However, the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) will step away from the tradition in the 2024 season.

It’s become a custom for professional LoL games to play on older patches due to the tight turnaround between patch releases and competitive scheduling.

With patches being released every second Wednesday, most LoL esports teams wouldn’t have the time to adapt to changes before stepping on stage.

Yet, the LCS doesn’t seem too bothered by that.

According to the announcement, which also unveiled Mark “MarkZ” Zimmerman as LCS’s commissioner, the North American LoL esports league confirmed that all 2024 LCS games will be played on live patches.

Other LoL leagues have not announced any changes to the ruleset, meaning they’ll likely stick with the old tradition of playing on patches behind the live servers.

How the rule change will affect LCS teams remains to be seen, but it will force a more challenging schedule on the players, who will have just two days of practice before the matches.

Watch the very first #LCS Address with @TheeMarkZ to learn about all of the changes coming in 2024!

Live Patch
Less Time Between Games
Community Interactivity
And More!

https://t.co/2rI53xdD5D pic.twitter.com/vOrhglw7Yc

— LCS (@LCSOfficial) January 9, 2024

The decision to move all pro games to live patches comes after a plethora of changes the league has announced in the months leading up to the 2024 season.

In December, LCS unveiled that it is returning to a weekend schedule, one year after all games were moved to Thursday-Friday.

The unconventional plan proved harmful to the overall viewership, as the LCS peaked at just over 271,376 viewers in the spring and just under 224,000 viewers in the Summer Split.

A month prior, in November 2023, LCS was also hit with the exodus of Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians, who left the LoL esports scene, continuing a worrying trend that was started by TSM, who exited the North American LoL league in September.

While Shopify Rebellion replaced TSM, LCS didn’t find any replacement teams to fill the gaps that Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians left behind.

As a result, the 2024 season will start with just eight squads, making the LCS the smallest of the major LoL leagues.

The next season starts with the LCS Spring Split on Saturday, January 20, 2024.

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The team initially entered the Dota 2 scene almost two years ago, signing Team Undying in January 2022.

Throughout their involvement in the NA scene, TSM retained players Enzo “Timado” Gianoi and Jonathan “Bryle” De Guia, with additional members Gainullin “kasane” Ilyas, Matthew “Ari” Walker and Matthew “Whitemon” Filemon joining towards the end of the same year.

The team experienced moderate success, winning the DPC NA 2021–2022 Tour One Regional Final and securing second place at the ESL One Stockholm Major in May 2022.

However, TSM’s performance in The International 2023 was disappointing.

Rumours had circulated initially that TSM’s entry into Dota 2 was primarily to please sponsors FTX, and despite that brand’s departure, the roster remained intact.

The decision to release the roster a year later suggests that these rumours may have held some truth.

ESL One revealed that the former TSM roster would continue to compete as Team Undying in ESL One Kuala Lumpur, with no immediate changes to the line-up.

Former TSM coach David “MoonMeander” Tan hinted at upheaval with a cryptic tweet on November 29, saying “RIP NADota.”

While TSM are stepping away from the NA Dota 2 scene, the organization teased future developments in Dota 2, leaving fans speculating about the next steps.

Some fans believe TSM might follow a similar path to their League of Legends operations by moving to a new region, with Europe or Southeast Asia being potential destinations.

Despite TSM’s reassurances, constant roster changes have left some fans sceptical about the team’s future, and concerns about the organization’s stability are growing within the community.

In a recent Twitter announcement, TSM expressed gratitude for thier Dota 2 roster’s growth and dedication but confirmed their departure from the NA scene.

The organization hinted at upcoming updates regarding future endeavours in Dota 2, leaving room for speculation that TSM might pick up a new roster in a different region.

Despite the uncertainties, TSM expressed confidence in the players’ potential for continued success in their careers.

Today we announce our departure from NA DOTA.

We can't thank our team enough for their time with us. They have evolved as players all throughout the year, and we're certain they will find continued success in their careers.

Look forward to news about our next steps in DOTA. pic.twitter.com/CB3kXMZLbP

— TSM (@TSM) December 5, 2023

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This marks his third and, as he emphasizes, final departure from competitive play.

Doublelift initially entered the scene in March 2011 with CLG, later playing for TSM and Team Liquid before concluding his career with 100 Thieves.

Throughout his illustrious career, he secured 13 LCS split titles and achieved membership in the 1,000 kill career club, showcasing his prowess as a top-tier AD carry. Notably, he boasts an impressive record of 10 pentakills on the professional stage.

His past retirements were driven by different factors.

The first time, he cited mental strain and a perceived hindrance to his performance, prompting a break for a much-needed mental reset.

The second retirement occurred due to a lack of attractive team offers, leading him to transition into content creation through streaming and co-streaming the LCS.

