The Twitch streamer Yilang “Doublelift” Peng has long been the probably best-known player of League of Legends in North America. He became champion 8 times in the LCS – 4 times with “Team SoloMid”, the largest LoL organization in the world. But now the LoL legend says: He hates TSM, he has especially one problem with the boss, Reginald. He responds to him and shows disappointment. Moreover, he fires him.
This is Doublelift:
- The 28-year-old has won the LCS 8 times. He is regarded as the greatest and most popular LoL player in North America alongside Bjergsen and is probably the best ADC in the USA of all time.
- Doublelift has always had a strained relationship with TSM: For a long time, he wanted to beat the famed team, then he won 3 championships with them, but was fired, swore to destroy them, and indeed won 4 championships against TSM with Team Liquid in 2018 and 2019.
- At the end of 2020, Doublelift ended his career under somewhat strange circumstances after TSM totally failed at the LoL Worlds 2020 and played 0-6. Since then, Doublelift has been a Twitch streamer for TSM. Team SoloMid did not reach the Worlds 2021 without him in the roster.
Doublelift publicly flames TSM and especially boss Reginald
This is what Doublelift says now: In a Twitch stream, Doublelift is pretty upset about TSM. He now believes he was basically kicked out as a player.
From his perspective, TSM told him they wouldn’t get his desired player, SwordArt, but then signed him after Doublelift announced that he no longer wanted to play as a pro.
“Honestly, I hate TSM, especially because of Andy”
Doublelift
Doublelift says: He wanted to play with the supporter SwordArt in 2021. He says, SwordArt had also promised him that he wanted to join TSM to play with him. The boss of the team, Andy “Reginald” Dinh, however, literally rejected this.
Doublelift mentions: Andy has too big an ego, he is just embarrassing now.
According to Doublelift, TSM would have qualified for the Worlds in 2020 with him in the bot lane.
Instead, TSM relied on a young New Zealander, Lawrence “Lost” Hui, and missed the qualification.
TSM says: Doublelift simply can’t make up his mind
This is what Reginald says: The so-criticized team owner, Andy “Reginald” Dinh, formerly a mid laner at Team SoloMid, commented on the criticism on reddit . He says:
Doublelift is indeed one of the best players of all time in North America, but it is also difficult to work with him.
Before 2021, after Bjergsen’s retirement, Doublelift had considered retiring as well. Later he reconsidered and demanded reinforcements for the team. As a result, TSM scrapped their plans to acquire talent, signed German PowerOfEvil for the mid lane, and looked for a strong supporter from Korea. Doublelift found the suggestions okay.
When it seemed like they couldn’t get SwordArt, Doublelift threatened to leave the team if the roster didn’t meet his expectations. Suddenly, he wanted a team where everyone spoke English.
At that time, TSM was under pressure and running out of options. They decided to focus fully on the young ADC Lost and no longer plan with Doublelift.
Even after they were able to sign SwordArt, TSM remained with the decision and expressed their trust in the young ADC.
Reginald says: These are decisions that the whole team made, not just he alone.
TSM fires Doublelift, criticizes him sharply
This is how it will proceed now: Doublelift is currently considering whether he should stop streaming on Twitch and perhaps return to playing as a pro.
TSM, however, gives him a clear rejection: He constantly changes his mind, plus he publicly flames people and team members and coaches don’t want to play with Doublelift anyway.
Therefore, TSM is no longer interested in playing with Doublelift, even though he is one of the best ADCs North America has ever had.
TSM says they also want to let him go as a Twitch streamer. Reginald believes the public attack from Doublelift comes because they do not want to sign him as a pro player anymore.
What do the fans say about it? The top comment on reddit is:
“You know what would really piss him off? If we got Chovy or Knight and Keria. That would show him, I swear!”
Dabar10, reddit
Chovy and Knight are two of the best mid laners from Asia who are considered “available”. Keria is the new monster supporter at T1.
Essentially, TSM fans are taking advantage of the situation and want to urge their team boss to spend big and assemble a dream team.
The 2 biggest names in US LoL just can’t seem to stop
This is what it’s about: Doublelift is living up to his reputation of being “demanding” here. He has always shone with strong statements.
The irony lies in the parallels to Bjergsen:
- Bjergsen retired after 2020, wants to play professionally again in 2022 – TSM really wants him, but Bjergsen does not want to play for TSM. Rumor has it, he’s drawn to Team Liquid, Doublelift’s former team.
- Doublelift also retired after 2020 and wants to play professionally again in 2022 – apparently he would like to play for TSM, but TSM does not want him.
In fact, Doublelift and Bjergsen are two of the biggest names in US LoL. But both are probably also more or less clearly past their peak.
Both players will probably find a team that pays them because they bring fans and viewers, but whether both will be competing for championships again is another question.
TSM probably has money for expensive new signings:
