World Championship Team Highlight - TSM Snapdragon

When people think competitive League of Legends, Team Solo Mid is one of the first things that comes to mind for an esport enthusiast. Established in 2011, TSM has been playing since 2009, and has been the same solid team since the Season 1 Championship aside from the roster change of Dyrus and Chaox. Although periodically plagued by conflict between teammates, TSM has proven that they can continue to perform, but the real question is if they can perform on the final international stage?

Finishing the Summer Split with 14 wins and 14 losses, TSM wasn’t the same team that won the Spring Split playoffs. Weeks one and two left TSM winning and losing left and right in no particular pattern, trying to get their bearings and get comfortable with the new teams in the Summer Split. MLG Anaheim during Week 3 was a turning point for TSM, where they lost all three of their matches. After that week, TSM won 10 out of their next 18 matches to get back into stride in time for playoffs.

At PAX, TSM found themselves up against a wall cornered by their bane of the Summer Split, Counter Logic Gaming who had previously beaten them four times in the LCS. However, in true TSM fashion, the veteran squad performed spectacularly, a trend for the team at events. Handily defeating CLG 2-0, TSM faced Vulcun in the next round but the TSM chants stopped for nobody, and they found themselves in the finals against Cloud 9.

When it came to the best of five games between TSM and Cloud 9, the venue was packed and the crowd chanted “TSM” almost without provocation. Unfortunately for TSM, Cloud 9’s skill proved too much for the crowd favorite, and Cloud 9 swept the series 3-0. With TSM in second place, they made it to the Season 3 World Championships, a feat few accomplished, but the question still stands, can they continue to perform?

The Team

Left: Marcus "Dyrus" Hill - Top Laner - Dyrus is one of the best top laners in North America, and can clash with the best in the world, as proven by his All Star play. Preferring champions who are considered bruisers like Jayce, Rumble and Renekton, Dyrus has no trouble with his farming as well as making plays happen with his initiations. As a veteran in the world of competitive League of Legends, Dyrus will be able to take his experience from North America as well as his past international experience and be able to coolly play throughout the group stage.

Second Left: Jason "Wildturtle" Tran - AD Carry - Wildturtle wasted no time showing the world that he could compete with the best with his pentakill against compLexity Gaming. Since then, he has become a strong force to reckon with through his Caitlyn, Twitch and Draven play, enjoying builds that help him to deal tons of damage. This Summer Split he achieved a total kill participation of 73% of his team's kills, showing that he can not only adeptly dispatch opponents, but do so with correct positioning.

Middle: Andy "Reginald" Dinh - Mid Laner - Without Reginald, TSM would have neither existed nor been the North American powerhouse that it is today. Preferring champions that allow him to aggresively initiate, Reginald's success loosely reflects the success of his team's match history. Well-known for his recent Karthus play, Regi just likes to deal the most damage and carry his team.

Second Right: Brian "TheOddOne" Wyllie - Jungler - Known as the General, TheOddOne's precision and decision making is among the cream of the crop. Favoring CC heavy junglers, TheOddOne has been most successful this Summer Split on Nocturne, as well as during the Summer Playoffs.

Right: Alex "Xpecial" Chu - Support - Xpecial is a world class support player, as shown by his All Star play. Xpecial's Sona, Thresh and Lulu are all deadly weapons in his arsenal that easily support and guard Wildturtle. Instrumental in their second place Summer Split finish, Xpecial holds first place with for total kill participation at 74% in the Summer Split.