Despite the bitter ending to their year, Top Esports won’t be changing many pieces for 2021. The only changes made to the roster were the arrival of a new support and a change in the coaching staff. Coach Crescent, formerly BSYY, has left the org, after two and a half years with the team. Coach WarHorse, formerly on FPX, will be the new head coach for Top Esports.
Top Lane: 369
369 has extended his contract with Top Esports until the end of 2021. After an incredible year on Top Esports, finishing the year on the All-Pro teams twice, it should come as no surprise that 369 will back at the helm for 2021.
One of the most impressive parts of 369’s gameplay, is that despite his veteran status as a top laner, he is still quite young. His career started at a young age, so he still has many more years of skill to display. With just over two years under his belt as an LPL top laner, 369 already has a split tittle to his name. You can be sure his name will remain on the list of the best top laners in the LPL.
Jungle: Karsa
After a quiet 2019 with RNG, Karsa came into 2020 determined to show the world he still was one of the best junglers on the rift. He came close in spring, with TOP falling at the final hurdle in the grand finals. In summer, however, he seemed to be at the top of his game, and helped lead TOP to victory in their rematch against JDG.
While 2020 Worlds didn’t end the way that Top wanted it to end, Karsa still put on a masterclass performance in the jungle. In their quarter-final match against Fnatic, Karsa was one of the main reasons why they managed to pull off the reverse sweep. It was Karsa and his incredible performance that stopped Selfmade dead in his tracks. Should he continue with the same level of performance, Top should have no problems returning to the world stage once again.
Mid: Knight
The golden left hand will return to play in the mid lane for Top Esports in 2021. While Worlds may not have gone as planned, Knight still had a decent first showing at the world stage. However, domestically is where he has always overperformed.
With 2021 being his third year as a starting mid laner in the LPL, Knight already has quite the reputation to his name. Often picking up MVP and landing on the All-Pro teams, Knight has become one of the mid lane powerhouses in the LPL. If he continues to perform the way he always has in the LPL, 2021 should be another great year for Top Esports fans.
Bot Lane Carry: JackeyLove
Probably the most well-known bot lane carry of the current generation, JackeyLove has renewed his contract with Top Esports until the end of 2022. Despite being heavily criticized due to his World’s performance, JackeyLove will once again return to commandeer the team’s bot lane in 2021.
JackeyLove has always carried the aggressive spirit of LPL bot lane carries. While yes, half the time you get punished for it, the other half you look like a genius. With his legendary Kai’sa returning to the meta, it seems like JackeyLove will be back in business.
Support: Zhuo
And finally, we have Zhuo, the newcomer to the team. A lot like JackeyLove, Yuyanjia got criticized heavily due to worlds. The fans demanded a new support, and so Top brought Zhuo into play.
Formerly on WE Academy, Zhuo had a great 2020. The team won the Spring Split, and while a part of it was due to impressive new mid laner, their bot lane also looked really good. While the team was unable to repeat the feat in summer, Simple and Zhuo still looked great. Unlike Yuyanjia, Zhuo is a much younger player, and so he will be a complete rookie coming into 2021.
It seems like the team’s approach to 2021 is “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”. Top kept their core roster, only changing the one player, who was the least consistent performer. While we are yet to see the roster in action, many still have Top as the number one team for 2021.
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