Doublelift returns to TSM after a split off

Team SoloMid announced the return of AD Carry Yiliang “Doublelift” Peng for the 2017 Summer Split in a statement on their website Friday. According to the statement, TSM will retain Spring Split 2017 AD Carry Jason “Wildturtle” Tran, and the two players will share the role in the upcoming split. Doublelift will not join the team for the Mid-Season Invitational.

Doublelift played with Team SoloMid during the 2016 season, where they won the Summer Split Playoffs and qualified for Worlds. During the Summer Split, Doublelift had the highest average kills per-game and gold differential at 15 minutes. Following a Worlds performance that ended at the Group Stage, Doublelift decided to take a hiatus from the LCS for the 2017 Spring Split, with the intention of returning to Team SoloMid in the Summer, if they still needed him.

This plan was altered briefly during the Spring Split, when Team Liquid offered Doublelift a temporary contract to help save them from relegation. After Doublelift joined, the team became significantly better. Despite suffering a ninth place regular season finish, they quickly won out of the promotion tournament and were able to re-qualify for the LCS.

Team SoloMid, on the other hand, had a very successful Spring Split with replacement AD Carry Wildturtle, winning the split and qualifying for the Mid-Season Invitational. After winning the past two NA LCS splits with two different ADCs but the same other four players, now TSM moves forward with all six of those players to the summer.