TSM's Zven Out of 'Hiding', Posts First Update Since LCS Finals
By Wyatt Fossett ·
Not many people have been very kind or supportive of the EU-transferred bot-laner after his less-than-stellar showing during the 2019 LCS Spring Finals, least of all himself.
It has been more than two weeks since Team Liquid beat Team SoloMid in the 2019 LCS Spring Split Grand Finals, which is a long time for a media blackout. For TSM's Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen, however, it was needed and owed.
After the loss, every shape and corner of the internet blamed the championship fall on the bot-laner from the EU, saying that he “threw the game intentionally” or “was paid by Team Liquid” and that’s just the clean versions.
“I figured at some point that I should come out of my social media hiding so you guys don’t think that I’ve completely given up on life just yet.” joked Zven, but there’s probably a bit of truth in that thought.
Yes, Zven BM’d Jensen on the main stage during the introduction ceremony. Yes, Zven was caught out of place all alone and looking real squishy on a couple of occassions when he shouldn't have. However, in no world is it ever one player’s fault. Not at this level.
Coming over to North America after seeing some success with G2 Esports in the European region, Zven has a lot of pressure on his shoulders to lift TSM out of their funk and back into greatness. A greatness they haven’t seen since opposing ad-carry Doublelift left TSM for Team Liquid.
Prior to his blackout, Zven’s last tweet was post-Cloud9 reverse sweep in which TSM qualified for the Grand Finals. Fast forward nearly three weeks, and the skillful bot-laner posted an image of a letter written on what looks to be Facebook with the caption “update” tweeted alongside it.
Portions of Zven’s letter read like a retirement note, or a letter of admission of guilt, but it’s important to understand that this is a seasoned League of Legends professional falling short of expectations. “I’m trying hard to refine my playstyle into something else and get rid of bad habits for the Summer Split,” writes Zven.
It’s also, in part, a conversation in regards to his own accountability, which is a smart move. Removing the ownership of his team’s recent failure from the throngs of trolls online that have been rather unkind. “I am my own biggest critic,” he writes. “I know what mistakes I made and what mistakes I didn’t make. I know that if I had played better in game five, we would have won and we would have been champions instead."
Moving forward, the break from competitive team play may be really good for Svenningsen. Spending some time at home (which he details slightly in his letter) before the Summer Split kicks-off and he’s called back to Los Angeles, might just be what the 2nd-year NA bot-laner needs to break through whatever roof he’s placed on himself.
The 2019 LCS Summer Split is still a ways away, and the world is currently transfixed on Hanoi, where every region’s champion is competing at MSI 2019 for international glory.