Eyla’s journey from OCE rookie to LCS contender with insights on enchanter meta and Champions Queue
Stepping into the Spotlight
When CoreJJ faced green card complications, Eyla seized the unexpected opportunity to prove his worth on Team Liquid’s main roster. The rookie support immediately demonstrated he belonged at the highest level of competitive League of Legends.
Bill ‘Eyla’ Nguyen’s initially nervous interview persona belied the fierce competitor who emerges on the Rift. Despite initial jitters facing the LCS spotlight, the emerging support star has consistently delivered under pressure while chasing his ambition to become North America’s premier support player.
First impressions can be deceiving in esports. While Eyla’s early interviews suggested anxiety, his in-game performance revealed exceptional composure. The moment he enters Summoner’s Rift, his competitive intensity ignites, transforming perceived nerves into focused execution.
As the least experienced member of Liquid’s star-studded lineup, Eyla exceeded expectations throughout the opening month of competition. His contributions were instrumental in securing the LCS Lock In championship, highlighted by a dominant 3-0 finals sweep against Evil Geniuses that showcased his growing prowess.
The statistics validate his rapid ascent: an impressive 10-2 competitive record with a remarkable 5.18 KDA during Lock In tournaments. While his LCS Spring 2022 metrics settled at a more modest 2.8 KDA after initial matches, the foundation for sustained success had clearly been established.
Filling the void left by a world champion presented immense pressure. CoreJJ’s immigration paperwork complications created an opening that Eyla capitalized upon, enabling Liquid to comply with import restrictions following their acquisitions of Bwipo and Hans sama from the European league.
Despite the weight of expectations, Eyla maintained remarkable poise throughout the transition. External nervousness masked an inner confidence that flourished during competitive matches, demonstrating mental resilience beyond his years.
“The environment felt familiar since we competed from our team apartment,” Eyla explained regarding his LCS debut. “The setting minimized the pressure of suddenly performing on the big stage.”
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“Having already competed for over a month during Lock In, the transition to LCS Spring felt natural rather than abrupt. The opportunity to compete at this level represents everything I’ve worked toward in my career.”
“Stage nerves haven’t been overwhelming thus far. Perhaps competing at the LCS Studio for the first time will trigger different emotions, but I anticipate maintaining the confidence that has served me well so far.”
Our first team photo (2022 edition). pic.twitter.com/jjAoQ2Gu95
— Team Liquid Honda LoL (@TeamLiquidLoL) January 31, 2022
From Academy to LCS: The Skill Leap
The jump from Academy competition to LCS main stage revealed substantial skill differentials. While Eyla had experienced high-level play in Oceania’s professional circuit, the gap between regional and North American competition proved significant.
“The quality difference across the board is immediately apparent,” Eyla observed. “Competing alongside and against superior players creates constant pressure to evolve rapidly or risk being overtaken. This competitive environment accelerates development tremendously.”
Access to LCS-level coaching provided another crucial advantage. “Working with main roster coaches introduced strategic concepts I hadn’t encountered in Academy. The depth of knowledge available at this level has dramatically expanded my understanding of the game.”
Despite his current success, Eyla’s LCS future remains uncertain. Once CoreJJ resolves his immigration status, the obvious solution would return Eyla to Academy, though nothing has been formally decided.
Learning directly from the 2017 world champion provided invaluable preparation. Eyla spent the previous year under CoreJJ’s guidance on Liquid’s academy squad, building the foundation that enabled his successful temporary promotion.
“Quality mentorship was scarce back in Oceania,” Eyla acknowledged. “Since joining Liquid, I’ve absorbed tremendous knowledge about laning techniques, shotcalling, and overall game understanding. The amount you can learn from an elite player is almost unbelievable.”
For now, Eyla focuses on maximizing his current opportunity to establish his LCS credentials. Every performance represents an audition for his future, whether with Liquid or other organizations monitoring his development.
“The possibility of returning to Academy exists in the background, but I avoid dwelling on it,” he shared. “We’re teammates first, not competitors for positions, so maintaining that perspective helps manage the uncertainty.”
My laning phase was not the best in oce.
