TSM vs Team Liquid – LCS Match of the Week (2019 Spring)

Posted on February 14, 2019

Can an old powerhouse challenge the kings of North America on February 17? Our experts break down the upcoming TSM vs Team Liquid LCS match of the week of the 2019 Spring Split. Team SoloMid are definitely a work in progress. Their early game is potent, and it’s common to see them overwhelm their foes with aggression during the first 15 minutes of the match. However, every other aspect of their game leaves a lot to be desired, as TSM lack the synergy and shot calling to successfully navigate the map.

The same can’t be said about Team Liquid. Despite being a fairly new lineup, they’re already playing like a squad that’s been together for ages. Their teamfighting is on point, and they always seem to know what and when they need to push their edge to the absolute limit. Combine that with the sheer amount of raw firepower on this roster, and it’s easy to see why Team Liquid are dominating North America.

TSM vs Team Liquid Match Breakdown

Top Lane Matchup

The top lane might be the most interesting point of this TSM vs Team Liquid matchup. His 2.5 KDA and 7.4 CS per minute might not blow you away, but Team SoloMid’s Broken Blade has definitely made his presence known in the LCS. His mechanics are sharp, and he has the killer instinct to go for clutch plays and narrow solo kills. And while this high-risk, high-reward playstyle can backfire, he makes it work much more often than not.

Team Liquid’s Impact is no pushover either. Holding a 6.7 KDA and 8.2 CS per minute, he’s a legendary tank player that’s slowly—but surely—branching out to carries and playmaker. He always has a good idea of what he needs to do in teamfights and skirmishes, and his side lane management is one of the best in the league. That being said, laning is his biggest weakness, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see him lose some ground to Broken Blade.

VERDICT: TSM Broken Blade takes over the top lane matchup.

Jungle Matchup

A similar narrative takes place in the jungle. With a 2.4 KDA and 5.1 CS per minute, TSM Akaadian is a wild playmaker that routinely outclasses his foes with his mechanical prowess. However, his decision-making leaves a lot to be desired, so Akaadian can throw the entire game with a brash invade or a speculative initiation.

Xmithie doesn’t suffer from the same issues. Sporting a 7.9 KDA and 5.9 CS per minute, Team Liquid’s jungler is the king of consistency that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. Granted, he isn’t as explosive as some of the younger LCS junglers, but he makes up for it with veteran knowledge and acute game sense.

VERDICT: TL Xmithie outmaneuvers Akaadian in the jungle.

Mid Lane Matchup

The TSM vs Team Liquid mid lane matchup is the clash of eternal rivals. With a 2.9 KDA and 8.9 CS per minute, TSM Bjergsen is a battle-hardened mid laner that takes pride in his solid laning and spectacular teamfighting. His map presence is lacking, though, as Bjergsen rarely—if ever—initiates roams or teleport plays.

Jensen isn’t known for his roaming either. Sporting an 11.8 KDA and 9.0 CS per minute, Team Liquid’s mid laner is a mechanical prodigy that puts a strong emphasis on outmuscling his opponents in lane and 5v5 battles. His strengths and weaknesses mirror those of Bjergsen’s, but the fact that he’s more willing to take risks and make game-changing plays gives him an edge in this matchup.

VERDICT: TL Jensen finds a small advantage in the mid lane.

Bot Lane Matchup

The bot lane will definitely be interesting to follow in this TSM vs Team Liquid battle. With a 3.7 KDA and 9.1 CS per minute, Zven is a calm and calculated marksman that routinely tops the damage charts in teamfights and skirmishes. Meanwhile, his support Smoothie (1.8 KDA) is a gifted playmaker that can break open entire games with his Alistar initiations. Unfortunately, the two don’t have much synergy with each other, so it’s common to see them fall flat on their face in the laning phase.

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The same can’t be said about Team Liquid’s bot lane. Holding a 9.6 KDA and 10.3 CS per minute, Doublelift is an explosive AD carry that goes above and beyond to dominate his opponents at every single stage of the game. And while his support CoreJJ (7.7 KDA) hasn’t been playing with him for long, he does a great job of highlighting Doublelift’s strengths and covering his weaknesses.

VERDICT: TL’s Doublelift and CoreJJ outclass the enemy bot lane.

TSM vs Team Liquid Match Prediction

There is a world where Team SoloMid pull off an upset here. Their players are strong, and they can easily go toe-to-toe with their opponents in the early game. However, Team Liquid are much better at playing the macro game, and TSM will struggle to keep up as the game progresses. Our prediction is a victory for TL!

TSM aren’t great at closing their games, and Team Liquid employ a cool, calm and collected playstyle. With that, consider betting on the total game time being over 35 minutes for odds of 1.86 at ArcaneBet.

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Kieran L.

Kieran is a gaming & esports betting enthusiast, and one of our top contributors based in Australia. He mainly follows the LoL esports scene, focusing on North America, LEC and LCK. Follow Kieran's updates, exclusive stories and bookmaker reviews.

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