Will Doublelift Return to the LCS in 2023

Good news broke as the community rejoiced in celebrating the 13th birthday of League of Legends. One of the greatest LCS players of all time might be looking to make a return. With rumors of budget cuts and changes to the format engulfing the scene, is there a roster spot available?

Doublelift in talks with several LCS teams

In case you are new to the League of Legends competitive scene, welcome. This Doublelift guy has been pretty good at this game for quite some time. Doublelift made a name for himself, winning eight LCS championships and trash-talking everyone he came across. But before all that, Doublelift started his career playing support for the early iterations of CLG. 

While his Blitzcrank took him to the Season 1 World Finals, his career took off after becoming an ADC. The role change seemed necessary after four years of individual brilliance and failing to meet expectations as a team. The “golden age” of CLG had done wonders for his brand. But failing to win anything significant labeled him as a selfish leader.

Reign of Dominance at TSM and Team Liquid

Heading into the 2016 campaign, as franchising reshaped the LCS landscape, Doublelift found himself in a TSM jersey. With corporate backing and a large budget, TSM created the first LCS super team, fielding a roster composed of Bjergsen, Svenskeren, Hauntzer, and Kassing alongside Doublelift. Over the next four years, Doublelift won seven of the 10 LCS splits for both TSM and Team Liquid. He is the first LCS player to reach 1000 and 1500 kills in the LCS, which resulted in him winning four straight championships throughout 2018 and 2019.

Doublelift failed to escape the group stage at international events despite his domestic domination until MSI 2019. There he reached the Grand Finals with Team Liquid, where they got 3-0 swept by European powerhouse G2 Esports. The last we saw of Doublelift was the disappointing 2020 showing at the World Championship with TSM. Infamously, this is the only first seed from a major region, to go 0-6 or winless in the group stage and be eliminated from the World Championship. More importantly, what left a sour taste in the mouths of LCS fans was the manner in which this happened. If you ever thought of googling “9 man sleep”, everything would make sense.

LCS record at international events

Now, two years later, the LCS faced another debacle at international events. With Valorant franchising transpiring over the offseason, teams are starting to form their 2023 budgets with the LCS in the rearview mirror. LCS organizations have been handing out massive seven-figure contracts to import foreign players who are yet to result in anything of note, with 2022 Team Liquid’s collapse being the prime example.

But that doesn’t seem to be the case moving forward, as many LCS teams have already fired their current management structure. Peter Dun leaving Evil Geniuses and Papa Smithy being ousted from 100 Thieves comes to mind. If reports are true that Doublelift is in talks with several LCS teams, how does he fit into their 2023 picture? 

No ADC over the age of 21 has won the World Championship, but it seems LCS teams have made peace with reality. With Doublelift and Bjergsen being back on the market, there’s a good chance some team will give them a shot on name value alone. LCS viewership has been steadily declining for the past three years and if the goal is domestic interest, why not bring out of retirement the most successful player in LCS history?

Header: Twitter/ Riot Games