In this latest retirement announcement, Doublelift highlighted several reasons for his decision.

Foremost among them is his concern about the impact of budget cuts on the North American region, leading to a diminished ability to maintain competitive rosters and acquire emerging talent.

While specific sources validating these concerns are absent, Doublelift expressed worry about the declining resources affecting the LCS.

Moreover, Doublelift noted a shifting focus in his personal life, with aspirations for marriage and starting a family.

He emphasized that his decision is not driven by financial motives, but rather by the evolving landscape of the league and his changing life goals.

Despite the projected challenges for the LCS, recent developments, such as NRG’s strong performance in Worlds 2023, challenge the narrative of an irreversible decline.

NRG, the winner of the 2023 Summer split, reached the quarterfinals, surpassing even some LEC teams.

Doublelift confirmed that, despite retiring from professional play, he intends to fully engage in content creation.

This includes regular streaming, climbing the ranked ladder, and potentially participating in casual tournaments.

Fans can catch his content on his Twitch channel at twitch.tv/doublelift.

Peter ‘Doublelift’ Peng made the retirement announcement on December 2, 2023, through a comprehensive 14-minute interview, stressing that this decision is final and driven by a combination of personal and professional factors.

My Future pic.twitter.com/b835ewQoKA

— Yiliang Peng (@Doublelift1) December 1, 2023

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Shopify Rebellion finished Group B in fourth place, with two draws against Thunder Awaken and Azure Ray and two defeats against Team Liquid and BetBoom Team. In the second phase, Tal “Fly” Aizik and co. added another loss against Team Spirit.

Going 0-2-3 doesn’t look good, but we have to consider that Shopify Rebellion had to play tough opponents. This is a strong team that should be regarded as favourites to defeat TSM, even though TSM are 1-2-2 so far in this Dota 2 tournament.

TSM’s sole victory of The International 2023 came against PSG Talon, and their only other two positive results were stalemates against Keyd Stars and PSG Quest. Those are not the most inspiring results, which, combined with the fact that Shopify Rebellion are far more experienced competing on the big stage, makes ex-Evil Geniuses core an obvious pick.

Evil Geniuses have not accomplished much this season in international events, and they weren’t expected to make it far at The International 2023 as $34.00 outsiders. Unfortunately, EG failed to prove the doubters wrong, with a 0-2-2 group stage run and a rough 0-2 loss against Team Liquid in the second phase.

Gaimin Gladiators were priced as the second favourites (+400 ) on TI12 outright betting markets, but they failed to meet the expectations. The no.2 DPC seed finished the group stage with a 2-1-1 record and lost their ticket for the upper bracket with a 1-2 loss against PSG Talon.

A couple of poor showings don’t mean much, but it doesn’t make sense for a team that has won six Dota 2 Tier 1 events to struggle so much. While still an incredibly stacked team, Gaimin Gladiators have shown to be volatile, which makes betting on over 2.5 maps at plus money a solid choice.

Keyd Stars entered The International 2023 as +20000 outsiders with GGBet to go all the way, and even though their chances to win the Aegis of Champions remain extremely low, the South American squad did enough to qualify for the knockouts. Matheus “KJ” Diniz and his crew finished Group D without a single win, but they forced three draws against PSG Quest, Tundra Esports, and TSM, which is impressive for their standards.

However, even though Keyd Stars did relatively well, they should have no business beating BetBoom Team. The Russians are not one of the main favourites to win The International, but this is still a powerful team – as they’ve shown in the group stage with wins against Thunder Awaken, Shopify Rebellion, and Azure Ray.

BetBoom Team have yet to be properly tested this tournament, so it’s tough to say how far they can go. But even though BB Team have much to prove, they shouldn’t be losing games like this.

Tundra Esports looked very solid during the group stage, which they finished with a 3-1-0 record, but then, the defending TI champions lost against nouns (0-2) in Seeding Decider, proving again how volatile they can be.

Entity finished Group A in second place (1-2-1), with one win against Evil Geniuses, two draws against 9Pandas and Team SMG, and one loss defeat Team Spirit, to which they added a concerning defeat against Azure Ray (0-2) in the deciders. This explains why Entity are underdogs for this match, but even at +162, they seem a bit overrated.

Tundra Esports are one of the elite teams, and while they can be a bit inconsistent, Tundra Esports have not lost a map against Entity since the final round of DPC WEU 2023 Tour 1: Division I.

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Santorin’s remarkable career spans nearly a decade, with a journey that started in 2013.

Although he initially gained recognition in Europe, his career truly took off when he joined the LA LCS in 2014.

Playing alongside iconic names like Bjergsen and Dyrus, Santorin achieved impressive domestic success with TSM and established himself as one of the premier junglers in 2015.

Santorin’s career has seen its fair share of ups and downs, marked by notable highs and lows.

