Team Solomid Looking To Sign Doublelift
According to ESPN’s Jacob Wolf, Team Solomid is getting the band back together. He’s reporting that TSM has agreed to a deal with Team Liquid to bring the winningest player in North American history to their team. Assuming the deal is confirmed by Riot, 7-time LCS champion Doublelift will join TSM for the summer split. If Team Solomid are able to sign Doublelift, it’ll actually be his second tenure with the team.
If true, it marks an interesting decision by Team Solomid. Doublelift would rejoin Svenskeren and Biofrost, whom he competed on TSM with in 2017. It would also mean that former ADC Kobbe would be out of a job. Kobbe looked great at times in his tenure with TSM, but his career was marred by inconsistency. He’ll likely explore his options in the LCS, or return to the LEC region.
One of the all time greats
As far as North America is concerned, Doublelift is the GOAT. It’s tough to argue against an all time leading 7 LCS championships. Not only does he have 7 championships, but they came on two different teams. Over his career, he’s won three titles with TSM, and a staggering four consecutive times on Team Liquid. While he’s been seen as somewhat of a diva at times, there’s no doubt that he’s been the cream of the crop as far as North American AD Carries go.
But as it is with all sports, that was then and this is now. Perhaps even more than traditional sports, esports is a “what have you done for me lately?” kind of scene. After winning four consecutive splits, the wheels officially came off this spring. After replacing Xmithie with a star jungler from the LEC in Broxah, expectations were high. But Team Liquid never looked right this season, limping out of the gate and never returning to form. Doublelift drew a lot of ire when he admitted his heart wasn’t really in it.
A second wind or a dying gasp?
Which leads us to now. Team Solomid are going to sign Doublelift, and he is going to have one more chance to show he still has it. Everything is lined up for him to succeed. He’s got a support he knows and trusts in Biofrost. He’s got last summer’s MVP Svenskeren in the jungle. And the summer split has admittedly a lot more on the line than the spring split does. If he can’t make this work, then it’s time to start discussing whether his time has come and gone.
Either way, it won’t change whether Doublelift is the GOAT or not. He is. However, it will change how teams approach him in years going forward. That’s not to say he has anything to worry about career-wise. He’s one of the most charismatic players in the LCS. He’ll have no difficulty finding a job as a caster or a streamer. If I’m the LCS, I’m already floating a contract his way to step away from the competitive field and retire near the top.
As a long time fan of Doublelift, I’m excited to see if they can make this work. It definitely feels like they’re putting the band back together for one last run. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t make another push for greatness. We’ll see where it goes, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them and Cloud9 representing North America at Worlds this year.
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