I will make sure that by the end of the year people will consider it one of my strengths.
— Eyla (@SupportEyla) January 29, 2021
The Importance of Support Systems
Relocating across the world presented challenges beyond competitive adaptation. Fortunately, Eyla didn’t face the transition alone—former ORDER teammate Harry ‘Haeri’ Kang and coach Jake ‘Spawn’ Tiberi joined him in North America, creating crucial continuity.
Eyla’s path to international competition nearly happened sooner. He twice approached World Championship qualification while competing in Oceania, falling short in Split 2 playoffs against MAMMOTH (2019) and Legacy (2020). Former OPL teammates including Fudge, k1ng, Destiny, Raes, and Isles have since reached the LCS stage.
Spawn’s influence proved particularly transformative. “His coaching during my second OCE season accelerated my development dramatically,” Eyla credited. “Having him guide my transition to North America provided strategic continuity while navigating a new competitive landscape.”
“Relocating to unfamiliar territory with completely new people can be daunting. Having trusted companions throughout the process made the adjustment significantly smoother. Spawn continues driving my improvement, making his presence invaluable throughout this journey.”
“My connections with both Haeri and Spawn run deep. Maintaining those relationships in the new environment provides stability and support that enhances performance.”
Congratulations to @SupportEyla on winning his first #LCS bo5.
Overall 3-1 vs a surging Dig is a good win.
— TL Honda Jake Tiberi (@Spawnlol) January 29, 2022
While homesickness hasn’t been overwhelming, competing against fellow Oceanic players introduces friendly rivalry elements. The LCS now features multiple OCE talents, creating compelling regional storylines within matches.
“OCE friendship groups typically remain intact after transitioning to NA,” Eyla noted. “There’s healthy banter and rivalry—matches against fellow Oceanic players carry extra significance. They become informal competitions determining regional bragging rights.”
The next chapter in these regional rivalries arrives when Liquid faces Cloud9, pairing Eyla against former OCE competitor Fudge. Cloud9’s innovative strategies captivated the league during Week 1, with Fudge piloting unconventional midlane picks like Soraka and Ivern under LS’s directional leadership.
Enchanters Everywhere: The New Meta Reality
Cloud9’s enchanter-focused strategy reflects broader meta evolution within League of Legends. The trend of enchanters occupying solo lanes while utilizing Smite for map mobility has generated both excitement and frustration throughout the competitive scene.
Eyla expresses mixed feelings about the development. “Facing enchanters in unexpected roles creates frustrating lane experiences,” he admitted. “When my top laner encounters Janna top, they enjoy free farming and tower plates. But when I’m facing that Janna in my lane, the experience becomes significantly more challenging.”
Despite personal frustrations, Eyla acknowledges strategic merits in Cloud9’s approach. The innovation introduces healthier gameplay diversity while expanding support champion selection possibilities.
“Teams with distinct identities like Cloud9’s enchanter strategy force opponents to adapt rather than ignore,” Eyla analyzed. “You can’t pretend unconventional approaches don’t exist—they demand specific counterstrategies and preparation.”
“I appreciate the diversity because teams developing unique identities push everyone to refine their own approaches. This competitive pressure elevates overall strategic sophistication across the league.”
Enchanter flexibility creates new compositional possibilities. “Having enchanters available outside support dramatically widens draft options. With an enchanter midlaner, I can select engage champions knowing my ADC still receives protection through other sources.”
“Some enchanters provide excellent follow-up engagement while enhancing my survivability. Overall, having enchanters distributed across roles creates more comfortable support experiences.”
The current meta represents one of the most enjoyable periods in recent memory for support players. While tank supports historically dominated the role, the present environment allows enchanters and engage champions to coexist productively.
“Champion diversity has expanded significantly,” Eyla observed. “Lux and Karma maintain high priority, sometimes Yuumi, yet players still successfully utilize tanks against them. This balance creates engaging strategic variety.”
“I particularly enjoy this meta because it liberates me from exclusive tank duty. During the Evil Geniuses series, I played Lulu three times. Having flexible options makes the role much more enjoyable. Hopefully, this diversity persists.”