He consistently delivered strong performances, earning him a reputation as one of the top junglers in North America, despite a brief hiatus due to health concerns.

Over time, however, his dominance began to wane. His stint with Dignitas proved particularly challenging and would ultimately be his last professional team.

In 2023, Santorin parted ways with Team Liquid and sought new opportunities.

He joined Dignitas in an attempt to form a “super team” alongside ?rfan ‘Armut’ Tükek and Nicolas ‘Jensen’ Jensen.

Unfortunately, Dignitas fell far short of expectations in the spring of 2023, finishing last with a 3-15 record.

Although they showed improvement in the summer split recording seven wins and 11 losses, they were unable to secure a playoff spot.

After enduring two challenging seasons with Dignitas, Santorin has decided to step away from professional play and shift his focus to full-time streaming.

In his retirement announcement, he expressed heartfelt gratitude to his fans and hoped for their continued support in this new streaming journey.

Santorin’s retirement marks the end of a remarkable 10-year career in professional League of Legends, during which he played for teams such as TSM, FlyQuest, and finally, Dignitas.

While his retirement may have surprised many LCS fans, Santorin’s decision had been brewing for some time.

In his announcement, he opened up about the personal sacrifices and challenges he faced as a professional player, including missing important family events and dealing with health issues.

Like several other retired League pros, Santorin reached a point where he had to choose between his personal life and his professional career.

Despite the lows he encountered in his career, Santorin also enjoyed numerous highlights.

These include competing at the highest level with renowned teams, playing a total of 602 professional games throughout his career, and earning the title of “rookie of the split” when he first entered the North American competitive scene with TSM back in the 2015 LCS season.

Although Santorin won’t be gracing the pro stage anymore, he plans to transition to full-time streaming while continuing to play League and other esports titles, ensuring that fans can still enjoy his presence in the gaming world.

This is bittersweet to write and feels a bit surreal, but I have decided to retire from professional play.

I'll never forget my first year in the LCS at Worlds when Dyrus decided to retire and announce it publicly on stage after we were knocked out. His decision shocked me…

— Lucas Larsen (@Santorin) October 8, 2023

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Shopify Rebellion, a rising esports organisation, secured TSM’s LCS slot for a reported $10 million, marking their debut in the League of Legends esports scene. The move aligns with Shopify Rebellion’s ambition to expand its presence in the esports world.

TSM’s exit from the LCS signals the end of an era, as they were one of the founding members and the most successful team in LCS history, boasting seven domestic championships. After a turbulent period for TSM that included controversies, financial irregularities, and the loss of their title sponsor, FTX, the departure occurs.

As TSM makes its exit, questions linger about their next destination. Speculation points towards China’s League of Legends Pro League as a potential landing spot, following in the footsteps of other Western organisations seeking success in the highly competitive Chinese region.

Shopify Rebellion, with its roots in Canada and a diverse portfolio in various esports titles, will inherit TSM’s roster for the 2024 season. However, decisions regarding player contracts, including those expiring in November, remain to be seen.

The LCS, which has faced challenges in recent times, welcomes Shopify Rebellion as it continues to evolve. The addition of new organisations like Shopify Rebellion and the departure of stalwarts like TSM hint at a dynamic future for the League of Legends competitive scene in North America.

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The ALGS Championship, which served as the grand finale for 2023’s LAN events, not only had the largest in-person venue but also saw participation from 40 elite international Apex Legends teams.

These teams, having earned their positions either through circuit points or via the regional Last Chance Qualifiers, competed for the esteemed title of ALGS Champions and a chance to claim a portion of the staggering $2 million prize pool.

TSM’s victory was indisputable as they registered three successive victories in Match Point Finals. This remarkable feat secured them a cool $600,000, the most significant chunk of the prize fund.

The prowess of North American squads was also a highlight of the ALGS, with five out of the nine teams vying for the title in the Match Point Finals representing the NA region. Among these were noteworthy teams like OpTic Gaming, The Dojo, LG Chivas, and FaZe.

TSM had finished the pool stage of the tournament placed in seventh position, with defending champion DarkZero looking on track to record another victory. However they finished 11th in the winners bracket in the next stage and were effectively out of the tournament.

OpTic gaming finished second in the Apex Legends Global Series, while BLVKHVND were a close third.

Below is a detailed list of the final standings and the prize distribution from the ALGS Championship 2023:

Apex Legends Global Series final standings

1. TSM – $600,000
2. OpTic Gaming – $320,000
3. BLCKHVND – $210,000
4. The Dojo – $170,000
5. LG Chivas – $130,000
6. FaZe – $100,000
7. DreamFire – $80,000
8. Pioneers – $60,000
9. Realize – $50,000
10. IronBloodGaming – $40,000

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Their triumph showcases their resilience, as they fought back from behind and surprised their competitors by winning three matches in the final. TSM’s victory is not a win; it represents a significant milestone that solidifies their return to the top of competitive Apex Legends.

