Team Liquid’s 2023 Roster: What to Expect
No team in the LCS had a more disappointing 2022 Summer Split than Team Liquid. Despite being touted as a North American “super team,” their highest ranking was third place in the 2022 LCS Spring Split playoffs. Now, as the start of free agency approaches, let’s take a look at how Team Liquid plans to revamp their roster for the upcoming 2023 season.
Liquid’s Roster Outlook
Before discussing any reported moves and rumors, it’s important to understand Team Liquid’s outlook on their professional League of Legends program. Recently, co-CEO Steve Arhancet addressed the fans, acknowledging the team’s failure to qualify for Worlds 2022. He expressed the organization’s desire to change their approach and build a roster with more developmental pieces. This signifies a shift away from the “super team” model that didn’t work for them. Knowing this sets the expectation for what lies ahead in the offseason.
Departures
Let’s start with the confirmed moves. Team Liquid made some changes, starting with the departure of Hans sama. Despite his stellar 2021 campaign in the LEC, Hans sama did not meet expectations alongside CoreJJ. He has since been released and is set to return to the LEC with a new team, G2 Esports.
Bwipo, another European import for Liquid, is also rumored to be exploring his options for 2023. While there is speculation that he may return to Fnatic, nothing official has been announced regarding his future in professional League.
CoreJJ Staying with Team Liquid
There were rumors surrounding CoreJJ’s future with the team, but those were put to rest when it was reported that he has re-signed with Team Liquid for the 2023 season. As the longest-tenured member of the team, CoreJJ will continue to be a veteran presence on the roster.
Bjergsen’s Future
Following the disappointing performance of the 2022 “super team,” rumors circulated about issues between CoreJJ and Bjergsen not meshing well. With CoreJJ re-signing, it poses a dilemma for Team Liquid. While CoreJJ was set to become a free agent, Bjergsen still has one year left on his contract. It remains to be seen what Team Liquid will do with Bjergsen and his contract moving forward.
The latest rumor connects Bjergsen to 100 Thieves, who is reportedly interested in bringing him alongside former teammates Spica and Doublelift. However, this is purely speculative at this point.
Team Liquid Academy Promotions
Many teams are looking to their academy squads for future talent, and Team Liquid Academy is no exception. With the success of players like Evil Geniuses’ Danny and Jojopyun, promotions from the academy team are highly anticipated. One standout from Team Liquid Academy is support player Bill “Eyla” Nguyen. However, his promotion to the LCS is uncertain due to CoreJJ’s return. Other standouts from the academy team, such as AD carry Sean “Yeon” Sung, could potentially fill the gaps left by departing players.
Jungle: Santorin?
The only position left to discuss is the jungle. As of now, there is no official news on Santorin’s future with Team Liquid. While he is still under contract until 2023, he recently posted a cryptic tweet that suggests uncertainty heading into free agency. However, this tweet should be taken with a grain of salt as it doesn’t provide concrete information about his plans.
With the offseason approaching, Team Liquid’s roster changes will continue to unfold. Keep an eye out for more news and updates regarding the team’s plans for the 2023 season.
Team Liquid, LCS, esports, League of Legends, roster changes, free agency, 2023 season, CoreJJ, Bjergsen, academy promotions, jungle, Santorin, esports news