Shopify Rebellion is joining the LCS after completing the acquisition of TSM’s slot in the competition.
Shopify Rebellion is the newest team in the LCS, the organization confirmed through social media.
“Entering League of Legends – one of the largest esports titles, with a rich competitive history – felt like an obvious next step for us as we continue to grow our presence in esports,” said Dario “TLO” Wünsch, esports program development lead at Shopify.
According to the press release, Shopify Rebellion will be working with the former TSM roster. The players currently under contract with TSM are top laner Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell, jungler Lee “Bugi” Seong-yeop, bot laner Jason “WildTurtle” Tran, and support Jonathan “Chime” Pomponio.
As far as rosters go, this is a solid group of players with only one import. Shopify Rebellion could go for an import to fill out the mid lane role, according to LCS import rules.
“With the relentless pursuit of victory that has defined TSM and the innovative spirit of Shopify Rebellion, we believe this move will ignite fresh success and further elevate the competitive landscape of esports,” said Andy Dinh, CEO and Founder of TSM.
What happened to TSM?
Back in May, Dinh confirmed TSM’s departure from the LCS. According to Dinh, the decision to leave the LCS had been in the works for the past three years.
There are several reasons why TSM decided to leave the LCS. The organization failed to find success in recent years, domestically and internationally. While the team cited region competitiveness as the main reason for the departure, it’s not a secret that LCS organizations are currently facing financial constraints.
The move might not be as profitable as TSM anticipated. According to New York Times reporter Kellen Browning, TSM sold the slot for $10 million. If the price is an indication of the LCS’ current state, it’s alarming, to say the least — especially when compared with the acquisition of Echo Fox’s slot back in 2019. At the time, Evil Geniuses paid $30.5 million for the slot.
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