finals. They have been rising steadily till the beginning of the primary NA LCS season, the place they got here in first place in each the Common Season and the Playoffs with the crew consisting of Marcus “Dyrus” Hill, Brian “TheOddOne” Wyllie, Jason “WildTurtle” Tran, Alex “Xpecial” Chu and Reginald himself.

2014 was one other huge yr for the crew, as legendary midlaner Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg joined the crew. Bjergsen was with TSM for 7 years as both a participant or a coach, and after 2019, a component time proprietor of the group. In 2016, Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng joined the squad alongside Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, so TSM obtained its fair proportion of legendary gamers. G2 Esports toplaner Sergen “BrokenBlade” Celik and former Origen duo Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Alfonso “Mithy” Aguirre Rodríguez additionally performed for TSM, in addition to Heo “Huni” Seong-hoon, who got here in second within the 2017 World Championship enjoying for SKT T1.

TSM had an unimaginable run when it comes to event wins as properly: all through the 11 years they performed in NA, they gained the NA LCS 7 occasions, participated within the League of Legends Worlds 8 occasions, ending 3^rd throughout Worlds Season 1 and within the high 8 in 2014, and gained the IEM Season 9 World Championship, beating Crew WE 3-0 within the finals, making them part of the small group of Western groups with a global title. It’s unhappy to see such an enormous identify of NA Esports go away the scene – however life doesn’t cease, and the departure of TSM let’s one other group shine.

Who will take the spot of TSM?

After a small window for hypothesis, the “successor” of TSM revealed itself: Shopify Rebellion, a reasonably new group purchased the LCS spot for $10 Million and can start competing within the LCS from 2024!

We’ll see you on the #LCS Enviornment in 2024. pic.twitter.com/9ZZAUmMEBA

— Shopify Revolt (@ShopifyRebels) September 20, 2023

Shopify Revolt launched in 2021 due to Shopify’s co-founder, Tobias “Tobi” Lütke, who has been an avid esports fan for years. Shopify Revolt has began with a StarCraft 2 division, however since then signed groups in VALORANT, Halo Rocket League and Dota 2, the place they acquired many of the Evil Geniuses roster after the crew left NA for South America, leaving Artour “Arteezy” Babaev and his teammates orgless.

Shopify Revolt additionally introduced that they not solely purchased TSM’s spot, however most of their employees as properly, together with the roster with which TSM ended the 2023 LCS season. Regardless that TSM didn’t have its finest yr, they undoubtedly improved from 2022, and the roster has potential led by veterans akin to WildTurtle and Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell.

The place will TSM go from right here?

As of but, we aren’t certain the place TSM will proceed, solely that Regi doesn’t plan on quitting. In response to sources, TSM might purchase a spot within the Chinese language LPL, as Reginald has been reportedly having talks with LPL groups and representatives of the League. After all, nothing is ready in stone but, however TSM becoming a member of the LPL wouldn’t be the primary time a Western org would develop into a part of an Japanese league, as Ninjas in Pyjamas joined the Chinese language League of Legends circuit in the beginning of the 2023 season – they usually didn’t have a nasty run, because the crew completed within the high 8 of the Summer season Playoffs.

Right this moment is our last day within the LCS.

11 years, 7 home championships, 1 worldwide title.

Collectively, now we have established an unequalled dynasty and introduced North America their first-ever worldwide trophy. We have now made the voices of the black-and-white fandom heard throughout… pic.twitter.com/W6nSuvg1ry

— TSM (@TSM) September 20, 2023

Riot video games and an unimaginable quantity of followers thanked TSM for the years of recollections and the contribution to the North American esports scene. Regardless that the group had its ups and down, this chapter of TSM will go down as probably the most legendary runs within the historical past of esports – and we’re excited to see the place the journey of the black-and-white crew will go from right here!