TSM’s bold 2022 roster strategy: Analyzing the LDL imports and communication dynamics
TSM’s Roster Rebuild: From Disappointment to Innovation
TSM has completed their 2022 LCS lineup with an unexpected strategic move, bringing in two promising talents from China’s developmental league system.
TSM has finalized their 2022 competitive squad by securing two emerging Chinese prospects. The organization identified mid laner Zhu ‘Keaiduo’ Xiong and support Wei ‘Shenyi’ Zi-Jie as key acquisitions during an extensive scouting process.
The team’s underwhelming performance during Summer 2021 highlighted significant roster deficiencies. Despite finishing first in regular season standings, they suffered a heartbreaking best-of-five defeat against Cloud9 that eliminated their World Championship qualification hopes.
For an organization with TSM’s prestigious legacy and championship expectations, missing the World Championship represented a substantial setback that demanded immediate roster adjustments during the offseason.
Following their November 20 announcement of AD Carry Edward ‘Tactical’ Ra’s acquisition from Team Liquid, TSM maintained complete secrecy regarding their plans for the crucial mid lane and support positions.
The final roster pieces emerged from an unconventional talent pipeline. Both newcomers originate from the LDL (League of Legends Developmental League), which serves as the primary development system for China’s LPL, similar to academy leagues in other regions.
Welcome Chawy to TSM as our LCS Head Coach for 2022! #TSM
We sat down with @ChawyWong to get an insight into who he is, what he’s building, his vision….and he might be introducing our new mid-laner and support. pic.twitter.com/Om9jLqfwDa
— TSM (@TSM) December 9, 2021
Both prospects were identified through TSM’s comprehensive scouting combine conducted in Korea during October. While this talent evaluation event received minimal public attention, Senior Social Media Manager Duncan Cox verified in a late November Reddit discussion that the organization had executed an intensive month-long scouting initiative throughout Korea.
Both athletes possess relatively limited competitive experience, even within developmental circuits. Shenyi commenced his professional journey with FunPlus Phoenix Blaze in 2020, while Keaiduo debuted professionally at 2020’s outset with Thunder Talk Gaming Young.
Shenyi: The Strategic Shot-Caller
During the team’s roster announcement presentation, head coach Wong ‘Chawy’ Xing Lei emphasized Shenyi’s exceptional communication capabilities as his defining characteristic. Chawy noted that these communication abilities represented one of Shenyi’s most valuable attributes throughout the evaluation period.
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Welcome Shenyi to TSM as our starting LCS support for 2022! #TSM@TSM_Shenyi was our first choice at support from the moment he entered our scouting combine. He showed us unparalleled proactivity, map control, and team coms, making him a key component of our team. Bring on ’22. pic.twitter.com/2dKTVFN7DR
— TSM (@TSM) December 9, 2021
Shenyi also contributes valuable major region competitive exposure to the lineup. He served as a substitute for FunPlus Phoenix’s primary LPL roster during Summer 2021, participating in five official matches. He excels as an assertive player who demonstrates particular comfort on engage-oriented champions, highlighted by a commanding Rakan performance against Top Esports that showcased his playmaking potential.
Pro Tip: When integrating shot-calling supports like Shenyi, teams should establish clear communication hierarchies and practice specific scenarios where his engage decisions can be maximized. Common mistakes include over-committing without proper team coordination or failing to adapt call styles to different game states.
Keaiduo: The Aggressive Teamfighter
Among the roster’s most unproven elements, Keaiduo initiated his professional career with Thunder Talk Gaming Young at 2021’s beginning. That squad underperformed significantly within the LDL competitive landscape, failing to secure playoff berths during both Spring and Summer splits.
Welcome Keaiduo to TSM as our starting LCS mid-laner for 2022! #TSM
@TSM_Keaiduo dominated our month-long scouting combine in Korea. He stood out as the top-performing mid-laner, bringing an aggressive look and crisp teamfighting. We can’t wait for you to see him crush the LCS. pic.twitter.com/CFubFu4SAE
— TSM (@TSM) December 9, 2021
Nevertheless, Chawy clarified that TSM became particularly impressed by Keaiduo’s assertive gameplay approach. He demonstrated considerable champion diversity throughout his LDL tenure, exhibiting proficiency with both aggressive melee selections such as Viego and Diana, alongside traditional ranged control mages including Twisted Fate and Viktor.
Advanced Strategy: Aggressive mid laners like Keaiduo often struggle with consistency and map awareness. Teams can optimize their performance by implementing structured roaming patterns and establishing clear win conditions for their champion selections. Developing restraint alongside aggression creates more complete players.
Communication Infrastructure: TSM’s Secret Weapon
Language barriers typically present significant challenges for imported players. However, TSM possesses a distinctive advantage when incorporating Chinese talent, given jungler Mingyi ‘Spica’ Lu’s Mandarin fluency. As outlined by Chawy, the jungler, who joined TSM in mid-2020, will shoulder communication responsibilities across the entire team.
Arguably, communication between jungler and support is the most important line of communication in competitive league. Strong communication allows these two players to set up ganks across the map. If Spica and Shenyi are able to communicate clearly, then TSM will have far fewer issues fitting the new players into their roster.
Integration Blueprint: Successful multicultural rosters establish “communication lanes” where specific players handle translation for particular interactions. TSM should implement structured call systems where Spica translates macro decisions while Shenyi handles immediate engage calls. Common pitfalls include over-reliance on single translators or failing to develop English communication skills over time.
Complete 2022 LCS Roster Breakdown
Team Composition Analysis: This roster combines veteran stability (Huni, Spica) with high-ceiling development talent (Keaiduo, Shenyi) and proven domestic performance (Tactical). The key to success lies in maximizing the jungle-mid-support coordination while allowing Huni to play weak-side effectively. The communication infrastructure through Spica provides a unique advantage that could accelerate team cohesion.
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