Doublelift Moves to Team SoloMid
Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng, former player for Counter Logic Gaming (CLG), has joined rival organization Team SoloMid (TSM). This unexpected move has stirred up strong reactions in the North American League scene, with fans expressing a range of emotions from amusement to frustration. It is rare for a prominent player like Doublelift to join forces with their biggest rival in any professional sport, making this a significant development in the League of Legends community.
Doublelift’s Performance and CLG’s Decision
In the summer split of 2015 and the World Championship group stage, Doublelift and TSM’s previous AD carry, Jason “WildTurtle” Tran, had contrasting performances. Doublelift’s success on hard carries like Tristana contributed to CLG’s achievements, while WildTurtle seemed to be declining as a top AD carry in North America. TSM even brought in a temporary substitute, Yuri “KEITHMCBRIEF” Jew, due to fans’ criticism of WildTurtle’s in-game decisions. Despite this, WildTurtle’s performances remained mediocre, leading to his recent replacement by Doublelift.
CLG’s Decision to Remove Doublelift
At first glance, CLG’s decision to remove Doublelift seems questionable, as the team had just won their first North American title and showed promise for future success. Doublelift was undeniably one of the key players for CLG throughout the summer split. However, behind the scenes, it was no secret that Doublelift had difficulties getting along with his teammates, with reports of his arrogant and unpleasant personality. Even his close friendship with teammate Zaqueri “Aphromoo” Black soured, leading to Aphromoo advocating for Doublelift’s removal from the team.
Implications of Doublelift’s Move
Doublelift’s move to TSM is the most significant and surprising roster change in the North American League scene so far. This move will undoubtedly shape the tone of the 2016 LCS season. CLG and TSM were both voted in to participate in IEM San Jose prior to these swaps, making the upcoming tournament and the entirety of next year revolve around the narrative of “Doublelift facing his old team.”
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Doublelift, League of Legends, esports, Counter Logic Gaming, Team SoloMid, roster change, North American League, rivalry, performance, decision, narrative