

Team Liquid, a psychological research facility in Los Angeles, published their first report Wednesday of their longitudinal study on League of Legends player Chae “Piglet” Gwang-jin.

The report, Estimating the Breaking Point of Professional League of Legends Players, focused on the effect of roster changes, upset losses, and culture shock on the psyche of professional gamers. By manufacturing outlandish events and manipulating the environment around the former SKT superstar over the past year, researchers have concluded that the breaking point of players sits around two roster swaps and a series of games that veer between wild over-aggression and limp, weak rotations.

“No study of this kind has been done before,” said Steve “jokasteve” Perino, PhD. “We have the best staff in the world, who also happen to be mediocre LCS players.”

“We could not have asked for a better subject than Guinea Piglet,” he added.

“Hm,” one researcher said, staring at the data recorded from sensors hidden in the Team Liquid marksman’s jersey. “Subject displayed heightened signs of emotional trauma when Matt called for his team to chase into a losing position.”

“Some data is unclear,” the researcher added, eyes glinting from behind his glasses. “If we call the subject a ‘chobo’ on stream again, will he actually stab the antagonizer?”

Members of the scientific community claim that Liquid’s research is unethical, highlighting an incident wherein Gwang-jin burst into hysterics in the Liquid cafeteria while watching a janitor sweep backwards. They also questioned the decision-making behind preparing a long and detailed hype campaign for their new support Andy “Smoothie” Ta, before benching him after one game.

At the time of writing, a shadowy figure in a trenchcoat handed a briefcase of cash to the TL scientists, urging them to continue research. As the man exited the facility, he was heard whispering, “Let’s see you dodge my Gragas ult again, you smirking fuck.”