LOL: My talent is top-tier, my professional skills are unparalleled.

Chapter 524 DWG's First Appearance! Tensions Rise!
Actually, the tactical approach of the LPL is quite simple.

No one is worried about EDG's matches. As long as Wang Yao plays, everyone feels there will be no surprises.

However, the intercontinental tournament is best-of-five.

Therefore, IG, TES, and JDG must win one of the games.

This is the only way to create an opportunity for EDG to play in the final decisive game; otherwise, there would be no fifth game to play.

This is just like last year's Rift Rivals, where RW fought back for LPL by winning the fifth game!
However, in the previous group stage matches, IG, TES and JDG were all eliminated, and they did not win a single game against LCK!
That's the key point.

If IG, TES and JDG are all eliminated in the first three games without winning a single match, EDG might not even have a chance to play!
IG is facing KZ in this match.

KZ's ADC is now Deft, and Mr. Deft is still dancing around at this time.

KZ, the predecessor of DRX, in another parallel universe, Mr. Dai successfully danced in DRX and won his first championship in his professional career.

But right now, Mr. Dai is still working tirelessly for his first championship.

Everyone initially thought that IG would win this game against KZ.

Because apart from ADC Deft, who is a familiar name, all the other names on KZ are unfamiliar.

During the draft phase, Deft picked Ezreal, and KZ's jungler picked Karthus jungle.

Faced with this strange combination, LPL fans thought the game was in the bag.

Especially around the 6-minute mark of the game, Ning, playing jungle, seemed to have developed a habit of instinctively coming to the top lane and helping TheShy's Renekton secure first blood.

At this point, everyone thought things were much more stable!
This is TheShy's Renekton, and he even got First Blood!

This is not the kind of game that can be taken over in the mid-game.

But unexpectedly, the Alpaca who got EZ turned into a god in international battles and knocked IG down.

For many LPL viewers, the name Deft is still associated with the North Korean pilot.

At first, everyone thought that in this game, he would often dive and die like he does in the LPL.

Although TheShy's Renekton got the first blood, in the mid-game, it was Alpaca's Ezreal who took over the game and controlled the pace of the entire match.

The alpacas performed exceptionally well.

Although Jack was in love during this period, it was the time when he was at his peak.

However, in this version, Kai'Sa is too late-game champion. Before she gets three or four core items, she simply can't take over the game.

TheShy had no advantage, and JKL was unable to take over the game due to the champion he played.

If Rookie is out of form, then the entire IG team has no competitiveness whatsoever, so losing is to be expected.

IG's crushing defeat in the first game cast a shadow over the LPL's upcoming matches.

This did not bring any positive impact or motivation to TES's second match against SKT.

Seeing the dejected members of IG, they returned to the lounge. The others didn't say anything, but instead encouraged each other.

"It's okay, it's okay, it's just the first time."

"That's right, I'll go up to C later."

"Alright, it's no big deal. My brother Yao hasn't even played yet. He'll get revenge for you guys later."

"..."

Although everyone said this, they all knew in their hearts that the upcoming match would be difficult.

Because the game they had the best chance of winning was lost.

IG was the strongest of the four LPL teams besides EDG, and KZ, whom they beat, was not the strongest team in the LCK region.

If we win this game, it will give EDG a chance to play.

But losing this game would put both TES and JDG on the brink of elimination.

They absolutely must win the next two games, but TES is facing SKT next!
The legendary left-handed player, who stirs up trouble in the LPL, faces off against the seasoned veteran Faker.

Faker used Neeko to take out his left hand, and the mid-lane Lucian who wanted to push through the lane was completely rendered useless.

If the mid lane can't get any momentum going, it becomes a rooted spirit, and Gragas' jungle threat is halved.

Meanwhile, SKT relentlessly ganked Kennen in the top lane, crippling TES's mid-game teamfight capabilities.

Too lazy to even look at the situation that followed, Abu immediately closed his eyes to rest.

It's obvious what will happen to TES when their mid and jungle rhythms are completely restricted.

It's simply a matter of not being able to break through the opponent's lane, losing team fights, and if you can't win team fights, you can't control vision.

Without vision, you'll lose neutral resources and become a complete prisoner of LCK's operations.

And things did indeed develop as Wang Yao had predicted.

In the most intense team fight, ADC Lucian was first hit by Nautilus' hook and forced to use Cleanse and Flash, and then he was hit by Elise's Cocoon and forced to return to base.

TES had already lost before the team fight even started.

From then on, they were completely led by the nose by SKT, with Faker's Neeko flashing and using his ultimate to finish off three opponents in one fell swoop.

The game ended with a score of 13-4. Wang Yao looked at Khan and Teddy, whose expressions were clearly becoming more lively, and was speechless.

The Khan seemed to have regained his cheerful, monkey-like expression.

EDG had only made SKT feel hopeless for two days when they started feeding on the left side.

Successfully ordering food is indeed the most confidence-boosting action.

The LPL's official live stream was also in an uproar.

"Haha, I'm dying of laughter. Is this what they've been hyping up the LPL for a year?!"

"Hmph, without Brother Yao, you're nothing!"

"LOL, Li Ge is still Li Ge, you can't argue with that!"

"I just don't understand, can't this team win even one game?!"

"JDG, you must keep fighting! You must win the fifth game for EDG!"

"There's no hope. They've been taken down 0-3."

Even the LPL commentary booth was shrouded in gloom; the clear blue sky of the past was long gone.

"Huh? It's already 0-2, time is running out for the LPL!"

The child was speechless for a moment.

"Yeah, I think we should relax now. Since it's already like this, we should forget about the first two games and just treat the JDG guys like a best-of-one match!"

"Fortunately, the good news is that JDG's next match is against GRF, and Griffin is not in good form right now."

