Analyzing TSM’s failed LCS roster strategy and organizational missteps that led to historic poor performance
The TSM Downfall: Analyzing a Historic LCS Collapse
The latest episode of The Jungle podcast featured no-holds-barred analysis from industry experts dissecting TSM’s dramatic decline during the Spring split, marking one of the most significant falls from grace in LCS history.
Christopher ‘MonteCristo’ Mykkles and Christian ‘IWDominate’ Rivera delivered scathing critiques of TSM’s player development philosophy and their controversial handling of rookie support Wei ‘Shenyi’ Zijie during their recent broadcast.
TSM’s roster construction during the offseason raised eyebrows across the esports community, with their unexpected acquisition of two relatively unproven talents from China’s LPL developmental league resulting in catastrophic early results. The organization stumbled to an 0-4 record in the initial two weeks of LCS competition, signaling deeper systemic problems.
Controversial Roster Decisions and Their Consequences
While organizational change appeared necessary given the disastrous start, TSM opted for the contentious solution of benching Shenyi and promoting academy support Wang ‘Yursan’ Shengyu—a move that drew immediate criticism from analysts.
During Dexerto’s ‘The Jungle’ program, IWDominate expressed bewilderment at the decision, stating he “couldn’t comprehend how this move would advance the team’s competitive standing.” MonteCristo contextualized this as typical TSM behavior, famously dubbing it the “TSM jungler treatment” pattern.
“This mirrors the historical TSM jungler approach—you recruit players for their distinctive abilities, systematically disregard those strengths, and ultimately undermine their development,” MonteCristo elaborated.
Shenyi had established his reputation in the LPL through aggressive playmaking and strategic shot-calling prowess. Following his demotion, he revealed during a live stream that he felt the TSM lineup lacked confidence in his decision-making capabilities and failed to properly coordinate with him in his support role.
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Communication barriers further complicated team dynamics, as neither Shenyi nor mid-laner Keaiduo possessed strong English language proficiency, creating additional coordination challenges during high-pressure matches.
Organizational Dysfunction and Leadership Problems
The team structure rapidly deteriorated, with Shenyi confessing during a stream that he perceived minimal trust from TSM players regarding his shot-calling capabilities. His relegation to the academy squad after merely two weeks with the main roster prompted IWDominate to characterize the move as “inhibiting your own progression” for an organization publicly committed to long-term growth.
Damn TSM really sucks
— Christian Rivera (@IWDominate) February 20, 2022
“Not only are you neglecting actions that would genuinely foster team advancement,” IWDominate explained, referencing TSM’s dependence on the enchanter top-lane approach that subsequent game patches rendered obsolete, “but you’re executing this strategy without the crucial player you presumably intend to field eventually.”
“Their administrative leadership and competitive execution both demonstrate peak incompetence at this season stage.”
From an external viewpoint, understanding how TSM’s developmental roster strategy imploded so spectacularly presents challenges. MonteCristo provided his interpretation of the choices precipitating TSM’s difficult 2022 commencement, noting that “the departure of the individuals who constructed this roster from the organization represents a catastrophic failure.”
Expert Perspectives on TSM’s Systemic Failures
With TSM CEO Andy ‘Reginald’ Dinh currently undergoing Riot Games investigation following toxicity allegations from former employees, communication with the League of Legends roster appears significantly limited.
MonteCristo clarified that “Regi and Parth, who theoretically engineered these roster selections, have completely exited the operational picture currently.”
“Consequently, you have personnel who didn’t originate the initial roster determinations making selections that will inevitably create future complications. The logical deduction suggests this lineup will somehow deteriorate further moving forward.”
TSM confronts substantial challenges if they hope to reverse their poor LCS performance trajectory. They currently share last place with CLG, sporting a 1-5 record following three competitive weeks—representing the most disappointing LCS split commencement in franchise history.
Lessons for Esports Organizations and Team Building
The TSM case study offers crucial insights for esports organizations navigating roster construction and player development. Successful team building requires aligning imported player strengths with organizational systems rather than forcing square pegs into round holes.
Communication infrastructure represents another critical lesson—organizations importing non-native speakers must implement robust translation support, cultural integration programs, and patience during adaptation periods. The failure to establish trust between imported players and existing roster members ultimately undermined TSM’s entire developmental strategy.
Leadership consistency emerges as the third vital takeaway. When roster architects depart mid-process, successor management often lacks the original strategic vision, creating disjointed decision-making that harms player development and team cohesion.
Esports organizations should establish clear player development roadmaps, implement structured communication protocols for international recruits, and maintain leadership continuity throughout strategic initiatives to avoid TSM’s catastrophic trajectory.
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » MonteCristo and IWDominate explain how TSM are “destroying” their players Analyzing TSM's failed LCS roster strategy and organizational missteps that led to historic poor performance