After winning the Summer Split of the 2020 LCS, [TSM](https://stacked.gg/lol/team/tsm/stats) shocked the world by opting into a near-complete rebuild. Throwing away a winning formula (for LCS at least) in exchange for an all-star line-up with record-breaking salary numbers, expectations were at an all-time high. On the other hand, [100Thieves](https://stacked.gg/lol/team/100/stats) didn’t take too much of a risk, purchasing 80% of the Golden Guardians’ 2020 team and simply adding perpetual MVP candidate Kim “Ssumday” Chan-ho to the mix.  

100T is one of the teams generally seen as a dark horse for a podium finish this split, with most of the roster only narrowly missing out on Worlds qualification last year. Even so, with the star power brought to the table by TSM’s chosen line-up - and, unlike most of the other assumed top teams, a distinct lack of visa issues - they were slight favourites to take this first game.  

### However, just like most power rankings - [including our own](https://stacked.gg/article/2020-lcs-power-rankings) - predicted, TSM is a team of wild inconsistency. Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why TSM lost this game, but - more importantly - why 100T won so convincingly.
#### 

# Draft Phase

100T’s composition this game was less straightforward than TSM’s in terms of execution, but played towards the high risk high reward style that these players are experienced with. Utilising good map movement through Taliyah and Twisted Fate to collapse on either sidelane at leisure, 100T took firm control of the early game when given the opportunity.  

Opting for Renekton as your last pick on Blue side has been oft-derided (and with good reason), but here it was a good way to set up both Taliyah and Twisted Fate for coordinated dives. Yes, Heo “Huni” Seung-hoon picked the safest response available in the Gnar, but no amount of apparent safety can stop you from being quickly burst down. Whether through a Renekton W, Taliyah W-E, or even a Gold Card from a visiting TF, Huni was prone to being locked down and killed at any given moment.  

When you look at TSM’s composition this game, you will see something that isn’t necessarily too uncommon for new rosters. Simple, slow burn teamfight champions with safe laning phases to generate early CS and gold differentials over their counterparts. However, these kinds of picks promote the inactive-early playstyle that every single iteration of the TSM roster has been criticised for over the past few years, and this game was no different.

While superstar support Hu “SwordArt” Shuo-Chieh got his hands on his signature Leona, the playmaking potential simply wasn’t there when 100Thieves decided to make this game all about the top side of the map.

Orianna has always been a comfort pick for Tristan “PowerofEvil” Schrage, even at the start of his career (Nashor’s Tooth, anyone?), but it detracted more than it brought to the table this time around. Yes, the hypothetical consistent push through midlane does help punish and prevent some particularly troublesome TF roams, but Tanner “Damonte” Damonte was unfazed. On the topic of Orianna and her need to scale, however, there is something else that we need to address…

# ???
Consider the three question marks in this heading as three consecutive missing pings. While it is understandable that Mingyi “[Spica](https://stacked.gg/player/spica/stats)” Lu feels the weight of the world on his shoulders, being the only remaining member of yesteryear’s TSM, his overcommitment into the enemy jungle was what sealed the deal for a 100T victory.  

Unfortunately for TSM, said overcommitment - stemming from apparent communication issues - occurred mere minutes into the game. Spica commenced an invade, assuming that the enemy Taliyah would be handshaking and pathing to clear out the bottom half of the jungle, but Can “Closer” Çelik read Spica’s Graves like a book.

<div style="width: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: center; max-width: 100%">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First blood of 2021 <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LCS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LCS</a> Lock In goes to <a href="https://twitter.com/Damonte?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Damonte</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/100Thieves?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@100Thieves</a> as they take down two near the top lane! <a href="https://t.co/KjDIw68iyl">pic.twitter.com/KjDIw68iyl</a></p>&mdash; LCS (@LCSOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/LCSOfficial/status/1350222747943665665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2021</a></blockquote>
</div>

The TSM jungler found himself in a position where his midlaner was unable to follow up, and Huni also struggled to find a safe path inwards despite having the top wave crash. Sure, a potential top dive could have been in the works after a full clear, but - as it turns out - the blue team’s Gromp buff is much closer to their own reinforcements when both midlaners are running back from a reset.  

All of that 5v5 teamfighting we mentioned earlier? Leona, Orianna, hell - even Gnar? They need time to come online and fight around their item spikes and ultimate abilities.  

This play cost TSM summoners, gold, kills, and precious time to scale.  

Could TSM have played this better? Sure. But, 100T simply outplayed them, adapting their game plans on the fly to collapse and punish where need be. Damonte and Closer particularly showed up this game, looking near untouchable when it came to moving around the map, while the botlane simply held their own as needed throughout the early stages.  


<div style="width: 100%; display: flex; justify-content: center; max-width: 100%">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">THERE WE GO BOYS. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/100T?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#100T</a> <br><br>We start off the 2021 LCS Lock In strong with a 27 Minute W over TSM. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LCS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LCS</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/100WIN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#100WIN</a> <a href="https://t.co/63qUdzi2cz">pic.twitter.com/63qUdzi2cz</a></p>&mdash; 100 Thieves Live (@100ThievesLive) <a href="https://twitter.com/100ThievesLive/status/1350228638268944385?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 15, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div>

TSM aren’t out of title contention yet - it is, after all, only one game - but perhaps our forecast for top 3 has already been shaken up, courtesy of the boys in black and red.



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Stealing Away the Spring Opener: 100T Take Down TSM

ibrizlol

@ibrizlol

5:49AM on Jan 16, 2021

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