LYON’s Setup for LCS 2026 Season

Recently, an interaction took place between Strafe Esports and LYON head coach Reignover, with a focus on the imminent LCS 2026 season.

Dhokla Joins LYON

Another major development in the LYON team is the addition of Niship “Dhokla” Doshi. Dhokla is a 27-year-old seasoned top laner of American/Indian descent, born July 17, 1997. He stepped into LYON, taking the place of novice Zamudo, whose visa issues prevented him participating in the LCS 2026 Lock In season. Despite minimal time for practice post Korea Bootcamp, the LYON head coach, Reignover, champions the addition of Dhokla. As a former elite jungler, Reignover values Dhokla’s veteran experience and believes that integrating him would be a straightforward process.

Look into Dhokla’s Career

Dhokla stepped into the LCS scene as an established top laner with OpTic Gaming in 2018. He lent his talents to teams as diverse as Immortals, TSM Academy, CLG, NRG (from 2023 to 2024), and NTMR for a brief period (Dec 2024-Feb 2025). His career in the LCS is peppered with highlights, notably:

• 1st place in Champions Queue
• Securing the 2nd place in LCS Academy in Summer 2020, with a $7,000 prize
• A win in the Risen Champions League Winter 2021 with a prize of $3,200

In 2025, he assumed the mantle of positional coach and supplement top for 100 Thieves, alongside an underperforming novice, Sniper. His addition gave an edge to drafting, thereby offsetting the effects of Sniper’s decline in performance.

Recent Changes in LYON and Reignover’s Part

For the 2026 LCS season, LYON pulled in the former FlyQuest jungler Inspired and completed their preparation with a Korean bootcamp. However, Zamudo’s issues with his visa led to Dhokla’s sudden inclusion a few weeks before the season’s start. Reignover, as head coach, emphasizes role clarity outside of games, guides Dhokla on the team’s playing style, and insists on development for playoff tilt and international success. LYON’s first appearance would be on January 26, 2026, against Dignitas. After his professional playing career, which includes prominent teams like Fnatic EU LCS 2015, Reignover shifted to mentoring roles, previously assisting Team Liquid’s Spawn.

Overview of Recent Team Shifts

Dhokla’s recent movements in teams include:

• An ongoing role as starting top in LYON from 2026, assuming Zamudo’s position.
• Coach and the sixth player for top position in 100 Thieves in 2025.
• Short stint as a player in NTMR from 2024-12-06 to 2025-02-02.
• Primary top from 2023-04-06 to 2024-10-31 in NRG.