TSM confirms it's moving to a new region

William Davis Published 21/05/2023

TSM’s owner Andy “Reginald” Dinh, confirmed through Twitter that TSM is officially moving to a new region.

After months of rumors about TSM’s departure from the LCS, it has finally been confirmed by the team.

“Since the beginning, TSM has always been about competing at the highest level and really sacrificing whatever it takes to get there. We mainly did it out of passion, the money wasn’t even enough for us to buy a bed, and we ate at 7/11 every day, but that was also during the time when I had the most fun, and I want to go back to that type of decision-making. I want to do what it takes to be the best,” Dinh said on the video.

According to the CEO, it is not a sudden decision, and the organization has been working towards this for the past three years.

Why is TSM leaving the LCS?

There are several reasons why TSM is departing from the LCS. The organization has failed to find success in recent years, domestically and internationally. The team cites that competitiveness is the main reason for the move, but it might not be the only one.

Back in March, TSM made public its decision to put a pause on all its esports efforts and focus on its tech branch. At the time, people believed it was due to financial struggles caused by the loss of its $210 million sponsorship by FTX. Knowing the team’s plan to move its main property to another region, it is possible that TSM is looking for a clean slate.

It is also not a secret how expensive it is to operate an organization in North America. The LCS has some of the highest salaries in League of Legends, on top of a higher cost of living for organizations that are forced to base their operations in California.

Where is TSM going next?

There are only three possible destinations for TSM, the LEC, the LPL, or the LCK. What TSM has in its favor is brand recognition and a massive fan base. Even during MSI 2023, fans have been chanting TSM’s name non-stop. That is enough to increase the team’s value.

There are two possible outcomes, either TSM sells its LCS slot and purchases a new or the brand is acquired by new ownership. Considering TSM’s goal to win Worlds, the team might want a region with a well-established talent development pipeline. It is not unlikely for the team to land in the LPL. The LPL has 17 teams with plans to increase that number in the near future.

TSM wouldn’t be the first foreign team to move to the LPL. Ninjas in Pyjamas currently competes in the LPL after acquiring Victory Five’s slot.

Read Also

Esports Betting

These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4 Ben Boland The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...

League of Legends

Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends Hannan Mundia After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...

Esports Betting

MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it Michael Hassall The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...

League of Legends

LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More Hannan Mundia 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...

League of Legends

LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more Hannan Mundia The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...

League of Legends

How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version? Hannan Mundia League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...

League of Legends

Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode Hannan Mundia League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...