TSM to start academy jungler Spica in LCS summer playoffs
Team SoloMid is starting Mingyi “Spica” Lu in playoffs.
TSM chose Spica as the starting jungler for the 2019 LCS Summer Playoffs. Spica joined TSM Academy earlier this year and he made his LCS debut in week nine of the regular season.
The decision took the community by surprise. Through the regular season, TSM alternated between Matthew “Akaadian” Higginbotham and Jonathan “Grig” Armao. Eventually, the team settled for Akaadian while Grig moved to TSM Academy where he became the starting top laner.
Now, the team is making a drastic decision and keeping Spica on the roster over both Akaadian and Grig. On top of it all, TSM listed bot laner Edward “Tactical” Ra and support Erik “Treatz” Wessén as the substitutes. It means that Spica is the only jungler that TSM will bring to playoffs.
TSM struggles in the jungle
It’s not a secret that TSM has been struggling to find a jungler that works for them. Spica is the fourth jungler to join TSM since franchising began. The lack of stability in that role is affecting the rest of the map.
Bot laner Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen is the type of laner that requires attention from the jungler. His performance is not consistent, as he can carry the team but also cost them the series. These constant changes in the jungle are not helping Zven.
The root of the issue is TSM’s lack of identity. The team is yet to define what kind of team they are and what their playing style is. Are they an aggressive team? Are they a farming and scaling team? Based on the team’s style, the jungler will take certain pathing routes and provide a different type of support to the laners.
This new shake-up comes at the worst time for TSM. The team is going versus Clutch Gaming, a hot squad that already took them out of the playoffs in a previous season.
2019 Worlds Championship hopes are on the line and TSM fans can only hope that Spica is the answer.
Read Also
League of Legends
LoL Worlds 2026 returns to the USA: Locations, venues, dates and slots revealed
Owen Harsono
Riot Games have revealed important details for the highly anticipated worlds 2026 tournament, including locations, dates, and some great news for South American fans. Here’s everything we know about LoL Worlds 2026 so far. On March 22, First Stand grand finals day held in São Paulo, Riot Games confirmed the tournament will be hosted in the United States. This will be the fifth time in history that Worlds has been ...
League of Legends
How to watch League of Legends 2026 First Stand
Hannan Mundia
2026 First Stand is shaping up to be the most intriguing League of Legends tournament of this year, prompting the question of how fans can watch it. Riot Games is usually fairly lax about streaming its events, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can stream them live. With this year’s First Stand being the first opportunity fans have to watch how their favorite teams stack up on the big stage, ...
League of Legends
List of qualified teams at First Stand 2026: Who are the favorites?
Hannan Mundia
With the first split of every competitive League of Legends region concluded, the list of qualified teams for the 2026 First Stand tournament is set. Last year's First Stand saw just five teams compete. The stakes are upped this year, with eight First Stand teams coming together for a chance to win the first international event of the year. Here are the teams that made it and who the outright ...
League of Legends
League of Legends 2026 First Stand preview
Hannan Mundia
First Stand will be the first competitive League of Legends international event of 2026. This preview goes through all of the necessary details, including First Stand's location, prize pool, and schedule, ensuring fans can tune in live to support their favorite teams and players. The 2026 First Stand is the newest of the three international competitions in the circuit. Launched in 2025, this year’s tournament is slated to start on ...
Esports Betting
FEARX vs Dplus 2026 LCK Cup playoffs: Preview, betting tips & predictions
Hannan Mundia
FEARX and Dplus KIA will compete in the 2026 LCK Cup lower bracket final to determine which team will face Gen.G in the grand final, and this betting preview highlights all of the important details about this upcoming match. While FEARX and Dplus KIA both went into this split as the underdogs, the two teams have surprised many with their performances since. Reaching the top three in a competitive region ...
Esports Betting
LYON vs Team Liquid 2026 LCS Lock-In predictions, key stats, odds & more
Hannan Mundia
LYON and Team Liquid are slated to face off in the 2026 LCS Lock-In playoffs, and this betting preview highlights the stats and form behind both teams to help you make more accurate predictions and picks. Despite the subpar performance of both teams in the Swiss stage, Team Liquid and LYON have seemingly bounced back in the playoffs. Both teams comfortably won their lower bracket quarterfinals matches without giving a ...
Esports Betting
GIANTX vs Karmine Corp 2026 LEC Versus: Preview, predictions
Hannan Mundia
GIANTX may have lost against Karmine Corp once already in the 2026 LEC Versus playoffs, but the team has another shot now at victory in the lower bracket semifinals, and this betting preview aims to help you predict exactly how things will go. After Karmine Corp comfortably beat GX in the upper bracket quarterfinals, both teams will meet on the big stage one more time. With a spot in the ...
