Tian and JackeyLove Return to Top Esports as LPL Rosters Shuffle Ahead of Split 2

Tian, the 2019 World Champion with FPX, previously spent three years at TES between 2022 and 2024 before joining Weibo Gaming last year. He sat out the first split of 2026 and now returns to the organization where he spent the bulk of his career. JackeyLove, meanwhile, is a TES mainstay — the 2018 World Champion with Invictus Gaming joined the team in 2020 and has been there ever since. He was forced to step down at the start of the year due to chronic tinnitus, a persistent ear condition that has been affecting his sleep, focus, and ability to play for extended periods. His doctors had recommended he take time away from competition.

Tian and JackeyLove are no strangers to each other at TES. The duo shared some of the organization's disappointing international campaigns, including a group stage exit at Worlds 2022 and a 0-3 loss to G2 Esports at MSI 2024. But domestically, this exact same roster — with Crisp at support instead of the rookie Fengyue— won the LPL Split 1 title last year.

How JackeyLove's condition holds up over the course of a full split will be something to monitor, but the reunion brings both experience and star power to a TES roster badly in need of stability after a turbulent start to the year.

Other notable roster moves

Several other LPL teams have also made changes heading into Split 2. BigWei has taken over as head coach of Anyone's Legend, replacing Helper who parted ways with the organization by mutual agreement after just one split. Weibo Gaming have brought in Hang to replace Erha at support, with Ehra moving to Team WE.