7-time LCS winner Yilliang ‘Doublelift’ Peng has responded after he was dropped from this weekend’s fixtures against CounterLogic Gaming and Immortals in favour of academy AD carry Edward ‘Tactical’ Ra.
Tactical had impressed during last weekend’s wins over 100 Thieves and TSM as he filled in for Doublelift, who was out of action due to illness. However, Team Liquid co-CEO Steve Arhancet confirmed that Tactical would be keeping his place on the roster even though Doublelift was fit to return, and says that the ADC spot will be evaluated “week by week” to determine who will be playing.
Doublelift has now confirmed he has been benched for the next two fixtures, and apologised to teammates for a lack of motivation throughout the start of the 2020 season. “I’m benched because I had no motivation until very recently,” Doublelift says in a tweet. “Being sick and unable to compete gave me my passion back, but too late. I’m sorry towards every one of my teammates and I’ll be working from now on to regain their trust.”
I’m benched because I had no motivation until very recently. Being sick and unable to compete gave me my passion back, but too late. I’m sorry towards every one of my teammates and I’ll be working from now on to regain their trust.
— Yiliang Peng (@TLDoublelift) March 4, 2020
Doublelift has come under fire for his lacklustre performances in the LCS so far this season, with reigning champions Liquid currently sitting joint third in the league with TSM and Immortals on a 6-6 record.
Tactical, however, impressed in his first team fixtures last week after going deathless in both matches with a combined K/D/A across both games of 8/0/6.
Arhancet also confirmed that Tactical would no longer be an academy player and will remain in the first team to give the team more options in the ADC role. He has been replaced in the academy roster by Samuel ‘Rikara’ Oh.
