TSM (esports)

Origins and Early Growth

The story of TSM began in September 2009 as a League of Legends blog called SoloMid.net, created by college students Andy Dinh and his brother Dan. The blog provided game guides and grew from their involvement in a clan called All or Nothing, which later rebranded to SoloMid. A small group representing this community became the original TSM team in January 2011, featuring players like SaintVicious, Chaox, TheOddOne, Locodoco, and Reginald himself. This team competed in the first season of what would become the League Championship Series, finishing third at the Season One World Championship that same year.

In its formative years, TSM was managed by Jack Etienne. The organization's identity was deeply tied to its League of Legends team, which quickly became a fan favorite in North America. Founder Andy 'Reginald' Dinh stepped away from active play in 2013 to focus on running the business full time, marking the beginning of TSM's expansion beyond a single game.

Expansion into a Multi-Game Empire

TSM began diversifying its portfolio in 2014 by signing prominent Hearthstone streamers. The following year marked a significant push into new competitive scenes. The organization acquired a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster and signed its first Super Smash Bros. player, Leffen. This period saw success across titles, with the League of Legends team winning the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship and the CS:GO division securing multiple international tournament wins, though the CS:GO team was dropped by year's end.

The expansion continued rapidly. In 2016, TSM established divisions in Vainglory and Overwatch, though the Overwatch team was transferred just weeks after signing due to controversy. The organization also co-founded the Professional Esports Association, a CS:GO league. By 2017, TSM had entered PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds. The roster grew to encompass ten different games by July 2020, with dual rosters for Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG dedicated to both competition and content creation.

The League of Legends Legacy

TSM's League of Legends division was the foundation of the organization. After its official establishment in 2011, the team became synonymous with North American success. They won the inaugural North American LCS split in 2013 and went on to claim a total of seven LCS championships, the most of any team in the league's history. A crucial moment came in late 2013 with the signing of Danish mid laner Søren 'Bjergsen', who became a franchise icon.

Despite domestic dominance, international success at the World Championship proved elusive, with their best finishes being quarterfinal appearances. The team experienced a resurgence in 2020, winning its seventh LCS title, but struggled in subsequent years. After missing World Championships and undergoing numerous roster changes, TSM made the decision to exit the LCS entirely in 2023, selling its franchise slot and ending a defining chapter in its history.

Highs, Lows, and Controversies

TSM's journey has been marked by significant business moves and internal challenges. In December 2020, the organization was valued at $410 million. A major commercial deal followed in June 2021, a 10-year, $210 million naming rights partnership with the cryptocurrency exchange FTX, briefly rebranding the team as TSM FTX. This deal was terminated in November 2022 after FTX declared bankruptcy.

In late 2021, the organization faced serious allegations regarding its workplace culture. Several employees and players publicly accused founder and CEO Andy Dinh of bullying and verbal abuse, with some claims dating back to 2011. An investigation by Riot Games concluded Dinh had engaged in a pattern of disparaging and bullying behavior, resulting in a $75,000 fine for TSM and mandatory training for Dinh. TSM's own internal investigation found no unlawful conduct by its CEO.

Ongoing Competition and New Ventures

Today, TSM maintains a broad presence across the esports spectrum. Its fighting game division, established in 2015, has seen champions like Leffen, who won Evo 2018, and Gavin 'Tweek' Dempsey, a top Super Smash Bros. Ultimate player who rejoined the team in late 2025. In early 2024, TSM returned to Rocket League by acquiring the Hey Bro roster.

The organization continues to enter new frontiers. It ventured into Dota 2 in 2022 by acquiring the Team Undying roster. In early 2025, TSM signed a Halo Infinite team and partnered with the Halo Championship Series. Furthermore, in May 2024, TSM was announced as a member of the Esports World Cup Foundation's Club Support Program, which provides funding for organizations to enter new esports titles and promote the event.

Former Divisions and Exits

TSM's history is also defined by its entries and exits from various games. The organization had a brief foray into Call of Duty in 2016, withdrawing after a single season due to poor results. Its Overwatch involvement was similarly short-lived in 2016, though TSM returned to the scene briefly in 2024 before parting ways with its roster later that year.

The organization had a long history with PUBG: Battlegrounds, competing from 2017 to 2022. It returned to the game in May 2024 by signing the Shoot To Kill roster as part of its Esports World Cup commitments, but exited again in January 2025. In mobile gaming, TSM was active in the Indian market through partnerships and signings in PUBG Mobile and Battlegrounds Mobile India between 2020 and 2021. Its Rainbow Six Siege team, acquired in 2019, had notable successes including a win at Dreamhack Montreal 2019.