Champions Queue: Promise and Problems
Beyond meta discussions, Champions Queue has emerged as a major LCS talking point. This experimental competitive environment pairs professionals with aspiring amateurs, attempting to elevate North America’s ranked experience quality.
Eyla has sampled the new system but remains uncertain about its overall improvement over traditional solo queue. “The ping advantage is undeniable—eight ping versus my usual 48 creates noticeably smoother gameplay,” he acknowledged.
“Voice communication represents another benefit. While I’ve mostly played without comms, having the option to communicate with respected players provides valuable interaction opportunities.”
“However, communication quality varies dramatically. Playing with less experienced players who lack strategic understanding can create frustrating interactions where implementing desired concepts becomes challenging.”
A new competitive matchmaking experience opens for top North American players. Champions Queue launches February 7! #LCS
Learn more at: https://t.co/6xSqsRB7EW pic.twitter.com/mDcFZJwWqH
— LCS (@LCSOfficial) February 4, 2022
Eyla’s primary concerns revolve around Champions Queue’s restricted environment. The system’s closed nature creates scrim-like conditions that limit experimental play.
“The environment resembles scrims where optimal picks dominate decision-making,” he explained. “Instead of selecting based on pick order like traditional solo queue, players default to perceived strongest options—for support, that often means repetitive Thresh or Aphelios/Jinx combinations.”
“Champion diversity suffers in this controlled setting. Expanding champion pools becomes difficult when you cannot freely experiment with unconventional selections. I value the freedom to choose creatively without restrictions.”
The system’s potential impact on broader competitive development raises additional concerns. Champions Queue might function as a temporary solution for professionals while negatively affecting aspiring players once elite competitors abandon traditional ranked queues.
“I worried about traditional solo queue consequences,” Eyla shared. “If I chose standard ranked over Champions Queue, queue times would lengthen dramatically while player quality diminished. This represents a legitimate concern for the ecosystem.”
“The overall impact remains unclear. For solo queue players without competitive experience, losing access to top-tier competitors makes advancement more difficult. However, players who leverage Champions Queue communication opportunities with experienced professionals gain valuable insights.”
“Whether benefits outweigh drawbacks remains an open question requiring more time and data to answer definitively.”
Building a Lasting Legacy
Despite system uncertainties, Champions Queue has helped Eyla elevate his aspirations. Regardless of his roster status, he aims to establish himself as unquestionably among North America’s elite supports, potentially rivaling CoreJJ himself.
His 2022 objectives focus on cementing his reputation beyond temporary circumstances. Rather than merely filling a vacancy, Eyla strives to become a star in his own right through demonstrable skill and consistent performance.
“Achieving top rankings in both standard solo queue and Champions Queue represents a primary goal,” Eyla declared. “Previously reaching Top 5 on the NA ladder demonstrated my capability, but securing Rank 1 would conclusively prove my skill level.”
Competitive ambitions vary based on roster placement. “If I remain with the LCS squad, qualifying for Worlds becomes the ultimate objective. Should I return to Academy, I’ll focus on developing until my readiness for LCS becomes undeniable.”
“Regular scrims against the main roster provide perfect evaluation opportunities. Performing effectively against them would provide clear evidence of LCS readiness regardless of my current competitive level.”
Pro Support Development Strategy: For aspiring support players, Eyla’s journey offers valuable lessons. Focus on mastering 2-3 champions completely before expanding your pool. Prioritize communication skills and map awareness over mechanical perfection. Study professional vods to understand positioning and rotation timing. Most importantly, seek quality mentorship—learning from experienced players accelerates development more than any other factor.
Avoid These Common Mistakes: Many supports fixate on flashy plays rather than consistent fundamentals. Don’t over-prioritize kills at the expense of vision control and objective setup. Avoid autopiloting through laning phase—actively track jungle movements and coordinate with your ADC. Never underestimate the importance of mental resilience; tilt management separates good supports from great ones.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Liquid’s Eyla has CoreJJ-sized shoes to fill in LCS 2022, but he’s up to the task Eyla's journey from OCE rookie to LCS contender with insights on enchanter meta and Champions Queue