The well-known e-sports team Team SoloMid has signed a new player in League of Legends: Hu “SwordArt” Shuo-Chieh from Taiwan. He is said to have been contracted for a sum of $6 million – a record in LoL, especially for a support player.
Who is the player? SwordArt has been suspected as the new player for TSM for some time now, most recently after the retirement of LoL star Doublelift. Now, team owner Reginald has confirmed that he is under contract with Team SoloMid (via Washington Post).
SwordArt previously helped the team Suning reach the finals in the LoL Worlds 2020, where Europe and the USA were unable to compete. Teams from China and Korea dominated the scene here.
Now, SwordArt is supposed to help build the new roster of Team SoloMid in North America. They are restructuring after both Doublelift and star player Bjergsen retired to move into management instead.
The title image is credited to Riot Games.
Contract likely leads to record amount
How much money does SwordArt get? According to the Washington Post, the contract between TSM and SwordArt is for two years and the player will receive $6 million (approximately €5 million). That is $3 million per year.
This means SwordArt earns more than an average Bundesliga player. In 2018, the average annual salary of German football professionals was €1.4 million, with the median being “only” €821,000 (via spox.com).
What is so special about it? The sum even exceeds what LoL professional Jensen reportedly received in early November 2020. He was said to have received $4.2 million, even though he is already “of retirement age”. The amount was already considered a record at that time. With $6 million, SwordArt would break that record.
Additionally, SwordArt is a support player. Traditionally, players in this role receive the least attention and the least money. The focus is usually on the top stars in the mid-lane or among the AD carries, and less often on junglers or top laners.
Elsewhere, things do not look so rosy at the moment. The most important LoL team in the world, T1, was supposed to get a new coach, 27-year-old Nick “LS” De Cesare. However, he was swept away by a huge wave of hate.
