Screengrab via [Team Liquid](https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=JzIJ5RKFP-U)

Team Liquid assigns TF Blade as an Academy and LCS substitute

The solo queue star will continue to stream full-time while playing

One of the top League solo queue players has officially joined Team Liquid’s active Academy League and LCS rosters.

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Team Liquid announced Thursday that Ashkan “TF Blade” Homayouni, who captured both the top and second spot in the North American solo queue ladders last season, is now a substitute for its Academy and LCS teams. Blade confirmed, however, he will continue to stream full-time.

Additionally, Liquid announced TF Blade will be touring several regions in an attempt to become the world’s undisputed top player, before returning as a “more complete player,” Liquid hopes. He will begin in Europe then travel back to the United States, hitting Australia and finishing up in South Korea.

Blade has competed in three official competitions so far, finishing first at the 2017 Tyler1 Championship Series, a 16-team tournament hosted by streamer Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp. Blade finished second in the following year’s tournament. He placed top 16 in the Twitch Rivals event earlier in the week.

In a question-and-answer post on Team Liquid’s website, TF Blade revealed he looks forward to matching up against G2 Esports’ mid laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther and SK Telecom T1 top laner Kim “Khan” Dong-ha during his world tour. He also mentioned his eagerness to play against and meet fellow Team Liquid streamer Drew “Midbeast” Timbs in Australia, who Blade called a friend.

Team Liquid Academy will kick off the Spring Split on Thursday with a match against Cloud9 Academy. Liquid’s LCS team will also open up the LCS season with a match against Cloud9 on Jan. 26.


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Preston Byers
Dot Esports associate editor. Co-host of the Ego Chall Podcast. Since discovering esports through the 2013 Call of Duty Championship, Preston has pursued a career in esports and gaming. He graduated from Youngstown State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism in 2021.