Top Esports off to disappointing 0-2 start in 2021 LPL season

The reigning LPL champions and 2020 World Championship semifinalists from Top Esports have stumbled dramatically in their opening matches of the 2021 LPL Spring Split. This unexpected collapse has sent shockwaves through the competitive League of Legends community.

Fresh off their Demacia Cup 2020 victory just weeks before the season, expectations soared for Top Esports entering the new competitive year. However, TES has completely failed to maintain championship momentum, dropping consecutive series against both Suning and the surprising Rogue Warriors squad.

????RW 2:1 TES
Nice!! GOOD start!
Thanks for your support&see u next match!
2⃣️ MVP Haro&3⃣️ MVP Forge
#RW #2021LPL pic.twitter.com/UEX1JlDqda

— Rogue Warriors (@EsportRw) January 12, 2021

While two early losses don’t necessarily doom a team in a lengthy split, analysts and supporters alike are questioning the root causes behind the defending champions’ unexpectedly poor performances.

The timing of this slump proves particularly concerning given TES’s dominant performance in the recent Demacia Cup. Teams often experience slow starts, but rarely do reigning champions coming off tournament victories display such pronounced struggles.

TES faced an immediate test against their World Championship executioners, Suning, to launch the LPL season. Despite Suning’s offseason roster changes that theoretically weakened their lineup, Top Esports couldn’t capitalize and suffered a comprehensive 2-0 demolition.

Top laner Chen “Bin” Ze-Bin spearheaded Suning’s dominant performance, showcasing individual brilliance that overwhelmed TES’s strategic preparations.

The Rogue Warriors matchup presented what should have been a straightforward bounce-back opportunity. RW traditionally operates as a mid-table threat rather than championship contender, making this loss particularly damaging to TES’s confidence.

TES initially demonstrated championship form in game one against Rogue Warriors, building substantial leads and controlling objectives. However, critical errors in mid-game transitions and poor teamfight execution across games two and three transformed certain victory into disappointing defeat.

The squad’s inability to convert early advantages into victories highlights concerning strategic deficiencies. Championship teams typically excel at closing games once ahead, making TES’s collapses particularly uncharacteristic.

Social media platforms now buzz with speculation about Top Esports’ capacity to reclaim their dominant position. The psychological impact of these early losses could prove more damaging than the actual standings deficit.

Top Esports represents a premier Chinese esports organization under Topsports ownership. Originally competing as Topsports Gaming, the team underwent strategic rebranding to Top Esports in May 2019, establishing their current competitive identity.

Throughout the 2020 competitive season, TES emerged as one of the LPL’s dominant forces. Their roster features elite talent across every position, maintaining global top-tier status despite current early-season struggles.

The organization’s 2020 championship pedigree includes capturing the LPL Summer Split title, advancing to World Championship semifinals, and concluding their championship year with Demacia Cup victory.

For their 2021 campaign, Top Esports implemented minimal roster adjustments. The sole significant change involves the support position, where rookie talent Wang “Zhuo” Xu-Zhuo assumes starting duties over veteran Liang “yuyanjia” Jia-Yuan.

Top Esports 2021 LPL lineup:

• Top – Bai “369” Jia-Hao
• Jungle – Hung “Karsa” Hao-Hsuan
• Mid – Zhuo “knight” Ding
• Bot – Yu “JackeyLove” Wen-Bo
• Support – Wang “Zhuo” Xu-Zhuo

The support position transition represents the most significant variable in TES’s early struggles. Rookie Wang “Zhuo” Xu-Zhuo faces immense pressure replacing established veteran yuyanjia, particularly in shotcalling and late-game decision-making roles.

Strategic adjustments should focus on improving mid-game objective control and teamfight coordination. TES demonstrated capability to establish early advantages but consistently failed to translate them into victories.

Common early-season mistakes include overaggressive plays with established leads and poor vision control during critical objective takes. Addressing these fundamentals becomes priority before tactical refinements.

The upcoming January 15 match against Rare Atom provides immediate opportunity for course correction. This contest assumes critical importance for restoring team confidence and championship trajectory.

For teams experiencing similar early slumps, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into role optimization and team composition strategies that could benefit TES’s recovery efforts.

Long-term success requires balancing immediate fixes with sustainable strategic development. The organization’s championship infrastructure suggests capacity for rapid adjustment, but urgency mounts with each additional loss.

Top Esports will be looking to bounce back in the LPL against Rare Atom in its next game on January 15.

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