TL;DR
- 100 Thieves rebuilt around four former Golden Guardians players with proven synergy
- Strategic top lane upgrade from Hauntzer to Ssumday addresses critical weakness
- Closer provides aggressive jungle presence Ssumday previously lacked
- Team features balanced carry potential across all positions
- Success depends on integrating Ssumday while maintaining existing chemistry
The 2021 competitive season presents a fascinating case study for 100 Thieves, who have assembled what appears to be a strategically familiar lineup with significant upgrade potential.
Organization leadership confirmed the strategic acquisitions of mid laner Tanner “Damonte” Damonte and support specialist Choi “huhi” Jae-hyun, bringing the total to four former Golden Guardians competitors now wearing 100 Thieves colors. During the 2019 offseason evaluation period, many analysts underestimated Golden Guardians’ competitive ceiling with this particular player grouping. However, the squad consistently qualified for postseason competition across both competitive splits while delivering reliably solid performances. Now 100 Thieves management has secured this proven core unit with expectations of achieving even stronger competitive results.
Our roster for the 2021 League of Legends Championship Series:
Top: @Ssumday
Jungle: @closerlol
Mid: @Damonte
ADC: @VictorHuang
Support: @huhiTime to get to work. See you on the Rift! #100T #LCS pic.twitter.com/15KUDYj6au
— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves) November 19, 2020
Can 100 Thieves Win in the 2021 LCS?
With all contractual agreements finalized and the targeted player acquisitions secured, the central question becomes whether the organization can maintain this roster’s competitive form throughout the demanding season.
100 Thieves demonstrated shrewd strategic thinking by addressing Golden Guardians’ primary deficiency, which manifested consistently in the top lane position. The team strategically moved on from Kevin “Hauntzer” Yarnell while installing established star Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho, who has developed into the franchise’s most valued competitor.
While Hauntzer possesses legitimate professional skills, the majority of 100 Thieves’ competitive setbacks originated from top-side map control issues. Whenever Golden Guardians faced Team SoloMid in previous matchups, Hauntzer’s former organization would systematically target his lane to generate snowball advantages. With Ssumday now anchoring the top position, 100 Thieves eliminates this previously exploitable weakness.
The acquisition of aggressive jungler Can “Closer” Çelik provides exactly the type of dynamic support Ssumday has historically needed. For extended periods, 100 Thieves employed conservative jungle players who struggled to effectively enable Ssumday’s carry potential. The organization consistently wanted him to serve as a primary win condition, but Ssumday rarely received the necessary resources and coordination to fulfill that role successfully. With Closer’s proactive style, the partnership represents an ideal strategic fit.
100 Thieves should maintain strategic consistency rather than experimenting excessively with unproven approaches. Given that four players share established coordination from previous competition, the coaching staff should prioritize seamless Ssumday integration while ensuring overall roster comfort. Featuring Damonte’s mid lane presence alongside bot laner Victor “FBI” Huang’s consistent performance alleviates significant pressure from Ssumday, as every lane position now offers legitimate carry potential, complemented by the jungler’s aggressive style.
Common Integration Mistake: Teams often over-prioritize their new star addition at the expense of existing chemistry. The coaching staff must balance giving Ssumday resources while maintaining the proven synergy between the former Golden Guardians quartet. A frequent error involves forcing plays around the upgraded position rather than allowing organic gameplay to develop.
Advanced Optimization: Successful integration requires developing flexible game plans that can pivot between top-side and bot-side focus depending on matchup dynamics and early game developments.
The competitive outlook appears promising for 100 Thieves entering the 2021 campaign. The fanbase will understandably hope the organization executes according to strategic plans without requiring disruptive mid-split roster adjustments during the demanding LCS season.
Championship Timeline: Realistically, this roster configuration likely needs 1-2 splits to reach its maximum potential, with playoff qualification representing the immediate benchmark for success. For teams looking to master competitive strategies, our Class Guide provides essential framework for understanding role dynamics.
Strategic Assessment: While not necessarily championship favorites initially, 100 Thieves possesses the strategic pieces to compete with top-tier organizations. The key differentiator will be how effectively they integrate Ssumday’s strengths while maintaining the existing players’ proven coordination. Teams studying this approach might also benefit from our comprehensive Complete Guide to competitive team building principles.
Final Analysis: This roster construction represents one of the more intriguing experiments in recent LCS history, blending proven mid-tier synergy with elite individual talent—a combination that could yield surprising results if properly managed.
Action Checklist
- Analyze top-jungle synergy in early split games for coordination indicators
- Evaluate draft phase priorities for strategic flexibility
- Track mid-game decision making between established core and new additions
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Can 100 Thieves make the former Golden Guardians roster work? Analyzing 100 Thieves' strategic roster rebuild and championship potential for the 2021 LCS season