Buzz
Many express their bewilderment at Top Esports' decision, considering Tian's MVP status at Demacia Cup 2021.
With the approach of the 2022 season, most LPL teams have undergone significant personnel changes, except for the reigning world champions EDward Gaming. Consequently, the contenders for the LPL Spring 2022 title have undergone a substantial transformation compared to the previous season. A notable example is Top Esports, rising to the forefront as leading contenders for the LPL championship after the successful addition of Tian, Zoom, and their stellar performance at Demacia Cup 2021.
Despite high acclaim, Top Esports has recently made a baffling move, akin to a form of 'self-sabotage.' It all started when gamers discovered that Tian consistently climbed the Korean rankings alone, while his teammates practiced together in recent days. With only about a week left until the start of LPL Spring 2022, this move is tantamount to declaring that Tian will be sitting on the bench in the upcoming tournament.
Fundamentally, Tian's performance at Demacia Cup 2022 was exceptional; he even secured the MVP title in the Finals. While he may struggle with Jarvan IV, when handling other champions, Tian proves to be a top-tier jungler. Even in solo ranked play, he performs exceptionally well, providing no reasonable explanation for TES's decision to relegate Tian to the substitute position. Consequently, the team has faced significant criticism from its own fanbase.
As mentioned earlier, after securing the services of Zoom and Tian, Top Esports made significant strides in terms of strength. The most conspicuous evidence is their victory at Demacia Cup 2021 with an astonishing comeback in the Finals. Hence, many experts hold TES in high regard before the commencement of LPL Spring 2022, even though their performance in the previous season was subpar.
Clearly, the sudden decision to bench Tian could disrupt the emerging playstyle and rhythm of Top Esports, potentially leading to dismal results in the future. Hopefully, Tian relinquishing his practice position to Xiaopeng is just a strategic maneuver by TES and nothing more.
