By joining forces with his former rivals, Doublelift became the first piece of TSM's new NA superteam, whose star studded lineup now includes Hauntzer up top, Svenskeren in jungle, and former EU LCS legend Yellowstar at support.

Bjergsen returns to mid as TSM's main attraction for the third straight year. In his first two years, the burden of being regarded as the best mid laner in the NA LCS weighed heavily on Bjergsen. If he didn’t do well, TSM suffered. The addition of Doublelift means that Bjergsen can breathe easier now that TSM's fate doesn't lie solely on him getting ahead early.

"We both think of the game the same way, we're super critical of ourselves," says Doublelift of his new mid lane partner in crime. "He acknowledges his mistakes and I acknowledge mine. It's fun to talk it out and swap tips and advice [with Bjergsen]. It's really hard to find people who are critical of themselves... instead, they shift blame onto others, so I really like that."

Over the course of his career on CLG, Doublelift evolved from a farm crazy, late-game carry into a far more balanced player. Last year in particular, he became less prone to split pushing for farm and more reliant as a team member. His solo-carry mentality shifted in favor of a more selfless style that prioritized plays aimed at getting his team ahead as a whole.

Yet Doublelift is still the man whose mechanics are rivaled only by his machismo. He excels as a hyper carry on high skill-cap marksmen like Vayne, Jinx, and Tristana -- anything that gives him the means to outthink and outplay his opponents within milliseconds. Strategically, Doublelift's addition to TSM puts opponents between a rock and a hard place. If teams focus bans or early pressure on Bjergsen, it opens up opportunities for Doublelift to run away with the game; and vice-versa.

Doublelift's maturation into a more well-rounded carry was due in no small part to his support on CLG, Aphromoo. Aphromoo was the support muse that Doublelift leaned on in lane, capable of matching the ADC's aggression while also reigning him when he was over-extended. "I played with Aphro for three years and it was fun to play with him because we clicked really fast," explains Doublelift. "It's going to be hard for Yellowstar and I to gel like that instantly. I think that was an instant chemistry that doesn't come very often… and [Yellowstar] is used to playing super passively with Rekkles."

Doublelift, on the other hand, tends to toe the line between risky and suicidal when it comes to lane aggression. Meaning that even though the Doublelift-Yellowstar duo sounds like a slam dunk, it is far from a sure thing. That being said, if you had to pick two players with opposite styles to stick together, this combo would most likely yield your highest probability of working out. With nearly a decade of experience between the two of them, odds are they'll find a way to make TSM's bot lane thrive.

There's no doubt that TSM's new roster is overflowing with talent, and while they have the makings of North America's next great team, we don't know how they'll utilize all this talent in game. "This season, if it's mid lane focused then I'll play supportive AD carries like Sivir and Kalista and just farm and work in team fights. But if the meta is bottom focused, Bjergsen can play supportive mids and farm, and we can put more resources bottom," anticipates Doublelift.

This prevalence toward flexibility will shape the way TSM approaches the start of the season. What we can't be certain of, is how well they'll be able to implement and execute an adaptive playstyle that hinges around two veteran carries.

The only thing we do know, is that Doublelift is still hungry. "People think that because I've been around since Season 1 preseason that I'm reaching the end of my career," he explains. "The type of stereotype is that those players are washed up, have bad attitudes, or declining mechanics for some reason. But I'm still 22, I feel like I'm still in my prime and I can ride it for years and years."

Last season, that hunger drove him to win the NA LCS Summer Split title, and you can be sure he wants another. "I want to get it out there that I still have a lot in me and last year was my best overall. I think I can keep doing better and better. People might think that I'm about to retire, but I don't think that's the case," Doublelift states matter of factly.

This year, Doublelift has his eyes set on hoisting that NA LCS trophy yet again, the only difference being that this time, it would be to the sound of "TSM, TSM, TSM!" ringing through the crowd.

-- By Schuyler "Wints" Winter
Photos courtesy of ESL