The upcoming LCS season is just a few weeks away, and teams are ready to showcase their progress after a year of franchising. Many teams have undergone significant changes in the offseason, including Golden Guardians, Clutch Gaming, and the three representatives from last year’s Worlds, Liquid, Cloud9, and 100 Thieves.
To kick off the season, we’ve selected five players whose performances will have a major impact on their team’s success in 2019. Some of these players are rising stars looking to prove themselves, while others are seasoned veterans aiming to show that their best performances are still ahead of them.
Let’s take a closer look at these five players:
1. Broken Blade
TSM’s decision to part ways with longtime top laner Hauntzer was unexpected. Instead of signing a veteran player, they opted for up-and-coming talent Broken Blade, who previously played in the Turkish league for Royal Bandits. Despite primarily playing tanks, Broken Blade has shown his carrying potential with an exceptional win rate on Irelia. His ability to win with limited resources will be crucial for a TSM team that relies heavily on their carries.
2. Deftly
Deftly stood out as a star player for Golden Guardians last year, consistently performing well despite the struggles of his team. With an improved roster around him, Deftly will be expected to not only survive in lane but also carry his team to victories. Making the playoffs would be a significant achievement for Golden Guardians in their second year, and Deftly will play a vital role in achieving that.
3. Huhi
While 100 Thieves secured a major acquisition with two-time world champion Bang, Huhi holds a crucial role in the team’s success. As a player fluent in both Korean and English, Huhi will be responsible for facilitating communication between Bang, star top laner Ssumday, and their teammates. He must ensure that everyone on the team is on the same page strategically. This year is essential for Huhi to prove himself as an individual player and lead 100 Thieves to victory.
4. Nisqy
Replacing C9’s former mid laner Jensen is no easy task, but Nisqy has shown great potential throughout 2018. Despite playing on a struggling Splyce squad, Nisqy consistently performed well and made the playoffs in both EU splits. Joining a well-established team like C9 provides Nisqy with an excellent opportunity to demonstrate his dominance alongside talented teammates.
5. PowerOfEvil
PowerOfEvil had an impressive performance for OpTic Gaming last year but was unable to secure enough support from his team to make it to the playoffs. Now joining CLG, PowerOfEvil will face a similar challenge, as the team failed to make the playoffs last year despite having experienced players. If PowerOfEvil can lead CLG to the playoffs, he will solidify his reputation as one of the region’s best players.
These are the five LCS players to watch in 2019. Keep an eye on their performances as they play a crucial role in determining their team’s success this season.
LCS, esports, players to watch, Broken Blade, Deftly, Huhi, Nisqy, PowerOfEvil