Can TSM recover from last place in the 2022 LCS Spring Split?

The esports world witnessed a stunning reversal of fortune as TSM, North America’s most decorated League of Legends organization, collapsed to dead last in the 2022 LCS Spring Split standings. This catastrophic performance represents the steepest decline in the franchise’s storied history, raising urgent questions about what systemic failures triggered this freefall and whether recovery remains achievable.

With seven championship banners hanging from their rafters—more than any team in LCS history—TSM’s legacy of excellence made their 10th-place finish particularly shocking. The team’s 2-9 record through the split’s midpoint marked their worst competitive stretch since the league’s inception, creating a crisis that demands comprehensive organizational introspection.

How did TSM get last place in the 2022 LCS Spring Split?

TSM’s downfall began during the offseason when a mass departure of cornerstone personnel stripped the organization of its competitive foundation. The dual losses of Soren “Bjergsen” Bjerg—the franchise’s iconic mid laner and de facto leader—and longtime strategic architect Parth “Parthenaan” Naidu created voids that proved impossible to fill adequately. Bjergsen wasn’t merely a player; he represented TSM’s strategic identity and late-game decision-making backbone.

This institutional knowledge drain forced an emergency rebuild around jungler Mingyi “Spica” Lu and top laner Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon, placing immense pressure on relatively inexperienced leadership to steer the organization through turbulent waters. The absence of veteran game knowledge and established communication hierarchies left the team navigating uncharted territory without proper navigational tools.

TSM’s recruitment strategy raised immediate concerns among analysts when they opted for unproven Chinese imports Zhu “Keaiduo” Xiong and Wei “Shenyi” Zi-Jei rather than established LCS veterans. Shenyi arrived with minimal LPL stage experience—primarily from FunPlusPhoenix’s academy squad—while Keaiduo represented a complete unknown quantity in major regional competition. This high-risk approach ignored conventional wisdom about successful import integration.

The roster completion with ADC Edward “Tactical” Ra created additional complications. While Tactical had demonstrated flashes of brilliance replacing Peng “Doublelift” Yilang on Team Liquid, his aggressive playstyle required strong vocal support leadership—precisely what the departed Bjergsen had provided. On paper, the pieces suggested potential, but the role distribution and leadership gaps created fundamental structural weaknesses that practice couldn’t overcome.

Team dynamics imploded just weeks into the competition when management abruptly benched Shenyi after only two LCS appearances, then reinstated him following a one-week absence. This erratic handling of personnel destroyed player confidence and practice consistency. Meanwhile, Keaiduo’s temporary step-down further indicated deeper issues with player adaptation and team environment.

The constant roster musical chairs prevented development of crucial team coordination and communication patterns. With each lineup change, the squad had to restart their synergy development from scratch—a luxury no professional team can afford during split competition. This instability became a self-perpetuating cycle where poor performance prompted changes that guaranteed continued poor performance.

Despite individual talent suggesting competitive potential, TSM’s in-game coordination displayed alarming deficiencies. The team consistently failed to execute coordinated engages or disengages, with players frequently appearing on different strategic pages during critical moments. Their macro play resembled five individuals rather than a cohesive unit, with rotational decisions happening reactively rather than proactively.

The squad’s strategic identity remained completely undefined throughout the split—oscillating between aggressive early game approaches and passive scaling compositions without mastering either. This identity crisis manifested in draft inconsistencies, where champion selections rarely complemented a clear win condition or playstyle philosophy.

Recovery demands immediate stabilization of the starting roster to build essential team chemistry. TSM must commit to a defined strategic identity—whether through aggressive early snowballing or disciplined late-game scaling—and draft accordingly across all five positions. Establishing clear communication hierarchies and shotcalling structures represents the most urgent priority.

Long-term success requires addressing fundamental issues beyond player talent, including coaching staff development, practice structure optimization, and creating systems that withstand personnel changes. The organization must decide whether to continue developing their current project players or pursue established veterans who can provide immediate stability and leadership.

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