Pyosik rounds out Team Liquid’s 2023 roster

In an unexpected turn of events, Team Liquid managed to scrape together one of the best LCS rosters. Heading into the 2022 offseason, TL CEO Steve Arhancet said that the team was looking to promote some ingrown talent for their LCS roster. Looking to cut back on spending was understandable after the failure of the previous super team. But when a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity like Pyosik knocks on the door, you always pick up. 

Pyosik will jungle for Team Liquid in 2023

We might be looking back at this offseason and calling it one of the best in LCS history. Never mind the super team that Flyquest managed to assemble, Team Liquid now have a legitimate world-class top side. Reigning World Champion Pyosik is the latest addition to Team Liquid, and he will be occupying the highly contested jungle role. From the moment the 20222 roster was dismissed, we knew that Team Liquid would have a Korean jungler. Names like UmTi, Clid, and many more were rumored by various sources. But in the end, Team Liquid got the World Champion. Somehow, DRX have managed to completely botch their offseason, losing all five players that led them to a Worlds title. 

Despite being a World Champion, Pyosik will still have to prove a lot in the LCS. He might be one of the best players in the world, but he’s joining a league where jungle is the strongest role. With talents like Blaber, Inspired, Closer, and even Spica vying for the top spot, he has his work cut out for him. Better yet, all those junglers have a well-rounded and proven supporting cast around them, while Pyosik is slotting alongside two rookies. Either way, this is the best possible move for Pyosik for a multitude of reasons.

Team Liquid and Pyosik: A match made in heaven

Apart from the disaster that is DRX ownership, the LCS offer was the best one he had. After finishing the season with a World Championship win, nearly all LCK teams had verbal agreements for the 2023 rosters. Despite being an underdog winner, nobody was lining up to pick him up. Four LCK teams had already stated that they weren’t in the market for proven players, and were promoting their academy rosters from the Challengers series. Since most of the top teams in Korea already have their junglers under contract, the best  Pyosik could get was two offers from bottom-tier LCK teams. That or relocating to China on another noncontending team, so the team Liquid offer is truly a blessing in disguise. 

As a charismatic and likable personality, Team Liquid Pyosik should have no issue building up a fan base in the LCS. Apart from the language barrier and dedication to streaming, nothing should prevent him from furthering his brand in the league. Former World Champions coming to the LCS have either failed spectacularly and retired or are playing to this day. Either way, Team Liquid are going to have three of those the following season, for what it/s worth. 

Former World Champion MaRin will coach TL in 2023

Former World Champion and Faker’s sidekick after Impact left, top laner MaRin, is joining Team Liquid as their head coach for the 2023 season. This might come as a surprise to many, considering that MaRin has been inactive in the competitive League of Legends scene for quite some time. He has zero coaching experience and he last played for Topsports in China in 2018.

Regardless, his expertise and experience should be invaluable for this roster, as the coaching role does not require mechanical prowess. Team Liquid actually hired MaRin as their first move in this offseason, giving him free reign over the roster construction. His input and presence probably played a major role in luring Pyosik, as well as the presence of incumbent support CoreJJ.

Summit returns to the LCS

The 2022 Spring split MVP, top laner Summit, is back in the LCS. This time around he is joining Team Liquid, for half of the salary that Cloud9 were paying him a year ago. Summit had a great regular split to kick off 2022 but was cut after a disappointing playoffs run. He joined FPX in the Chinese LPL for the summer split but failed to get past the second round of the playoffs.

Eyla and Haeri promoted from Team Liquid Academy

Support Eyla might have slipped out of their hands, but former LCS MVP CoreJJ is the incumbent starter. Instead, mid-laner Haeri and bot laner Yeon will get a chance in the LCS. They are being promoted from Team Liquid Academy, after two years of stellar performances. Both of them come from the OCE region and are counted as native LCS players. They bring championship-winning experience without taking up import slots. Haeri was one of the best mid laners in the Academy ecosystem, and he should have a smooth transition alongside veterans like Pyosik.

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