CLG vs. TSM: The Age Old Rivalry
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The rivalry between CLG and TSM is the oldest in League of Legends history. The two squads have been around since the infancy of competitive League and have squared off in more than a few intense and important matches as they’ve risen to prominence.
So, how did it all begin? Let’s take a look at the history between the two famed teams.
CLG may have started out as the most popular LoL team back when HotshotGG first started streaming but TSM’s fan base exploded off of their consistent success on the Rift. Combined with Reginald’s polarizing personality and TSM’s Fk It, Baylife brand, there was very little that TSM couldn’t accomplish.
The following summer split, CLG improved little by little. Although they were no closer to the coveted top 2 positions during the summer split as they fared in spring, CLG took a commanding 4-0 head-to-head finish against TSM in the regular season. However, during the summer split playoffs, CLG failed to come through in the clutch. With so much on the line in their quarterfinal match against TSM, CLG succumbed in back to back matches and saw their path to Worlds cut short. TSM eventually secured their route to the Season 3 World Championships with the No. 2 seed and become the first and only team to attend every World Championship thus far. CLG returned home to lick their wounds as it became the first time the team failed to qualify for the grand stage.
Coming in second to TSM time and time again, CLG was left to ponder over the necessary changes that needed to be made in order for them to become competitive again. The regular season victories were moot if CLG couldn’t beat TSM when it mattered.
With neither team happy with their results, it was time to make some big changes. For TSM, Reginald has stepped down from mid lane for the young European phenom, Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg, while Nicolas "Gleeb" Haddad was signed on after Xpecial's departure to Curse. Marcus "Dyrus" Hill is now the longest standing player on TSM's active roster and he only joined the team back in 2012.
CLG has undergone an equally striking roster change. After three splits with various different junglers, CLG is looking at their best with Marcel "dexter" Feldkamp in the new lineup. Team captain Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng remains impressive with his jaw-dropping plays in bot lane while CLG's newest international import, Shin "Seraph" Woo Yeong from Korea, continues adapting to the North American meta.
The 2014 summer split is an exciting time for fans with the NA LCS already such a tight race. One win separates five teams (including both CLG and TSM), who are all contending for their place for the World Championships this year. With CLG winning their first match this split, will TSM close the gap against their rivals like they've done in the past or will CLG continue their regular season success against TSM and pull ahead 2-0? You'll have to tune in this Saturday, June 28th at 12:00 pm PDT / 21.00 CEST to find out! The biggest rivalry in League of Legends continues.
Jack is a freelance writer for Riot Games and he wants to know who do you cheer for, TSM or CLG, and why? You can tweet him your thoughts @NeoIllusions.
In the beginning...
Crossing paths early during the closed beta of LoL, Andy "Reginald" Dinh and George "HotshotGG" Georgallidis originally played on the same team but went their separate ways after coming to a crossroad over ideological differences. The two players went on to found the two oldest, standing teams in League of Legends history: Team SoloMid and Counter Logic Gaming. Since then, TSM and CLG have constantly vied against one another for top dog in North America. It erupted into not only a contest to see which team could place better in tournaments but also who could get the last laugh. Although CLG initially made the bigger splash onto the scene, with No. 1 finishes at the World Cyber Games 2010, IEM Cologne 2011 (defeating TSM in the grand finals), and MLG Raleigh 2011, in time TSM evolved into the prevailing North American force for the majority of Season 2. While CLG participated in two OGN seasons in Korea with the hopes of taking their skills to the next level, TSM eventually became the undisputed powerhouse in NA after a string of victories including IPL 4, MLG Anaheim 2012, IPL Face Off, and culminated with a 2-0 win over Dignitas during the Season 2 North American Regional Finals at PAX Prime. With CLG unable to find continued success from their training in Korea, TSM reaped the accolades as the top team in their region.
CLG may have started out as the most popular LoL team back when HotshotGG first started streaming but TSM’s fan base exploded off of their consistent success on the Rift. Combined with Reginald’s polarizing personality and TSM’s Fk It, Baylife brand, there was very little that TSM couldn’t accomplish.
Lessons in history
While TSM emerged as the heavy favorites during the pre-LCS era of Season 2, drastic changes to the professional scene occurred in Season 3 with the introduction of the NA LCS. In the inaugural spring split, TSM continued to reign over the NA region. CLG fell 1-3 in regular season head-to-head matches against TSM and were stunned after getting knocked out of the bracket with a 1-2 quarterfinals loss to Vulcun. TSM continued to exert dominance over the other NA teams and inched out a No. 1 finish in the spring split playoffs after a close 3-2 victory over Good Game University.
The following summer split, CLG improved little by little. Although they were no closer to the coveted top 2 positions during the summer split as they fared in spring, CLG took a commanding 4-0 head-to-head finish against TSM in the regular season. However, during the summer split playoffs, CLG failed to come through in the clutch. With so much on the line in their quarterfinal match against TSM, CLG succumbed in back to back matches and saw their path to Worlds cut short. TSM eventually secured their route to the Season 3 World Championships with the No. 2 seed and become the first and only team to attend every World Championship thus far. CLG returned home to lick their wounds as it became the first time the team failed to qualify for the grand stage.
Coming in second to TSM time and time again, CLG was left to ponder over the necessary changes that needed to be made in order for them to become competitive again. The regular season victories were moot if CLG couldn’t beat TSM when it mattered.
Modern warfare
The 2014 spring split proved to be a better start for CLG, but they still finished outside of the top 2. With 18 wins and 10 losses, CLG's No. 3 finish in the regular season was eclipsed by TSM's 22 wins and 6 losses at No. 2. In the spring split playoffs, TSM once again had CLG's number when the two teams collided in the semifinals with TSM coming out victorious, defeating CLG 2-1.
With neither team happy with their results, it was time to make some big changes. For TSM, Reginald has stepped down from mid lane for the young European phenom, Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg, while Nicolas "Gleeb" Haddad was signed on after Xpecial's departure to Curse. Marcus "Dyrus" Hill is now the longest standing player on TSM's active roster and he only joined the team back in 2012.
CLG has undergone an equally striking roster change. After three splits with various different junglers, CLG is looking at their best with Marcel "dexter" Feldkamp in the new lineup. Team captain Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng remains impressive with his jaw-dropping plays in bot lane while CLG's newest international import, Shin "Seraph" Woo Yeong from Korea, continues adapting to the North American meta.
The 2014 summer split is an exciting time for fans with the NA LCS already such a tight race. One win separates five teams (including both CLG and TSM), who are all contending for their place for the World Championships this year. With CLG winning their first match this split, will TSM close the gap against their rivals like they've done in the past or will CLG continue their regular season success against TSM and pull ahead 2-0? You'll have to tune in this Saturday, June 28th at 12:00 pm PDT / 21.00 CEST to find out! The biggest rivalry in League of Legends continues.
Jack is a freelance writer for Riot Games and he wants to know who do you cheer for, TSM or CLG, and why? You can tweet him your thoughts @NeoIllusions.
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ahri-kidding-me?