The NA LCS kicked off Week 1 with a highly anticipated match up between Summer Split Champions TSM (Team Solo Mid) and newly reformed TL (Team Liquid). With the crazy off-season player movements, this was a match of old friends and foes. The premier story line was Doublelift vs his old team. After a disappointing 2017 Worlds, TSM decided to go in another direction and not re-sign Doublelift; instead they imported the European bottom lane duo of Zven and Mithy. Doublelift joined Team Liquid and re-united with a couple of old teammates in Xmithie and Pobelter. The 3 of them used to play for CLG (Counter Logic Gaming) and won the NA LCS back in 2015 Summer Split. Along with Xmithie and Pobelter, former Immortals Support player Olleh also joined Team Liquid. The last piece to the puzzle for Team Liquid was a top laner and they did not cheap out as they went after and signed the rumored "million dollar" man, Impact. Impact is a former World Champion playing with the likes of Faker, bengi, Piglet, and PoohManDu.
Doublelift has been a major presence in the NA LCS since the early days and he has a very strong personality that some people may say is cocky, but others will say its confidence. When you are always striving to be the best, I think this level of self confidence is needed and Doublelift does not lack this one bit. As a professional you wouldn't think that you would need extra motivation to play your best, but watching sports over the years, there is something special about a player playing against their former team. It doesn't always come on bad terms, but there is a sense of pride that you want to perform at your very best against them to show them what they are missing.
League of Legends is a game of 5 on 5 and 1 player truly cannot win the game on his own, but I think 1 player's emotions, passion and motivation can propel a team to play better. There is a saying about playing for one another that is used a lot in football and I think this carries over to esports as well especially if you know that someone is highly motivated for an upcoming match. As a teammate, their emotions are going to have an effect on me and I will feel extra motivated as well. Team Liquid came out guns blazing against Team Solo Mid and they showed everyone that they are a force to be reckoned with this split. They have no glaring weaknesses and if they continue to play together and for one another, the skies the limit for this team.
p.s. The Immortals was my favourite NA LCS team over the past few years, so inherently I am routing for all their former players to have success, especially Huni on Echo Fox. With 3 former Immortals players, I am routing for Team Liquid to win the 2018 NA LCS Sprint Split!
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