The strongest US team in League of Legends, Team Liquid, has a problem before the start of the 2020 LCS season: they have no jungler. This could mean that the Twitch streamer TF Blade has to play for them. While he is strong in the LoL Solo Queue, it would be his professional debut.
This is the situation: Team Liquid has won the last 4 LCS championship titles in a row. Nationally, they are the best, but at the Worlds 2019, Team Liquid played no role: they were eliminated in the group stage.
Before 2020, they decided to change their roster:
- Thus, the previous jungler Jake Kevin “Xmithie” Puchero (28) had to leave the team
- In his place, they signed the Fnatic jungler, Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen (22),
Team Liquid apparently hopes for a boost and more chances at the Worlds in the medium term. Broxah has the international experience that Team Liquid desperately needs.
This is the problem: 3 members of Team Liquid have visa issues and therefore cannot work in the USA yet:
- namely the jungler Mads “Broxah” Brock-Pedersen, a Dane
- the new head coach Jang “Cain” Nu-ri, a South Korean
- and the jungler Shem “Shernfire” Cherng Tai, an Australian whom Team Liquid has newly signed for the academy team
Team Liquid is short-staffed: they have 5 people in the main team, 4 players in the academy, and 2 substitutes.
But currently, there is no jungler available to play for them, as both junglers are stuck in visa issues.
Star streamer is “substitute” for Team Liquid, has never played
What does this have to do with the Twitch streamer? One of the most popular LoL streamers is Ashkan “TF Blade” Homayouni. TF Blade has 740,000 followers on Twitch. He is among the top 5 most-watched LoL streamers worldwide.
TF Blade has been with Team Liquid since 2019 and is contracted as a “substitute player” and content creator.
It is common for eSports teams to hire Twitch streamers or YouTubers to strengthen their brand. For example, xQc had a deal with an Overwatch team.
However, it is not intended for them to actually play in the league. Although TF Blade is an outstanding player in LoL Solo Queue – professional games are something else entirely.
But the current emergency situation has led TF Blade to prepare for his debut in the professional LCS.
TF Blade says there is “a good chance” that he will compete in the LCS. This is also one of the reasons why he is moving to LA now.
TF Blade is actually a top-laner, so it is assumed that another regular player from Team Liquid will switch to the jungle if TF Blade really gets the spot. In the top lane for Team Liquid plays the Korean “Impact” – he could move to the jungle.
Coach is also apparently getting ready for his role
Is there still another option? Team Liquid signed professional mid-laner, Eugene “Pobelter” Park before the season. The veteran had not found a new team as a player for 2020 and was supposed to become coach for Team Liquid.
Now it is said from Dotesports that Pobelter was spotted using his main account in the jungle.
In any case, it seems exciting to see what roster Team Liquid will start the professional season 2020 with.
The LCS season starts on January 25.