This achievement holds meaning for ImperialHal, who has been at the center of discussions regarding the Apex player.

With this win, he can proudly claim the title of Apex Legends GOAT, at least for now. The journey to success was far from easy for TSM.

They started with an accumulation of points in the three matches, while OpTic Gaming surged ahead.

However, TSM’s unwavering determination propelled them to a victory in the game, followed by another triumph in the seventh.

This placed them on match point.

In the showdown, TSM secured a position in the last zone, reminiscent of their earlier Split One Playoffs victory this year.

The closing moments were incredibly tense, with TSM emerging triumphant, against SAF Esports. The ALGS Championship showcased the performances of teams, from North America and APAC South, with OpTic securing first place and North American teams taking fourth to sixth positions.

BLVKHVND from APAC South earned a deserved place in the competition. While TSM’s victory is the highlight, the event also emphasized the dedication and skill of all participating teams throughout the ALGS journey.

The ALGS Championship 2023 reflects the growth and competitiveness of Apex Legends esports, promising TSM challenges as they revel in their well earned success.
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EVIL GENIUSES vs TSM LoL BETTING & MATCH DETAILS

The LCS 2023 Championship kicks off on Thursday, July 27, with a clash between Evil Geniuses and TSM. The two North American LoL esports teams have met twice this split, and both games ended in EG’s favour.

Evil Geniuses finished the regular season in third place with a 12-6 record, four wins above TSM, who placed sixth with 8-10. But even though Evil Geniuses have won more games, it’s fair to question whether they deserve to be priced as -500 favourites for this match.

TSM have been middling for most of the regular season, but they’ve delivered a few good games. They rank mid-table across most performance metrics and tend to be volatile in the early game, which they’ll have to work on if they wish to do well in the playoffs.

Evil Geniuses looked excellent midway through the split, and they had a real chance to compete for the no.1 spot, but they started to crack in Week 5 when they lost against Golden Guardians, FlyQuest, and Cloud9. And it was easy to see what led to their slump.

Evil Geniuses are vulnerable in the early game, and when teams disrupt their flow before the 15-minute mark, they struggle to get back in the game. Fortunately for them, TSM’s early game hasn’t been that potent, and while we can expect them to do their research and hit EG where it hurts them the most, they might not have the tools to do it.

Evil Geniuses can sweep this series, but TSM should be good for at least one map. As such, we’re taking a chance on the correct score market.

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Execration and TSM have met four times this year, most recently in April, during Berlin Major 2023, when they parted ways with a 1-1 draw. Three of the four meetings ended in a tie – the only exception was TSM’s victory at DreamLeague Season 19, two weeks before the Berlin Major.

Based purely on their head-to-head record, TSM and Execration look evenly matched, but according to the top Dota 2 betting sites, this is TSM’s game to lose. This doesn’t make much sense, considering TSM haven’t played a single official match since June.

On the other hand, Execration are not in the best form. They attended the Bali Major earlier this month and crashed out in 15-16th place without a single victory (0-5-3), which looks concerning. But even though Execration crumbled in Bali, they should do fine against the rusty TSM.

Team Liquid are priced at +650 to win Riyadh Masters 2023, behind only Tundra Esports (+300) and Gaimin Gladiators (+200). While Liquid look a great bet to reach the final (+275), there is a good chance Entity will make them work for the win in this clash.

Opening matches of Majors tend to be much closer, and that trend is especially noticeable this season. At the Dota 2 Bali Major, half of the first-round games ended in a draw; in Berlin, 43.75% (7/16). That wouldn’t be a good enough reason to bet against Liquid, but Aydin “iNSaNiA” Sarkohi and his crew are known to play down to their opponent’s level, which makes Entity with a +1.5 map advantage a solid choice.

9Pandas placed fifth-sixth at Bali Major 2023 at the start of July and will now look to build on that success in Ryidah as one of the live outsiders to make a deep run. In Bali, the Russians didn’t disappoint with their performances, and while their run through the group stage (3-2-2) wasn’t too impressive, 9Pandas left a strong statement with their games against Team Aster (2-1), beastcoast (2-1), and Team Liquid (1-2).

OG didn’t attend the Bali Major and were last seen competing in June at DreamLeague Season 20, where Tommy “Taiga” Le and co. placed 13th-16th. Still, this is a good team, and with Sébastien “Ceb” Debs back on the roster, OG are capable of competing for at least a top-eight finish.

9Pandas look much better on paper than OG, but 9Pandas are also known to stumble in best-of-two series, which could make this game a bit closer than expected. A draw seems like the most likely outcome, but we’re getting far more value backing OG to win in the three-way market.

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