Former TSM player Chaox explains his return to streaming LoL

Shan “Chaox” Huang, the iconic former Team SoloMid AD carry, has announced his streaming comeback following an extended seven-year absence from public view. This marks a significant milestone for one of League of Legends’ original professional players.

A foundational figure from League’s pioneering seasons reemerges with plans for consistent content creation. In a revealing personal vlog, Chaox detailed his experiences since the 2013 TSM roster change, including addressing a publicly documented mental health crisis that occurred during a live broadcast several years back.

Chaox’s China Experience: Career Transitions and Mental Health Awakening

Following his departure from competitive visibility, Chaox remained in China for approximately seven years, competing with an amateur organization called Roar. The squad attempted qualification for the LSPL (League of Legends Secondary Pro League), positioned beneath China’s premier LPL circuit, but encountered obstacles due to regional import limitations affecting roster construction.

His tenure with Roar represented Chaox’s final competitive gaming endeavor. He subsequently transitioned to coaching Chinese esports organization Newbee for roughly one year before the team underwent ownership transition. Chaox revealed that his Chinese residency introduced him to professional poker, leading to extensive gameplay with individuals from the competitive gaming community.

“My performance in Shanghai’s poker scene showed considerable promise, prompting my decision to pursue professional poker,” Chaox explained. “This path eventually led me to relocate to Macau, where I experienced substantial financial setbacks.”

Throughout his Chinese residency, Chaox acknowledged confronting depression and feelings of professional inadequacy following his TSM departure. These emotional challenges precipitated deteriorating mental wellness, with poker involvement ultimately triggering an on-stream psychological crisis.

The ex-TSM marksman clarified that his condition evolved into a diagnosed mental health disorder, necessitating his return to New York for recovery. Having relocated to his family home two years prior, he now reports significant mental health improvement and intends to rebuild his streaming presence on Twitch.

TSM Departure and Competitive Transition

Fans last witnessed Chaox competing for TSM during the 2013 North American LCS Spring Split. He participated in 14 regular season matches before TSM implemented a roster change, bringing in Jason “WildTurtle” Tran, who subsequently established an impressive competitive legacy with the organization.

Following his replacement by a younger, emerging AD carry talent, Chaox briefly joined Counter Logic Gaming as a substitute player for several matches before exiting the LCS ecosystem. He subsequently coached Team Coast temporarily, though this position proved short-lived.

Chaox’s Role Evolution in League of Legends

Chaox initially specialized as a support player upon joining TSM in 2011. During League’s developmental phase, professional roles remained considerably more fluid compared to contemporary specialized positions. He later transitioned to the bottom lane as TSM’s primary Attack Damage Carry, maintaining this role throughout his competitive tenure. Chaox earned recognition among North America’s elite bot lane specialists, with some considering him among the global elite. He competed during TSM’s dominant period, securing multiple tournament victories before the LCS framework establishment. His TSM career concluded during the inaugural LCS split.

While supporters would enthusiastically welcome Chaox’s return to competitive prominence, this outcome appears improbable. He currently maintains rankings fluctuating between Gold and Platinum tiers and anticipates engaging with League of Legends at a recreational rather than professional intensity.

The streaming landscape has evolved dramatically since Chaox’s last regular broadcast presence. Modern content creation demands consistent engagement, community interaction, and diversified content offerings beyond competitive gameplay.

Mental health awareness within competitive gaming has progressed significantly during Chaox’s absence. Professional organizations now typically provide mental wellness resources, reflecting the industry’s maturation regarding competitor wellbeing.

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