The great North American hope: Team SoloMid

Riot·Sep 10, 2015·3 votes·28,396 views

TSM! TSM! TSM!

While other teams are satisfied making it to Playoffs, or even just avoiding relegation, Team SoloMid only has the highest of ambitions: hoist the Summoner's Cup. And their drive for success pushes them towards that goal.

They don't treat wins as something to celebrate, but rather lessons to learn from. Fiercely motivated, TSM has worked to expand its style of play over the course of the year to take advantage of their opponents on their way to the 2015 World Championship.

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TSM carry threats from every position, but their biggest terror lies in their mid laner, Bjergsen. The 2015 Spring Split MVP rarely loses his lane, even when other teams consistently try to shut him down. Famous for his stellar assassin play, with a penchant for champions like Ahri and Zed, Bjergsen's champion pool runs deep. And he's shown how well he can adapt, utilizing champions like Orianna and Azir, and even utility champions like Lulu, to devastating effect whenever the need arises.

The Play

Team SoloMid play it safe and steady early, before ramping up into a late-game team-fighting powerhouse. Support Lustboy often goes for timely roams mid to help push Bjergsen's advantages, while jungler Santorin farms hard to be ready for a fight.

After scaling up and laying down vision, TSM soldier straight into enemy lines with devastating flanks from top laner Dyrus' fast-fingered Teleports and aggressive engages from Lustboy and Santorin, who work to keep their backline safe to bomb away.

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Bjergsen balances his flashy mechanics with staying safe behind TSM's front line. This allows him to simultaneously call the fight and throw out insane amounts of damage alongside AD carry WildTurtle. No easy task. And following any onslaught, the macro oriented TSM know exactly how to take the next objective. Whether it's Dragon, Baron, or a base, they understand the capabilities of their composition, always thinking many steps ahead.

This play against Team Liquid in the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split Semifinals is a perfect illustration of TSM at their best.

"Both teams throughout the game tried to flank each other, and because Dyrus got the best flank, we won."

-Santorin, TSM Jungler

Eye on the Prize

In Team SoloMid's 2015 season they rode high, they fell hard, and as the season wound down, they found themselves back at the top.

TSM showed their dominant form at the beginning of this year, crushing their way through both international and domestic tournaments. It seemed like nothing could stop the tremendous might and synergy of TSM. That is, until they landed at the Mid-Season Invitational.

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Touted before the tournament as the strength of North America, MSI was an unmitigated disaster for TSM, shaking the team to its very core. Promising to never repeat such a lackluster performance again, the reinvigorated TSM blazed through the early part of the 2015 NA LCS Summer Split before hitting yet another slump. Determined to make Worlds, they showed they weren't afraid to make changes where necessary ahead of the Playoffs, where they once again showed up strong.

Though they were challenged in the Finals by their rivals Counter Logic Gaming, TSM have proven that they're their own toughest critics, and will do whatever it takes to bounce back as they make their run for the 2015 World Championship.

Talk of the Rift

As TSM tells it, their success lies in taking charge.

"We want to be in the driving seat, where it's up to us to win or lose the game. We don't want to have it that if [the other team] plays really well then they might win, but if they don't play as well that we can scale on them. That's not how we want to play and that's not how we'll do well at Worlds," says Bjergsen.

But their problems revolve around confidence.

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"One of our biggest problems, as a team, is we don't believe we're the better team half the time. In the past, when we were dominant, or if we lost a game off a small mistake, we'd still be confident because we knew we were way better than the other teams. But now, this time around, other teams are getting a lot better than they used to, and we're not improving as fast as we can. We're just slowly falling behind. So if we can catch ourselves and we can bring back our confidence, I feel like we'll just win," says TSM's veteran top laner, Dyrus.

If Team SoloMid can play to their strengths, grab hold of a lead, and work cohesively as a team, their dreams of finally taking home the Summoner's Cup could become a reality.

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Interested in learning more about the other teams competing at Worlds? Check out the whole lineup, now.

34 Comments

No More OreoSep 10, 201517 votes

I know the author is trying to hype their respective team, but isn't this a little over the top?

