TSM Chime on exceeding expectations in 2023

TSM continues to prove doubters wrong as they continue to make a push for the LCS playoffs.

TSM is the LCS’s most decorated and storied organization in the league’s history, but LCS viewers’ preseason expectations were low for this new TSM lineup going into 2023. After spending many years as the go-to team for winning in the LCS, this year was different. Instead, the expectations were set around this team being one focused on player development. However, TSM has continued to defy expectations in 2023 as they now stand at a 6-7 record, ahead of teams like 100 Thieves and Team Liquid.

In this interview, we spoke to TSM support Jonathan “Chime” Pomponio to talk about the 2023 LCS season, his growth in the team, and what veteran AD Carry Jason “Wildturtle” Tran brings to the team.

Let’s start by talking about today’s game against Team Liquid because this win now puts TSM in sole possession of sixth place. What are your thoughts on this tight race for playoffs and beating Team Liquid.

Yeah, I mean, this game was super important and we knew that. We were in a solid spot to get to playoffs after the first-round robin, and then we lost a CLG. That really messed us up. So we needed to win games against teams that are not only teams competing with us in the standings but teams that are higher than us. For example, we could have beaten EG yesterday. I think we could have definitely won that game so it was pretty disappointing for us. So today, we knew we have to win because losing to someone that we’re fighting for a playoff spot with would be devastating for our record. I think there’s a lot of pressure on today. But compared to last week, our games this past week were infinitely better. I think we’ve just been playing a lot better as a team and that showed. It felt really good to beat TL because they have some solid players as well.

Something I saw in a TSM Legends episode was that Chawy highlighted the team wasn’t playing with confidence which resulted in some lower periods of play for TSM. How do you feel that progress has been coming along?

I think in the earlier weeks, going through, like a rougher period was just a little bit of overconfidence. Going into that week, we had really good scrim results. When you are doing well, you don’t really have many important takeaways because you are just winning. We just got destroyed the next week on stage when it came down to it. This time around, we knew what we are doing wrong during those losses. We are improving a lot faster now than when we were winning, especially after our first 2-0 week. It just feels really good to see that progression.

Does it seem that when it comes down to VOD reviews, the team is going over more of their mistakes compared to when the scrims are going really well?

Yeah for sure. I think a lot of it comes down to being accountable. I think for myself, taking accountability for when I make an individual mistake has been really helpful because of how many factors go into the game. There are so many variables, that I think it’s really important to acknowledge moments where we shouldn’t be there in the first place. Same time, it’s a really easy cop-out to not take the blame for certain plays going wrong. I think that is something that I’m trying to stop myself from doing. Our coach mentioned that to me and other people and it just makes us more productive in review. There is no such thing as a perfect team, but you take the game and you play it the best that you can. That’s what we are working on right now.

Do you feel like early on in your career, accountability was something that you struggled with? Or is it more so being able to dive a little deeper into what you can do better?

That was a strength of mine in Academy. My coaches would have a lot of feedback and they would say that I was really open to criticism. I think the first time I made the LCS, a lot of people encourage me to have a little bit of an ego and to be confident in myself. I think I didn’t hit my perfect stride of where I could have been because I was a little less receptive to feedback. I think this time around, I’ve been more focused and realized that you will not be perfect all the time. I think I have definitely slipped up with personal life stuff going on as well. Sometimes, that affects it too, but I’ve been really focusing on trying to take more accountability for my own mistakes. It’s really helpful to have a coach like Chawy that is really helpful in calling me out like that.

TSM after their win against Team Liquid :: (Photo by Robert Paul/Riot Games)

I want to ask you about Chawy because ever since you joined TSM, it feels as if we have seen an upgraded level of play on your end. Can you talk to me about his impact on your growth?

Yeah, I mean, I haven't had that many coaches. But I do think Chawy is probably one of the best coaches I've ever had. I just think that he gives really solid drafts. There are very rare cases where I feel that we couldn’t win the game because the draft was unplayable. I feel that is never really the case with him. If he does make a mistake, he is really clear about it, he tells us that he messed up, and we move on. That’s the mindset he has and it’s something I really appreciate. We are a very barebones crew. We have our team, Chawy, and our general manager, who is also scouting for us. So there are a lot of people here that are going way beyond their job expectations so that is really helpful. Everyone is doing so much more than their title shows and I really appreciate it.

Onstage, things seem to be going well for TSM, but how have you been getting along with your teammates? Is it easy to communicate with players knowing that English may not be their first language?

It's actually really easy. Everybody is really nice here. Maple is honestly one of the nicest pro players I’ve met and he’s really funny. Solo is somebody who I have always talked to a good amount too. One thing I did notice though was that when Turtle came into the team, he was talking about how we‘re not that talkative outside of the game with each other. And I think part of it is because of us having five or six scrim games with each other. Additionally, I think it’s a bit tougher for Maple and Bugi who are not in their native language so I think when we eat dinner, they just want to sit down and not have to actively think about what they are trying to say. But I just think it’s really easy to talk to them all and we won’t always talk to each other because we need some downtime to reset.

Jason "Wildturtle" Tran in return with TSM LCS team :: (Photo by Robert Paul/Riot Games)

It seems that Wildturtle’s biggest impact on the team this week was that he helps the team speak a bit more. Would you say that has been his biggest impact since joining the main squad?

Yeah, I think it’s a little bit of that. I also just think he is a little bit of a calming voice. For example, we had a bit of an issue where we were getting a bit too excited onstage. We were sounding a little bit panicked when we were in a good spot because we wanted to win and we were excited about it. I think Solo does a really good job of calming us down, but he’s just a top laner so he can only do so much. Having two veterans on the team that can really chill you out is really helpful. I also think Bugi and I have been working a lot better together. I think part of that is Turtle just calling midway as well so it’s easier in that sense. I just think everyone’s chipping in a little bit more and had a little bit of a wake-up call this week. I think it was a very productive week overall.

I want to ask you about this four-way race between CLG, 100 Thieves, Liquid, and TSM. How would you rank those four teams right now?

I think based on the past few weeks, 100 Thieves is at the bottom because they have kind of lost their identity as a team. I think they’re a much better team than they show. We scrim them a lot and they are a better team than what people have been seeing on stage, but they just look lost, especially when it comes to pick and ban. In my unbiased perspective, I’d say it’s us at fifth, Team Liquid at sixth, CLG at seventh, and 100 Thieves last. I think CLG is really good at picking up new champs and I think Palafox has been playing really well. I think that helps them for sure.

This past week, we saw a number of new champions in the meta like Aurelion Sol, Garen, and Annie. Talk to me about adjustments you made in regard to preparation this week.

Honestly, for me, the meta already hit last week so I tried my best to study it as best as I can. I mean, it’s not really my job. I have people that figure that out so I am happy with it. My main priorities were more on tailoring to Wildturtle’s champion pool compared to Neo’s. So it was less about the patch and it was more about the AD Carry change. I just wanted to make sure that we were set in the adjustment as the Academy league is much different than the LCS. I wanted to make sure he was comfortable.

Any final statements for the fans?

Thank you for supporting us. I try not to look at comments because I don't want to have them impact my mental health in the regular season. But I do see the nice things and I really appreciate them. To the negative comments, I played enchanters significantly well and it feels like the general consensus has been every time we lose, it’s because I was on an enchanter. Well, today, I was on an enchanter so it’s impressive.