100 Thieves’ six-man roster strategy explained: How LCS champions are innovating for 2022 competitive season
The Champion’s Mindset: Why 100 Thieves Stuck With Their Winning Formula
100 Thieves made history as the first LCS organization to reveal their 2022 competitive lineup. General Manager Christopher ‘PapaSmithy’ Smith provided exclusive insights to Dexerto about their innovative six-man roster approach and the evolving LCS competitive landscape.
The League Championship Series entered 2022 anticipating significant transformation across multiple fronts. Numerous teams completely overhauled their player lineups, while the league itself implemented format changes that merged Spring and Summer split records for the first time.
Despite this league-wide evolution, 100 Thieves adopted a contrasting philosophy focused on continuity rather than revolution.
Unlike their comprehensive roster rebuild in 2020, the organization made only one strategic addition: elevating academy standout Milan ‘Tenacity’ Oleksij to the main roster. This measured approach reflects their confidence in the existing championship-winning core.
PapaSmithy detailed the offseason planning process, competitive expectations, and strategic vision for the six-man roster in an extensive interview discussing the LCS’s shifting dynamics.
Following their triumphant 2021 campaign, 100 Thieves management determined that drastic changes weren’t necessary for continued success.
“When we evaluated our position entering the offseason, we recognized we possessed a roster capable of continuing to elevate LCS competitive standards,” PapaSmithy elaborated. “We had developed a truly functional team environment. The defining characteristic of our Summer championship squad was the genuine enjoyment everyone experienced working together, combined with coaching staff extracting maximum performance from each player.
“However, championship organizations never simply replicate previous strategies assuming identical results will follow. Continuous improvement remains essential.”
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The organization that surprisingly captured the 2021 Summer LCS championship now operates without underdog status. This positional shift hasn’t diminished their competitive drive or championship mentality.
“We approach 2022 positioned as legitimate favorites to defend our title,” PapaSmithy stated, “but the team’s internal motivation remains unchanged. Defending champions don’t automatically lose their competitive hunger.”
Tenacity’s Rise: From Academy Standout to LCS Contender
While avoiding wholesale roster changes like some LCS competitors, 100 Thieves identified strategic enhancements to maintain competitive advantage against evolving league opposition.
PapaSmithy pinpointed the organization’s academy system as the source for this strategic upgrade.
“External observers consistently noted the exceptional talent within 100 Thieves Academy throughout 2021,” he commented. “How that talent would transition to LCS competition remained an open question debated internally and throughout the broader community,” PapaSmithy continued.
100 Thieves Academy delivered impressive 2021 results, securing third-place finishes in both Academy splits before culminating the season with victory at Summer Proving Grounds. Among the standout performers, Tenacity particularly captured management attention as a homegrown talent developed entirely within the organization. He initially joined 100X, the org’s amateur program, in 2020 before advancing to academy competition the subsequent year.
“Ultimately, Tenacity represented the most logical candidate for full integration into our LCS roster from day one,” PapaSmithy explained.
“Milan possesses extraordinary determination to achieve excellence. When team scrims don’t provide the development he seeks, he immediately transitions to solo queue. If additional improvement opportunities remain, he proactively engages 100 Thieves coaching staff. Should circumstances prevent internal support, he independently reaches out to established figures throughout the competitive scene.
“He demonstrates relentless aggression toward his own professional growth. I concluded that additional academy experience wouldn’t optimally advance his development trajectory.”
Tenacity received official LCS promotion on November 16, with PapaSmithy announcing via Twitter that 100 Thieves would implement a six-man roster system for the upcoming competitive year.
Six-player configurations remain experimental within League of Legends esports, requiring extensive planning regarding integration beyond standard starting lineups.
I can definitively state that neither Ssumday nor Tenacity will participate in Academy competitions – both will concentrate exclusively on LCS preparation
— Chris Smith (@PapaSmithy) November 16, 2021
Six-Man Roster Dynamics: Managing Ssumday and Tenacity
The six-man roster announcement naturally prompted questions regarding implications for Kim ‘Ssumday’ Chan-ho, 100 Thieves’ starting top laner since 2018.
“Many will question whether this move reflects Ssumday’s capabilities, Tenacity’s potential, or indicates top lane represents the position requiring six-man flexibility,” PapaSmithy noted. “For our organization, when we identify a player with Tenacity’s capacity to impact LCS competition significantly, we prioritize decisions accelerating his development maximumly.”
PapaSmithy emphasized that neither player would receive predetermined role assignments or specific relationship expectations.
“Imposing mentorship responsibilities on Ssumday would represent unfair expectations. I discussed the situation transparently with him, explaining our strategic approach. He accepted the circumstances, and their interpersonal dynamic will develop organically,” PapaSmithy clarified.