Kitten LoverSep 17, 20151 votes

the autor of this article is clearly brainless thats why. FREESM haha can't wait to see Dierus giving first blood every game XD the only hopes from NA is C9 and CLG the teams with less imports.

p0psiclesSep 11, 201511 votes

I didn't know Riot started hiring all the TSM fanboys/girls to their staff. Calling TSM the “great American hope” when they got stomped 3-0 by CLG in the finals... TSM honestly doesn’t even look as impressive as C9 (who beat TSM in the final week of the season by the way). It wasn’t like TSM put up an Origen-type fight against an undefeated team in the finals. They were crushed in every sense of the word. Give us a break with the TSM hype train.

destroyer3810Sep 14, 20152 votes

This has been one of TSM's worst years seeing as they been behind now

Bramble BerrySep 10, 20158 votes

Ms. Jackson's fluff piece got too fluffy for me. Writing off a 3-0 stomp as "challenged" and saying TSM beating Liquid, who didnt even look like the 4th best team in NA at Regionals, looks great then is a joke. Preview pieces should have at least some honesty to them otherwise there's no point.

VicktoriusSep 11, 20157 votes

TSM fans never change... They lost their chance when they did not get the top seed. How can you dare to say they are the north american hope when TSM problably will get in a group where there is no chance of getting out! If there is hope is of CLG gettting in a group with only one korean or chinese team. Then there is hope!

IceAgeFromSidSep 15, 20151 votes

I think TSM will do pretty good. The only reason i think they lost finals to CLG is because they went for the comp they werent comfortable and were maybe cocky from their history.

VicktoriusOct 11, 20151 votes

Just a reminder that I was right. And CLG lost the great opportunity of their lives!

JakarSep 12, 20156 votes

I understand that all of you think CLG should be touted as North America's number 1 hope, but don't forget, CLG is in their first big international tournament in the last 2-3 years. TSM is in their 4-5 in a row. On top of that, CLG isn't even playing with all of their starters. Xmithie won't be able to make the tournament, so instead Huhi, the back up mid-laner for CLG will be starting as their jungler. While CLG did destroy TSM in the finals, you have to look at all of the other factors as well. The lack of Xmithie, as well as the lack of international experience, makes it tough to predict how they will do this year. Both teams have the talent to possibly make a run. Both teams have a great support staff as well. TSM is just a safer bet right now, seeing as CLG has a lot of unknowns as of right now. I wish both teams the best, and I hope worlds as a whole is exciting.

LegacyCWALSep 18, 20152 votes

CLG isn't "North America's hope" because people think they're the better team. CLG gets called "North America's hope" because it's a hell of a lot easier to make it out of a group with an LMS team and a wild card than it is to make it out of a group with the LPL champions and the runners-up from Korea and EU.

EirosSep 11, 20154 votes

TSM LOST TO CLG LOL

Lord YuniiSep 14, 20151 votes

{quoted}

TSM LOST TO CLG LOL

and the fanbois did rage. so let it be written.

MazterPKSep 11, 20153 votes

Seeing how much TSM improved in the two weeks leading up to playoffs gives me faith they can get at least to a point where they won't embarrass themselves at worlds. Who knows maybe the Dyrus Darius rampage is enough to pull off a few cheeky upsets.

EleshakaiSep 12, 20153 votes

I'd put CLG as the great North American hope since they're the only NA team going to worlds that is 100% NA players.

The Elder OneSep 12, 20151 votes

What are you talking about? they benched xmithie for Huhi who is a korean jungler from OGN

EleshakaiSep 19, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=The Elder One,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=pXJYQKPM,comment-id=00080000,timestamp=2015-09-12T19:55:48.303+0000)

What are you talking about? they benched xmithie for Huhi who is a korean jungler from OGN

They didn't bench... they were forced to substitute by Visa issues. But you are correct, I'd forgotten about him since I'd never seen them play him.

BaconsackSep 14, 20151 votes

also to point out, xmithie is Filipino.

TrollFan01Sep 12, 20152 votes

TSM ALWAYS gets capped on and so do their fans so I don't see too much trouble here. TSM us used to coming in 1st-2nd so they know how to adapt.

With SK Gaming being relegated I wonder how useful it would be for TSM to pick up freddy122 and Sven? Dyrus may retire and Santorin has issues so this could help.

pyroHedgeSep 14, 20152 votes

I really hope Dyrus doesn't retire. He's never been a carry threat from top, but he remains the most consistent top laner in NA. He finished the split with the fewest deaths and most minions killed, and his ability to continue to collect farm and not get pushed out of lane is unparalleled.

TrollFan01Sep 14, 20152 votes

I hope Dyrus doesn't retire either. 1 MORE YEAR!

Lord YuniiSep 14, 20152 votes

{quoted}

I hope Dyrus doesn't retire either. 1 MORE YEAR!

honestly, if he did they would probably only improve by getting fresh blood in their team. Dyrus has been kinda over the hill for sometime.

