TSM promotes Swordd to Academy roster, adds Babip

Team SoloMid has initiated a comprehensive restructuring of its Academy lineup for the 2021 competitive season, beginning with two strategically significant player acquisitions that signal a new direction for the organization’s development pipeline.

The organization is promoting emerging mid lane talent Rico “Swordd” Chen from its internal development program to the primary Academy roster. This move capitalizes on Swordd’s reputation as an exceptional individual player who will now compete on the enhanced platform of the revamped 2021 Academy competitive structure.

Complementing this internal promotion is the signing of Australian jungle specialist Leo “Babip” Romer, who recently gained international exposure during the 2020 World Championship as part of Legacy Esports.

We’re incredibly excited to announce 2 new additions to our 2021 Academy roster.

Please welcome @TSMSword and @babiplol ???? pic.twitter.com/PfU8lAJho4

— TSM (@TSM) November 29, 2020

Who is Babip?

Babip represents one of Australia’s most accomplished jungle exports, bringing substantial competitive experience at just 22 years old. He has maintained presence in the Oceanic Pro League’s upper echelon across multiple seasons with organizations including MAMMOTH and his most recent team, Legacy Esports.

The Australian jungler possesses an impressive international resume, having competed in two separate World Championship tournaments. His most recent appearance in 2020 saw Babip and Legacy Esports exceed competitive expectations during the play-in stage, demonstrating his capability against global opposition.

Babip joins TSM Academy following a standout performance at Worlds 2020, where many analysts considered him the most consistent performer on the Legacy Esports squad. Although the team ultimately fell short of main event qualification, Legacy delivered a surprising playoff run that culminated in a decisive best-of-five series against LGD Gaming.

A crucial strategic advantage for Babip’s North American transition stems from the dissolution of the OPL earlier this year. With the Oceanic region now operating without a dedicated professional league, OCE competitors can relocate to NA without impacting import slot limitations. This regulatory shift has created unprecedented opportunities for Australian players to pursue careers in either the LCS or Academy systems for the 2021 season.

This marks Babip’s inaugural competitive season in North America, where he aims to leverage the Academy league as a pathway to eventual LCS roster placement. Beginning in 2021, players originating from OCE territories no longer occupy import designation slots within NA organizations.

Who is TSM Swordd?

Swordd, previously competing under the gamertag Sword, represents the new generation of North American mid lane prospects at just 18 years old. He originally joined TSM’s talent development initiative in January 2019, marking the beginning of his formal professional trajectory.

The young mid laner established his reputation through exceptional performance in high-level solo queue, where scouts quickly identified him as one of the region’s most promising emerging talents.

Swordd’s promotion creates a strategic roster dynamic where Babip contributes veteran experience while Swordd enters as a developmental prospect with significant learning capacity. The rookie mid laner has demonstrated considerable individual skill in competitive queue environments, generating substantial fan anticipation for his official Summoner’s Rift debut.

This personnel move sees Swordd assuming the roster position previously held by Jackson “Evolved” Dohan, who played an instrumental role in TSM Academy’s successful 2020 campaign. The team achieved top-tier placements across both spring and summer splits, though most former players now appear destined for alternative competitive opportunities.

Common development mistakes for Academy rookies include over-aggression in lane phase and insufficient communication with jungle partners. Successful transition to professional play requires adapting solo queue habits to structured team environments, which often takes 3-6 months for most players.

What is TSM Academy?

TSM Academy operates as the secondary competitive League of Legends squad within the Team SoloMid organization. The North American esports institution maintains a franchise position in the premier LCS competition while simultaneously fielding an Academy roster where emerging talents compete for future starting positions in the top league.

The Academy program has established itself as one of North America’s most successful developmental systems historically. This reputation stems from championship achievements including the 2019 summer split victory and runner-up placement in the 2020 summer split, demonstrating consistent performance excellence.

The complete TSM Academy lineup for 2021 remains partially undisclosed. Current indications suggest the roster will likely exclude bot lane specialist Lawrence “Lost” Hui, who currently represents a primary candidate for TSM’s LCS starting ADC position following Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng’s recent retirement announcement.

Advanced optimization for Academy players involves balancing individual skill development with team coordination exercises. Most successful graduates typically spend 12-18 months in the Academy system before earning LCS promotions, with jungle and mid lane positions showing the highest transition rates according to NA esports analytics.

TSM’s dual-acquisition strategy demonstrates a sophisticated approach to roster construction, balancing immediate competitive capability with long-term developmental potential. This approach mirrors successful strategies seen in other competitive ecosystems where blending experienced international talent with homegrown prospects yields optimal development outcomes.

The organization’s decision to leverage the OCE import rule changes represents a forward-thinking adaptation to evolving competitive landscapes. Australian players like Babip bring unique perspectives and playstyles that can enhance overall team strategic diversity.

Strategic roster construction for Academy teams requires careful balance between experience and potential. Teams that successfully integrate 2-3 veteran players with 2-3 developing talents typically show the strongest performance growth across competitive splits.

For players following similar career paths, focusing on specific champion mastery while developing flexible playstyle adaptation proves crucial for LCS readiness. Our Class Guide provides additional insights into role specialization strategies that translate well to League of Legends positional development.

The evolving Academy format presents expanded scouting and development opportunities that organizations like TSM are strategically positioned to capitalize upon.

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