Both competitors will receive equal consideration for the starting top lane position based on performance and strategic fit.
Ssumday addressed the competitive situation during an InvenGlobal interview:
“Internal roster competition certainly creates pressure, but professional gaming operates on meritocratic principles. If my performance becomes insufficient, I should yield the position to superior players. That represents competitive integrity,” the veteran top laner stated. “Currently, I’m contemplating his potential integration dynamics.
Our team has established distinctive playstyles, and I’m interested in contrasting differences when I compete versus when he plays – whether he encounters similar challenges I face, or how he approaches various in-game scenarios.”
Despite the competitive implications, Ssumday expressed unequivocal admiration for Tenacity’s abilities.
“This might appear self-congratulatory, but he embodies the type of player I was evaluated as during my early career,” Ssumday observed. “He’s a solo queue specialist with exceptional mechanical skills. He favors aggressive champion selections but requires further team play development. Overall, he demonstrates impressive capabilities.”
Six-man roster implementations continue facing skepticism within League of Legends ecosystems. Successful examples exist, most notably T1’s 2015 World Championship campaign, though the concept generally receives criticism.
“Six-man rosters frequently carry negative connotations throughout esports,” PapaSmithy acknowledged, “but criticism typically targets the theoretical concept rather than specific implementations.
“Worlds provided opportunities to consult with organizations like T1, utilizing those discussions to comprehensively analyze six-man roster systems. We examined successful implementations and common pitfalls. Consequently, we approach this strategy with well-researched understanding of optimal execution.”
LCS Arms Race: How Rivals Are Approaching 2022
Before free agency commenced, PapaSmithy predicted an LCS “arms race” preceding North America-hosted Worlds 2022. He maintains this perspective following free agency developments and roster revelations.
Cloud9 recruited three Korean imports, while Team Liquid reportedly plans to deploy emerging LEC star Steven ‘Hans Sama’ Liv alongside established talents like LCS icon Søren ‘Bjergsen’ Bjerg and 2018 Worlds finalist Gabriël ‘Bwipo’ Rau. TSM’s competitive plans remain undisclosed.
“We’re undoubtedly witnessing an arms race materialize,” PapaSmithy confirmed, “though fan perceptions might differ since they associate arms races exclusively with high-profile acquisitions.”
PapaSmithy identified five primary LCS championship contenders for 2022 based on free agency rumors and confirmed roster moves:
“The fascinating aspect involves each top team pursuing distinct offseason strategies,” PapaSmithy elaborated. “We’re implementing six-man roster flexibility; Cloud9 focuses on Korean talent acquisition and training methodologies; Team Liquid aggregates European standouts; Evil Geniuses develops promising young prospects with perceived high ceilings, while TSM’s roster construction remains incomplete for evaluation.”
The diversity of strategic approaches among league contenders excites PapaSmithy professionally.
“I genuinely anticipate informal discussions with fellow general managers analyzing their strategic rationales. Determining which organizational approach delivers optimal results, identifying the transformative competitive idea, will prove compelling.”
While premature for definitive 2022 predictions, these five organizations will likely compete for LCS championships and Worlds qualification, creating intensely competitive LCS seasons.
“Organizations with capabilities have clearly prioritized Worlds preparation,” PapaSmithy noted, referencing the North American-hosted 2022 World Championship. “Every competitive team aspires to represent their region internationally.”
Looking Ahead: Goals and Expectations for 2022 Season
“The team’s internal energy and motivation remain consistent, representing our fundamental organizational objective,” PapaSmithy emphasized.
During Worlds 2021, 100 Thieves achieved 3-3 group stage results. Tournament elimination occurred as semifinalist T1 and eventual champion EDward Gaming advanced from their group with 5-1 and 4-2 records respectively.
“I doubt many organizational members felt satisfied with our Worlds performance – we certainly weren’t content. We’re determined to achieve meaningful progression during 2022,” PapaSmithy declared.
For 100 Thieves, this ambition requires confidence in their six-man roster strategy.
The LCS Lock-In tournament commencing January 14, 2022 will provide initial indications regarding 100 Thieves’ capabilities as defending champions, regardless of strategic outcomes.
Practical Roster Management Tips: Organizations considering six-man configurations should establish clear performance metrics, maintain transparent communication with all players, and develop specific situational deployment strategies rather than arbitrary rotation systems.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: The most frequent six-man roster mistakes include unclear role definitions, creating artificial competition rather than strategic flexibility, and failing to manage player expectations regarding playing time and development objectives.
Advanced Optimization: Successful six-man implementations often utilize specialized practice regimens, create complementary rather than overlapping player skill sets, and establish clear criteria for roster decisions based on opponent strategies and meta developments.
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