TrollFan01Sep 14, 20151 votes

You mean like getting Impact after his contract expires later this year?

Lord YuniiSep 15, 20151 votes

{quoted}

You mean like getting Impact after his contract expires later this year?

If TSM could manage to get impact and rush they would be a much better team, imho.

TrollFan01Sep 15, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Lord Yunii,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=pXJYQKPM,comment-id=000700000000000000000000,timestamp=2015-09-15T06:49:28.767+0000)

If TSM could manage to get impact and rush they would be a much better team, imho.

If they get them and Piglet could actually put them over. They're all Korean and so is Lustboy and Locodoco so there will be no language barrier AND Impact and Piglet know each other so they have some build-in synergy right there too. Bjergsen will be the only none-Korean but he can learn some Korean.

Lord YuniiSep 15, 20151 votes

{quoted}

If they get them and Piglet could actually put them over. They're all Korean and so is Lustboy and Locodoco so there will be no language barrier AND Impact and Piglet know each other so they have some build-in synergy right there too. Bjergsen will be the only none-Korean but he can learn some Korean.

Yup, that would be a sick team.

So, if they had that team and Reginald magically disappeared I think I could support TSM again. Currently, the only reason I'm not a fan is because of their toxic owner.

TrollFan01Sep 16, 20151 votes

[{quoted}](name=Lord Yunii,realm=NA,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=pXJYQKPM,comment-id=00070000000000000000000000000000,timestamp=2015-09-15T19:24:52.332+0000)

Yup, that would be a sick team.

So, if they had that team and Reginald magically disappeared I think I could support TSM again. Currently, the only reason I'm not a fan is because of their toxic owner.

It would be a sick team. Wouldn't be one people immediately write off at next year's Worlds.

Reggie is fine so long as he doesn't tell people that Locodoco isn't the final word and other things that undermine his own choices and undermines his staff.

pyroHedgeSep 15, 20152 votes

TSM needs fresh blood in the worst way. However, I don't think Dyrus is the one that needs to go. As recently as spring split he had the best GPM of any top laner despite being camped all the time. I think the problem with Dyrus this split is that TSM failed to properly adapt after MSI. Pre-MSI the TSM strategy was "if Dyrus gets camped, we'll take objectives elsewhere." MSI showed them that top-tier teams could camp Dyrus AND protect or take objectives. TSM reacted by being like "OK Dyrus, you can't die anymore" and somehow thinking that would solve everything. Dyrus did as he was told (he had the least deaths of any top laner last split, and by a pretty solid margin) but TSM didn't improve because they didn't actually work on their teamwork. Dyrus just changed.

Perhaps the best way to see TSM's struggles is with all of the failed teleport plays. It was pretty common to see Dyrus teleport in only to then have TSM disengage and leave Dyrus to die. But if we think back to the old "wait for the 2vDyrus top and we'll take Drag" strat, TSM really hasn't done a lot of objective control teleport plays in the past. "Don't die Dyrus" hasn't fixed anything. It just means that Dyrus isn't dying. You'll notice that TSM is still lethal when they group 5v5. But they're struggling otherwise.

Again, Dyrus isn't the problem here. And keeping an adaptive team-first player like Dyrus in the lineup makes it easier for TSM to replace players elsewhere and rebuild the team.

Kitten LoverSep 17, 20151 votes

Lol theres no Hope TSM has already the maximum imports . 2 from EU and 1 Korea i think TSM should go to EU and kick the scrubs of RetardedTurdle and Die-rus Feederer . so they can import since they have 2 Eu players in Eu servers but only if TSM goes to EU and hire new TOP n ADC and a good coach they might be a good team and thats the only way, in few words. lustboy berj and their jungler should go to EU and form a new team hiring 2 koreans as adc and top.

RaxistaichoSep 12, 20152 votes

Whoever wrote this garbage should be forbidden from writing future articles. This is nothing but unfounded wanking off to TSM.

UndoingslayerSep 15, 20152 votes

Why is TSM the North American Hope they got 3-0 ed by CLG and have the hardest group out of the 3 i think CLG will make it out of groups, C9 Needs another spirit bomb, Tsm has the least hope especially with the Korean solo que.

Lord YuniiSep 14, 20151 votes

ummmmmmm...just no. TSM doesn't have a chance even if hell freezes over and pigs sprout wings and morph into human eating birds.