Team Liquid reveals motivation struggles in LCS prior to Worlds

On August 25, 2019, Team Liquid secured an unprecedented fourth straight LCS championship at Detroit’s Little Caesars Arena, yet the celebration felt remarkably subdued. While Cloud9 accepted their defeat and packed equipment, Liquid’s players displayed minimal emotional response, treating the milestone achievement as routine operational success rather than a triumphant moment.

This championship squad faces a unique psychological challenge that no other North American team experiences: consistent victory has diminished the emotional impact of winning. In their documentary series Squad, multiple players openly discussed struggling with competitive drive, acknowledging that domestic titles no longer generate the excitement they once did during their initial championship runs.

“Our motivation issues stem from domestic wins becoming meaningless achievements,” explained star AD carry Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng. “We’re now competing toward a distant objective—performing well at the World Championship—while local matches feel like formalities.”

Team Liquid has established absolute competitive supremacy within the LCS ecosystem. No North American roster approaches their current performance level, though they demonstrated occasional vulnerability during regular season and playoff matches. Analysts question whether these losses resulted from opponent competence or Liquid’s reduced intensity when facing inferior competition.

Team Liquid become the villains of the LCS

The team’s public narrative has undergone dramatic transformation throughout their championship run. Initially celebrated as entertaining champions, they now face growing numbers of fans actively supporting their opponents. The players themselves have shifted perspective, viewing competition not as pursuit of victory but as prevention of opponent satisfaction.

“We’ve become the antagonists in this storyline,” Doublelift elaborated. “Fans and competing organizations desperately want to witness our defeat, so our motivation derives from denying them that experience. While it sounds malicious, elite competition requires discovering motivational fuel from available sources.”

Despite impressive domestic and international results, Team Liquid doesn’t command the largest fanbase in the league. Both Cloud9 and Team SoloMid maintain more vocal, passionate supporter groups that frequently express negative sentiments toward the reigning champions.

C9 enthusiasts feel particular betrayal toward mid laner Nicolaj “Jensen” Jensen, who transferred to Liquid before the 2019 Spring Split. Jensen expressed continued respect for his former organization while acknowledging the personal nature of fan criticism.

Jensen’s roster move adds compelling complexity to Team Liquid’s emerging villain identity, creating compelling narrative tension throughout the season.

Liquid looks for a worthy LCS opponent

Team Liquid’s competitive journey lacks a crucial dramatic element: formidable opposition that pushes them to their limits. Cloud9 shows potential to evolve into genuine rivals but must first reclaim domestic championship status. Clutch Gaming demonstrated competitive spirit by extending their semifinal match to five intense games.

The absence of legitimate domestic challengers negatively impacts team psychology and performance development. Players, analysts, and spectators recognize that regardless of opponent, Liquid consistently emerges victorious in North American competition.

“I desperately want to face another bot lane or complete team that forces us to acknowledge ‘this is the squad we must overcome, requiring improved training and greater effort,'” Doublelift stated. “When that competitive dynamic emerges, it will provide crucial competitive awakening.”

Liquid prepares for the League of Legends World Championship

Regional competitive deficiencies affect both player mentality and training methodology. Team Liquid approaches the year’s most significant tournament where every region sends elite representatives. The 2019 competitive field appears stronger than previous years, with play-in stage teams presenting substantial challenges. Arriving unprepared for the World Championship represents both competitive failure and potential career damage.

LEC teams hold multiple advantages over North American competitors. The event occurs within their home region, providing environmental familiarity. European organizations demonstrate greater strategic creativity, willingly experimenting with novel team compositions during official matches. Innovative draft strategies extend beyond G2 Esports, with EU Masters participants testing unconventional champion selections in unexpected roles.

Team Liquid must compensate for an entire season of limited competitive pressure and practice quality. Their 2019 objective involves advancing past the group stage, with failure threatening their legacy as the greatest team in LCS history.

Training the mentality at Team Liquid

The organization confronts motivation challenges through mental performance coach Jared Tendler. Mental coaching represents an emerging professional specialization within esports, with these experts joining organizations to develop stronger psychological resilience in competitors.

When individual players experience performance decline, it impacts collective team dynamics. Team Liquid required Tendler’s expertise during 2018’s Mid-Season Invitational when former support Kim “Olleh” Joo-sung struggled with competitive pressure and temporarily benched himself mid-tournament. Olleh publicly credited Tendler’s support system for enabling his competitive return.

Olleh’s situation illustrates why elite teams benefit from mental coaching support. Stress, diminished motivation, and confidence issues can undermine even the world’s most skilled players. Team Liquid demonstrates forward-thinking approach by providing comprehensive support resources, though ultimate performance responsibility rests with the competitors themselves.

Team Liquid departs for Europe on September 17 following deserved rest. The team will conduct preparation camp at their Utrecht, Netherlands headquarters facility.

The 2019 League of Legends World Championship main event commences October 12.

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