The Secrets Behind One of China’s Strongest League of Legends Teams
Top Esports (TES) is one of the most formidable forces in the League of Legends Pro League (LPL) in China, a region known for its intense competition and unrivaled talent. The team’s journey has been nothing short of phenomenal, and their rise to prominence is a testament to their unique approach to training, strategic brilliance, and the synergy within the roster. In this article, we will dive into what makes Top Esports a force to be reckoned with in the League of Legends scene, exploring their methods of practice and analyzing the key factors that have cemented their place at the top. From honing individual skills to mastering strategic cohesion as a unit, TES has carved out a distinct identity that has earned them widespread recognition. We will explore their success through two main aspects: their unique approach to training and their innovative in-game strategies.
Unique Approach to Training: More Than Mechanics
Top Esports’ success is grounded in their dedication to continuous improvement, not just in terms of individual mechanics but also through the mental and strategic aspects of the game. Many esports teams spend hours grinding mechanically, but TES has adopted a more holistic approach to training. Below, we will explore some of the unique training techniques that have contributed to their rise.
1. Individual Mastery Meets Team Synergy
At the heart of TES’s success is their commitment to balancing individual skill development with team-wide cohesion. Each player on TES is exceptional mechanically, with some of the biggest names in the LPL—such as Knight and JackeyLove—leading the charge. However, what sets TES apart is their unique approach to bridging the gap between individual brilliance and coordinated teamplay. The coaching staff at TES emphasizes sessions where players focus on individual strengths, using targeted drills to sharpen each aspect of their play. These drills are complemented by a deep analysis of their own gameplay as well as their competitors, allowing TES players to improve not just by playing the game, but by understanding every aspect of it. Another unique feature of their training is the “Adaptation Scrims.” Unlike traditional scrimmages that follow predetermined roles and drafts, TES practices adaptive scrims that mimic real-time high-pressure situations. Coaches tweak drafts or introduce unpredictable events mid-game, forcing players to make on-the-fly decisions and practice adapting under challenging circumstances. This approach helps TES develop greater mental resilience and adaptability, which is crucial in a high-stakes tournament setting.
2. Mindset Training and Team Chemistry
TES also puts significant focus on mental resilience and team chemistry. Recognizing that skillful play alone cannot carry a team through difficult series, TES employs a mental coach to work with players on issues such as managing stress, staying composed during setbacks, and maintaining peak performance under pressure. This focus on the psychological aspect of the game has helped them perform at their best, even during high-stakes scenarios where many teams falter. Team-building exercises are a regular part of their training routine. Outside of scrims, TES players participate in activities designed to strengthen trust and communication, from friendly in-house competitions to strategy-based board games. These activities help the team forge strong interpersonal bonds, which translate to more cohesive play on the Rift. The importance TES places on chemistry is evident in their in-game movements, with players intuitively understanding each other’s intentions and positioning without unnecessary pings or chat distractions.
3. In-House Data Analytics
TES’s training also has a technological edge. They leverage in-house data analytics to evaluate players’ performances down to the smallest detail. The coaching staff compiles data on reaction times, accuracy, decision-making, and macro calls. This data-driven approach allows them to tailor training regimens specifically for each player, addressing individual weaknesses while maximizing strengths. The analytics team works closely with the coaching staff to analyze opposing teams as well, looking for patterns, tendencies, and exploitable weaknesses in their competitors’ play. TES has built a culture of knowledge sharing, with frequent sessions dedicated to reviewing these insights, ensuring that the entire team is on the same page before heading into important matches.
Strategic Mastery: Vision, Versatility, and Aggression
The unique training methods adopted by TES have laid the groundwork for their in-game success, but their strategic brilliance is what truly defines them as one of the LPL’s most powerful teams. TES has consistently impressed with their versatile playstyle, dynamic drafts, and sheer mechanical outplays, and their approach to strategy is a major part of why they’ve been so successful.
