NA Legend Doublelift clarified his thoughts on the recent LCS walkout debacles on live on stream
If it comes down between prolonging the walkout or playing, Doublelift would opt to play LCS Summer (and Worlds)
Widely regarding as one of the 2 greatest players in North American League of Legends history, Doublelift is widely influential in the scene and holds a sway over the consensus among NA pros. He’s also very outspoken and never hesitated to voice his opinions publicly on contentious topics. Here’s what he had to say about the current LCS situation:
- Believes that academy players are paid way too much (even those getting minimum salary) and that the 300K ask from LCSPA is too high.
- Thinks that the current T2 system was heavily flawed with mandatory academy teams (should be optional, being mandatory is why there are so many veterans in it) and high buyouts but thinks that there should still be a T2.
- Heavily disagrees with the requirement forcing NACL/LCS winners to be guaranteed jobs and is indifferent towards the 3/5 priority rule.
- Disagrees with allowing the top 2 T2 teams being in LCS and instead suggested that LCS should be reduced to 8 teams from 10, so that good talent isn’t split across so many teams.
- Voted yes (to the walkout) because he believes that the T2 scene needs to exist and be supported by Riot (despite only agreeing with 1/5 of the LCSPA demands)
- Will ultimately play LCS Summer (and Worlds) over walking out if it prolongs further.
With that, Doublelift had positioned himself diagonally from the LCS Players Association responsible for the walkout. It is likely that most pros would follow his footsteps and choose to continue playing LCS Summer after the 2-week delay. The stakes are simply too high; should LCS be delayed any longer NA would stand to lose their spot at Worlds 2023 which needless to say would be devastating to the scene and the players.
Hopefully Riot and LCSPA can reach an amicable compromise during these 2 weeks of negotiations.
