Doublelift contemplates leaving TSM, retirement in 2021

League of Legends superstar Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng has issued a stark warning to TSM management: secure an elite international support player or face his departure from the organization. This ultimatum represents one of the most significant roster threats in recent LCS history.

According to investigative reporting from ESPN’s Jacob Wolf, Doublelift’s requirement specifically targets what he describes as a “premier foreign support” – with Taiwanese player Hu “SwordArt” Shuo-Jie being his preferred candidate, though other high-caliber international options could potentially satisfy his competitive standards.

Initial reports on November 16 indicated TSM was pursuing SwordArt with a substantial contract valued at approximately $3 million, making it one of the most lucrative support player deals in League of Legends history.

Will SwordArt join TSM’s 2021 roster?

The negotiation complications first surfaced through Esportmaniacos, revealing that TSM’s acquisition of the Suning support specialist might collapse due to complex financial and legal barriers.

Wolf’s analysis highlighted the critical absence of a tax treaty between the United States and China, creating a situation where SwordArt’s earnings could face double taxation – effectively reducing the value of his contract by up to 50% when accounting for international tax liabilities.

Immigration challenges further complicate the situation, as visa processing delays and restrictions could prevent timely roster integration, creating competitive disadvantages for TSM at the start of the 2021 season.

SwordArt’s professional journey began with Flash Wolves, where he competed from 2013 through 2018, establishing himself as one of the most consistent support players in the competitive scene.

His subsequent tenure with Suning culminated in an impressive 2020 World Championship campaign that showcased his elite shot-calling and team coordination abilities.

This championship performance naturally attracted attention from top organizations worldwide, including TSM and specifically catching Doublelift’s eye as a potential lane partner.

Should the SwordArt acquisition ultimately fail, TSM faces the real possibility of losing Doublelift as well, creating a catastrophic scenario for their 2021 competitive aspirations.

Without Doublelift’s presence, the team’s ability to secure top laner Seung-hoon “Huni” Heo as replacement for Sergen “BrokenBlade” Çelik becomes increasingly uncertain.

Sources: Two separate deals between
@TSM
and
@EvilGeniuses
— one that would send
@Lost_adc
to
@EvilGeniuses, and another for
@Huni
to join TSM, both agreed to verbally Monday night — may be in jeopardy as TSM’s roster is uncertain, particularly around Doublelift’s future.

— Jacob Wolf (@JacobWolf)
November 19, 2020

“This creates an extremely challenging situation for both organizations. Evil Geniuses maintains Huni’s rights while having a verbal commitment with Impact,” Wolf elaborated. “However, they lack an AD carry with constrained North American and Oceanic recruitment options.

Meanwhile, TSM potentially faces gaps at top lane and support positions, possibly necessitating Lost as their primary ADC.

If SwordArt’s signing collapses and Doublelift elects to depart, potentially retiring from professional play, TSM’s planned roster would experience massive instability. Available alternatives become severely limited as most elite free agents have already committed to teams globally.

TSM entered this offseason determined to overhaul their lineup following a disastrous 0-6 performance at the 2020 World Championship, yet their rebuilding efforts now appear equally troubled.

TSM supporters anxiously await resolution as the organization navigates these complex roster decisions heading into the 2021 LCS competitive season.

The SwordArt situation exemplifies the broader challenges facing North American organizations in securing international talent, particularly when navigating complex cross-border financial and legal considerations that can derail even the most promising acquisitions.

Successful team construction in the modern LCS requires not just identifying talent but managing intricate contractual, tax, and immigration frameworks that increasingly determine competitive success.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » Doublelift contemplates leaving TSM, retirement in 2021 Analyzing TSM's 2021 roster crisis and the potential departure of Doublelift over SwordArt signing issues