TL;DR
- Edward ‘Tactical’ Ra won 2020 LCS Rookie of Year by nearly doubling second-place votes
- Team Liquid’s bot lane replacement excelled after Doublelift’s departure to TSM
- Five MVP finalists include Bjergsen, Jensen, Blaber, CoreJJ, and surprise candidate Closer
- Honda MVP award announcement scheduled for September 4 before playoffs weekend
- Rookie class featured strong performances from Johnsun and Treatz alongside Tactical

Team Liquid’s newest bot lane sensation Edward “Tactical” Ra has captured the 2020 LCS Rookie of the Year honor with an overwhelming voting margin, nearly doubling the point total of his closest competitor.
Facing immense pressure replacing legendary AD carry Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng after his mid-season transfer to Team SoloMid, Tactical demonstrated exceptional composure and skill throughout the summer split. His performance became a cornerstone of Liquid’s dramatic resurgence in the standings after a disappointing spring performance.
Liquid’s ninth-place spring finish prompted significant roster adjustments during the break, elevating Tactical from substitute to starting lineup. This strategic move paid immediate dividends as the rookie quickly established himself as a reliable carry threat.
Partnering with veteran support Jo “CoreJJ” Yong-in, Tactical maintained impressive consistency in the bottom lane while delivering clutch performances when his team needed them most. The emerging star achieved the third-highest KDA among all LCS bot laners, trailing only established veterans Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Jason “WildTurtle” Tran. Additionally, he ranked third in damage per minute across the entire league’s bot lane roster, demonstrating his offensive impact that will be crucial during the upcoming playoff battles.
Second place in rookie voting went to Dignitas bot laner Johnson “Johnsun” Nguyen, who established himself as a formidable presence throughout the season. Third position was claimed by TSM support Erik “Treatz” Wessén, recognized for his summer split contributions that helped revitalize TSM’s competitive form.
Top five candidates for 2020 LCS MVP award have been revealed
With the highly anticipated MVP announcement approaching, Riot Games has narrowed the selection pool to five exceptional competitors. These elite players represent the final contenders for the prestigious Honda MVP award.
While four candidates feature established LCS veterans who have dominated the league for multiple seasons, Golden Guardians jungler Can “Closer” Çelik has emerged as the surprise finalist following an outstanding split performance. Despite Golden Guardians’ early playoff elimination, Closer consistently served as the decisive factor in team victories and appears positioned to become the LCS’s next jungle superstar. The remaining MVP candidates include legendary mid laners Søren “Bjergsen” Bjerg and Nikolaj “Jensen” Jensen, alongside Cloud9’s aggressive jungler Robert “Blaber” Huang and Liquid’s support specialist CoreJJ.
The Honda MVP award presentation will occur on Friday, September 4, immediately preceding the commencement of the 2020 LCS Summer Split playoffs final weekend.
Understanding MVP selection criteria requires examining multiple performance dimensions beyond basic statistics. Judges evaluate player impact through advanced metrics like gold differential@10, team fight participation percentage, and objective control influence.
Common evaluation mistakes include overvaluing flashy plays while undervaluing consistent lane pressure and map control. Advanced analysis should consider how candidates elevate their teammates’ performance through shotcalling and strategic leadership.
Time estimates for evaluating MVP candidates typically involve 20+ hours of game footage review per player, with judges focusing on clutch moments and game-deciding contributions.
Action Checklist
- Review Tactical’s summer split VODs to understand his adaptation from substitute to starter
- Analyze MVP candidates’ performance in games against top-three teams
- Compare jungle impact metrics between Closer and established veterans
- Study team fight participation rates for all MVP finalists
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