1. Draft Phase: Versatility is Key
One of TES’s most remarkable traits is their versatility during the draft phase. Unlike many teams that rely heavily on a particular strategy or specific champion picks, TES embraces flexibility. This adaptability is largely due to the depth of their player pool. Knight, their star mid laner, has an incredibly large champion pool, allowing TES to pivot to a wide range of strategies depending on the needs of the match. Their drafts are characterized by an ability to react and counter-pick effectively, while also setting themselves up for success in the later stages of the game. TES is known for its willingness to experiment and pivot away from the meta when necessary. By analyzing the weaknesses of their opponents, TES drafts accordingly to exploit gaps in positioning, engage potential, or even jungle pathing. Their unpredictability in the draft means that it is nearly impossible for opposing teams to prepare against TES without having to worry about being countered in multiple ways.
2. Dynamic Early Game Pressure and Aggressive Jungle Play
Another key factor in TES’s dominance is their emphasis on early game pressure. The synergy between the jungle and laners in TES is crucial for setting up advantages across the map. Their jungler, Tian, has proven time and again to be an aggressive and intuitive player, always looking to invade, pressure, and put opposing junglers behind. TES effectively coordinates their laners to create priority, allowing Tian to secure vision control and enable deep warding, which serves to choke out the enemy jungler’s options and establish dominance in the early game. TES’s approach to the early game isn’t just about aggression; it’s about using pressure in a calculated manner. Their laners, particularly in mid and bot lanes, excel at gaining priority and using it to their jungler’s advantage. Knight is known for his mid-lane dominance, pushing waves efficiently and roaming when the opportunity arises. JackeyLove and his support partner can often be seen playing with an aggressive flair, but it is always measured, backed up by vision and awareness of the enemy jungle. The team’s aggressive style is reinforced by constant communication. TES’s members are highly vocal during games, ensuring that all players know the state of the map, potential objectives, and the enemy’s intentions. This level of communication allows them to make swift decisions in setting up traps, collapsing on over-extended enemies, or transitioning seamlessly from laning into objective control.
3. Calculated Teamfighting and Late Game Brilliance
While early game dominance is important, TES’s teamfighting ability in the mid-to-late game is one of their strongest assets. Their approach to teamfighting revolves around discipline and understanding win conditions. TES is known for carefully timing their engagements, using vision control and enemy cooldowns to create favorable circumstances. Players like Knight and JackeyLove shine in these moments, using their mechanical prowess to find key targets and deliver decisive blows. In the late game, TES focuses heavily on controlling vision around major objectives like Baron Nashor and Dragon Soul. Their willingness to fight over vision is relentless, often baiting enemies into disadvantageous positions. TES’s team composition is usually built to scale well into the late game, allowing them to play with confidence even if the early game doesn’t go their way. The front-to-back teamfight approach is something TES has refined, relying on the solid tank play of their top laner and the explosive damage output of their carries. They excel at peeling for their carries when necessary, or recognizing opportunities to flank and collapse on isolated opponents. These tactics showcase their versatility, as they can pivot from a pure protect-the-carry strategy to an all-in wombo-combo depending on how the game develops.
A Formula for Success
The story of Top Esports is one of evolution, strategic brilliance, and a relentless pursuit of perfection. Their unique approach to training, which balances mechanical skill with mental resilience and team cohesion, has laid the foundation for their strategic dominance in the LPL. Through their versatile drafts, early game pressure, and calculated teamfighting, TES has consistently proven themselves as one of the strongest teams in China.
Top Esports’ journey is a testament to what can be achieved when raw talent is nurtured through innovation and dedication. Their commitment to excellence on all fronts—be it individual improvement, adaptive strategies, or fostering strong team dynamics—has propelled them to the top of the LPL. As they continue to grow, TES serves as an inspiration not only to their fans but to the entire League of Legends community, demonstrating the power of perseverance, versatility, and a true passion for the game.
Their success in the ultra-competitive environment of the LPL highlights the importance of constant adaptation, a willingness to innovate, and the ability to synergize as a team. Whether you are an aspiring professional player or an enthusiast looking to improve your own gameplay, there is much to learn from the Top Esports approach—a blueprint for excellence forged by talent, hard work, and a deep understanding of the game.
