TSM's Rookie Broken Blade Shines During 2019 LCS Grand Finals

While everyone in the League of Legends world was talking about the 2019 LCS Spring Grand Finals and how it pertains to the Doublelift and Bjergsen conversation, it was the young import from Turkey that absolutely stole the show for TSM as they played Team Liquid in St. Louis. 

The German-born top-laner was imported in the offseason from the Turkish Champions League (TCL) where he played for multiple different teams over the course of the last 3 years. 

At 19-years-old he was entrusted with the solo lane role for one of the most well-known franchises in Esports history. Even more difficult, he had to fill the shoes of a Hauntzer that had quickly become a fan-favorite, after the ex-TSM top-laner left the org for the Golden Guardians at the end of the 2018 season. 

With fan expectations, and a very successful franchise history weighing on the young upstart LCS player, Sergen "Broken Blade" Çelik truly has made a quick name for himself. Alongside his teammate Akaadian (another Rookie), they conquered the rift as TSM beat Echo Fox in round one of these very LCS Spring Playoffs. 

.@TSM close out game one with a @TSMBrokenBlade Quadra Kill! #TSMWIN #LCS pic.twitter.com/V7qwzn5AU7

— lolesports (@lolesports) April 13, 2019

Just today, Broken Blade had to go up against one-time World Champion in Impact in the top-lane during the 2019 LCS Spring Grand Finals against a stacked Team Liquid. Easily, Broken Blade’s lane could have been the weakest point for TSM and had he lost outright many would just chalk it up to rookie nerves versus world-class experience. 

However, Broken Blade refused to allow that to come to fruition and instead has outperformed almost every single player sharing that stage in St. Louis with him. He out-paced and out-played his counterpart in Team Liquid’s Impact in almost every way through the first two games. Both his Irelia and his two appearances on Vladimir have been deadly so far in the Finals. 

After their win in Game 1, Broken Blade looked to stand up out of his chair in celebration or excitement, and that’s when team-leader Bjergsen came straight over and congratulated him for his strong performance and carry. It seemed that Bjergsen also told the young top-laner to settle down his emotions, because one win a championship does not make. 

It’s the coupling of this mentorship from veterans like Bjergsen and the team’s owner Reginald that will do wonders to shape the young talent on TSM. 

Everyone favored Team Liquid with their squad of superstars and veterans, but it was Team SoloMid and their high-flying unproven players that put on a real show on the mainstage in St. Louis on Saturday in the first two games. Even if his team loses in the Grand Finals today, the Broken Blade coming out party can't be retracted. BB is here, and he's making a lot of noise in that top-lane. 

You'll hear the name Broken Blade around the competitive League of Legends scene and the LCS or years to come, we would bet on it.