[UPDATED 3/3] Team Liquid benches Doublelift for Tactical as LCS starter; Rikara signed to TLA

 

▲ Photo by Oshin Villa Tudayan for Riot Games

 

Team Liquid has signed Richard Samuel "Rikara" Oh to the AD Carry position for Team Liquid Academy. Shortly after the signing was made official by the team, Co-Owner  Steve "LiQuiD112" Arhancet tweeted that Edward "Tactical" Ra would continue to start for Team Liquid in the 2020 League of Legends Championship Series Spring Split as he did the previous week after Yiliang "Doublelift" Peng fell ill with Laryngitis.

 

Rikara most recently played for Clutch Gaming Academy, but since the team's rebranding to Dignitas Academy in the off-season, he has been a free agent. Rikara also subbed in for Sun "Cody Sun" Li-Yu on 100 Thieves in the 2018 NA LCS Summer Playoffs, as well as the 2018 World Championship. 

 

 

In Doublelift's abscence, Tactical's LCS debut was impressive. He laned well with Support Jo "CoreJJ" Yong-In and Team Liquid finished week 6 with its first 2-0 LCS weekend. In the second game, Team Liquid banned three marksman champions against 100 Thieves, and Tactical's Kalista bested Cody Sun in his second game on the LCS stage. 

 

 

 

Whether Tactical is remaining in the LCS lineup due to Doublelift's health is unclear. It is possible that Doublelift is still not feeling well, or that the team may want to give him another weekend due to Tactical's success. Doublelift admitted to struggling with his motivation early on in the split before Jungler Mads "Broxah" Brock-Pedersen was able to join the team in week 4 after being delayed by visa complications, and the team is currently 6-6 with six games to play. 

 

 

 

 

AD Carries around the world like Royal Never Give Up's Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao benefitted from taking breaks in the spring, and with the lessened significance of the 2020 LCS Spring Split due to the elimination of championship circuit points to qualify for the League of Legends World Championship, it'd be hard to fault Doublelift for taking some more time, especially due to Tactical's performance in his debut weekend. 

 

▲ Photo by Oshin Villa Tudayan for Riot Games

 

 

As of now, nothing has been confirmed by Team Liquid regarding the reasons for Tactical's continued starting in the LCS, but in the context of his performance last weekend, it's hard to say he has not earned it. Whether Doublelift will return for week 7 of the Spring Split is currently unclear.

 

UPDATE 3/3: Doublelift has tweeted out his reason for benching was due to his earlier lack of motivation, and that while he had gotten it back recently as stated in his most recent interview with Inven Global, he apologized to his teammates and resolved to work on regaining their trust. 

 

 

 

 

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