At the start of 2025, Team Secret and Team Whales merged to form Team Secret Whales for the new LCP region. Both teams have struggled to reach international competition, with only one appearance between them. They managed to qualify for the World Championship as the LCP’s second seed. Both teams have brought players from their previous rosters, but do they have what it takes to perform at the international stage? Their rookies may be pivotal to their success against the best teams.
Team Secret Whales Roster
- Trần Lê “Hiro02” Trung Hậu – Vietnamese Top Laner
- Nguyễn “Pun” Đăng Khoa – Vietnamese Top Laner
- Lê Văn “Hizto” Hoàng Hải – Vietnamese Jungler
- Trần “Dire” Duy Đức – Vietnamese Mid Laner
- Hoàng “Eddie” Công Nghĩa – Vietnamese Bot Laner
- Đinh “Taki” Anh Tài – Vietnamese Support
- Võ “Naul” Thành Luân – Vietnamese Head Coach
At the start of the year, Team Secret and Team Whales brought players from their 2024 rosters. Pun joined the team for the Season Finals.
TSW’s Road to Worlds
The year began disappointingly for TSW. They managed to qualify for the Playoffs but were knocked out in the first round. After finishing second in the Regular Season for the Midseason Split, they faltered in the Playoffs. Despite starting in Round 2, they lost two series in a row and finished in fourth place.
The Regular Season of the Season Finals had middling success for TSW. They entered the Playoffs as the third seed. After taking the lead against CTBC Flying Oyster, they lost the series and went down to the Lower Bracket. They tore through, taking down VCS compatriots, Viking Esports, and GAM Esports to earn their spot in the Lower Bracket Final and qualify for the World Championship. They defeated PSG Talon 3-1, but fell 3-0 to CFO in the Grand Final, finishing as the LCP’s second seed.
Can They Make a Dent?
Team Secret and Team Whales struggled to qualify for international events in previous years. They have their chance to prove themselves. They missed out on MSI, despite being a potential candidate after the Regular Season. They managed to defeat all VCS opposition to reach this stage, an aspect that the two teams had not achieved before the LCP merger. The roster comes into the World Championship with barely any international experience. Only one player has been here before, and that is Taki. He has played at one MSI and one World Championship before. The lack of experience could come back to bite them during the Swiss Stage.
The Rookies May Guide Them to Victory
Two players with a high ceiling for TSW at the World Championship are the Mid-Jungle duo. Hizto and Dire began their professional League of Legends career this year. They have looked promising throughout the year, and now they have a chance to prove themselves on the international stage. They are the most exciting players to watch on TSW.
However, the pressure of playing on a World Championship stage might get to them. They will need to keep their composure against some of the best teams to give TSW a chance of causing an upset. Playing without fear might be a recipe for success for this roster, given the rookies’ tendency to fight for every objective and not give up any space.
Expectations
No one expects TSW to qualify for the Bracket Stage at the World Championship. The lack of international experience and relying on two rookies as your backbones is unlikely to be a recipe for success. However, this is not a team that should bow out without winning a game. They have a higher ceiling than that of PSG and could defeat one of the LEC or LTA seeds.
Upcoming Journey
TSW begins their World Championship journey in Pool 2 of the Swiss Stage. Their potential opponents are Hanwha Life, Anyone’s Legend, KT Rolster/Top Esports (depending on Play-In Result), Movistar KOI, and Vivo Keyd Stars.
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