In League of Legends the long-time championship team of the US league LCS is increasingly maneuvering into crisis. The league is going badly in 2022. Now they had to fire their coach Peter Zhang. The allegations are outrageous: The Chinese coach is said to have asked his own players for money. He reportedly needed money for his sick grandmother’s treatment. For Zhang, this is a ‘cultural misunderstanding.’
Who is the most important team in the USA?
- “Team Solo Mid” is actually the flagship team of the USA. For years, the biggest stars in US LoL, such as Doublelift and Bjergsen, played there. The team has won the LCS championship 7 times, had legendary players over the years, and is a pioneer in marketing and presentation.
- However, in 2022 the team is in a deep crisis. Many key players and leading managers have left the club. Through a deal with a crypto exchange, TSM has indeed made a lot of money, but problems abound: The team’s CEO, Reginald Dinh, has apparently soured relationships with many former employees due to his brusque manner, particularly with his former star player Doublelift. Moreover, an investigation against him is currently ongoing by Riot Games.
- Now TSM has fired its coach, but not due to poor results, rather because of a scandal.
Friendlier e-sport topics in LoL are coming from Germany:
“Conflict of interest” and “unethical behavior”
This is what TSM said: The team released a statement on March 19 (via Twitter):
We have recently been made aware of very serious allegations of “conflict of interest” and “unethical behavior” against the League of Legends coach, Peter Zhang.
Following a preliminary investigation, we have terminated his contract effective immediately. We are working with an external legal counsel to complete a full investigation.
Riot Games added that they do not want to comment on the matter but want to ensure: This is a purely internal team issue that does not concern other teams. So the dismissal was not about match manipulation. That is just what they wanted to clarify (via reddit).
Coach allegedly asked players for $70,000
What is he alleged to have done?? According to former TSM player Doublelift, Zhang asked him to lend him $70,000. He allegedly needed the money because his grandmother who has cancer is in the hospital and he needs to pay the bill.
Zhang is also said to have asked other LoL players for $12,000 to $24,000, but they canceled their transaction in time, Doublelift recounts. The situation is so difficult because Zhang is not just anyone at TSM, but the head coach:
Guys, the guy who decides whether you have a job on the team or not is asking you for money. That is really a difficult situation.
Doublelift
It is really hard to say “no” to someone who wants you to finance the operation of his terminally ill grandmother when he is the one deciding whether you play next week or not.
Doublelift adds that he has heard “really weird stuff” about Zhang. Allegedly, he is donating money to Chinese female streamers via Weibo. He would “go to Chinese streaming sites and donate ‘ridiculously large sums’ of money to attractive women,” Doublelift said.
According to the US site “Dexerto”, Zhang is also said to be involved in other machinations:
- He allegedly also acted as an “agent” for players and promised to bring them to TSM if he received a part of their salary.
- If the players from Asia allowed him to act as their agent, he would place them at TSM.
Coach says: In China, it is common to borrow money from friends and colleagues
What does Zheng say?? In an interview with Dexerto, Zhang presents the situation differently:
- He actually needed money for his grandmother’s operation.
- The Taiwanese “SwordArt”, a former player of TSM, tasked him with selling a car in the USA because he is returning to Asia. The sum for the car, $80,000, Zhang withheld to pay for the operation.
- The player threatened to make the matter public – Zhang subsequently asked players at TSM for money.
Zhang says:
“I acknowledge that it was wrong to withhold the money, but I was working to pay back the debts and had repaid half by the time I was fired. My grandmother’s bill was due at the end of the month and I was not in the league to accompany both debts. I was experiencing a very difficult financial time, but I will pay every cent back to SwordArt.
The other allegations against me are not true. In China, it is common for friends and colleagues to lend each other money. I have learned a hard lesson about cultural differences in America. I will cooperate with Riot in any investigation. I have evidence that proves my innocence.”
Peter Zhang
Zhang also states that he never acted as a player agent. He did receive $1,000 a month from the salary of a player from TSM Academy. However, he only served as an intermediary and forwarded the money to the actual agent.
Additionally, he frequently exchanges Chinese currency yuan for dollars for players, as he has bank accounts in both countries and a green card. This could also create the impression that he is involved in dubious activities.
The problems that TSM is otherwise currently facing are discussed on MeinMMO in this article:
The most powerful man in US LoL is said to be quite a jerk who mistreats players
