And while TSM’s owner said in a video announcement early this week that the decision was unrelated to economic headwinds and instead based on TSM’s desire to be more competitive in international play, the move has been cynically placed as another example of organizations’ desire to seek greener pastures outside of a struggling North American esports market. The plan to transition to a new region, Dinh said, has been in the works for the past three years. The New York Times reports TSM began speaking to interested parties in early May and is asking for $20 million for its LCS slot. The team, which has become synonymous with North American League of Legends and is one of the best-known esports organizations worldwide, is aiming to become a franchised member of another Tier 1 league such as the League of Legends Pro League (China), League Europe/Middle East/North Africa Championship or League Champions Korea. TSM, one of the foundational members of the League of Legends Championship Series, is looking to sell its LCS slot and move into a different competitive region, founder and CEO Andy Dinh confirmed.