"Among the four teams in the LCK, JDG is in the worst form. As long as they handle the draft well and use their most familiar lineup, they still have a chance!"

Miller also lost his confidence.

"As long as they win one game, the rest of the time it's EDG's show!"

"We must win!"

In the third game, facing GRF from LCK, LPL fielded JDG, a team known for its high-ranking players.

In this game, LPL finally unleashed its power.

JDG, widely recognized as the most stable team, will face GRF, a relatively weaker team from the LCK.

To everyone's surprise, JDG achieved a complete dominance in the match.

It's not about a huge difference in the number of passes or the number of kills, but rather a complete dominance in terms of rhythm.

imp dedicated his last moments to the LPL.

Her signature Sivir became JDG's safety net, and at one point, the entire JDG team had a bounty on their heads.

Ultimately, GRF, who excelled at teamwork, fell to JDG, who were even better at team collaboration.

Wang Yao could even see that Coach Hongmi's mouth was crooked.

Ah!
Leading a team to rise to prominence is a truly fantastic feeling.

"All right!"

When JDG secured Baron Nashor and surged onto GRF's high ground, the atmosphere in the rest area became somewhat exhilarating.

Coach Abu clapped his hands, drawing everyone's attention: "Boys, you can get up and prepare for the game!"

Upon hearing this, the EDG members stood up and straightened their clothes. Wang Yao, who was sitting against the wall, also lazily got up and stretched.

JDG finally won this game, now it's his turn to shine!

As a result, JDG players naturally destroyed the opponent's crystal base.

As Wang Yao was about to take the stage, he slightly lowered the corners of his mouth and entered a state of complete concentration, like the Tongtian Dai.

However, seeing Wang Yao so serious and focused, everyone felt more relaxed.

If it were the jovial and carefree Wang Yao, everyone would be on tenterhooks.

But for Wang Yao in this state, all we can say is that those who know, know!

None of the EDG players showed any unusual reaction; some chatted, while others tidied themselves up.

Seeing how relaxed the EDG players were, the tension in the other players also eased a little.

LPL isn't afraid of playing best-of-five series; they're afraid of not having the opportunity.

Because they have absolute confidence in EDG and Wang Yao.

The coaches nodded in satisfaction. In crucial matches of such a major tournament, teams like EDG are exactly what's needed.

Of course, rather than saying we need a team like EDG, we need Wang Yao, who has extensive experience in major tournaments.

Because they have won many championships, they are more confident and won't have the timid and submissive atmosphere that the newcomers like TES have.

After a quick pat on the shoulder, the excited JDG players, led by staff, headed to the main stage.

Meanwhile, the atmosphere in the LCK lounge was also tense. The LPL's big boss had been released, and the joyous days of celebration were gone forever.

However, LCK quickly adjusted their mindset, since they now had a 2-1 lead and a match point, so they should be in the lead now!

Moreover, in the fourth game, DWG will be facing off against EDG.

This fearless young DWG team is also a hidden champion in the LCK region.

If the previous KT, KZ, or SKT teams had already been thoroughly defeated by Wang Yao, then...

This DWG team had never faced EDG or Wang Yao before and had no losing streak.

Maybe DWG is Wang Yao's nemesis, who knows?

However, facing DWG, EDG dares not be so careless; they must be as serious as they need to be.

Even if this DWG team isn't at its peak, their individual skill level is still undeniable.

The playstyle hasn't changed much; it's still focused on the top, mid, and jungle.

Top laner Nuguri, jungler Conyon, mid laner Showmaker, support Beryl.

Aside from the fact that the name ADNuclear is not commonly used, DWG is almost fully assembled.

Nobody can say for sure that DWG will win!
Even within the LCK league, DWG has clearly been in better form than SKT during this period.

DWG is the hidden boss among these four teams in the LCK region!

EDG is taking this DWG team very seriously, even though everyone is confident in Wang Yao's abilities.

Of course, League of Legends is not a game for one person. In other lanes, EDG doesn't actually have much of an advantage!
Many people were not optimistic about sending Flandre to face Niu Guli.

I'm afraid that Flandre will get completely crushed online, so I'll have to support a new player.

In addition, these past few years have been the peak years for showMaker.

If the mid lane collapses again, the domino effect will be so strong that even the best jungler, Wang Yao, will be powerless to succeed without resources.

At that point, EDG will be in a very passive position.

……

Today's finals will be hosted by the Haier Brothers doll and Miller duo, plus a decorative Rita.

Rita smiled brightly at the camera: "Welcome everyone to the fourth game of the BO5 series of the 2019 League of Legends Asia Rift Rivals Finals, which is also the most crucial game of the day!"

"The teams representing both regions are DWG from the LCK and EDG from our LPL region."

"The LCK region has taken the lead and now holds two match points, but we believe in EDG, and we have even more faith in Kshine. He's a player with a big heart who can create miracles!"

Miller, however, spoke seriously:

"I believe that before EDG takes the stage, all the other teams will tell them not to feel pressured. As long as they can keep their minds stable, I think EDG has a very high chance of winning!"

"After several seasons of working together, we have found that the synergy between the EDG players has reached a high level."

"Especially since EDG's mid, jungle, and support synergy is becoming increasingly tight, sometimes Wang Yao doesn't need to lead the tempo too much. Even when playing Sejuani or Gragas, he can still achieve all sorts of surprising results!"

Guan Zeyuan adjusted his glasses and began analyzing the DWG team:

“LPL viewers may not be familiar with the DWG team, but they should not underestimate them. The players on this team are individually very strong.”

"They haven't lost a single game since the start of the LCK Summer Split."

"Their current playstyle is more focused on the top, mid, and jungle."

"Especially top laner Nuguri, jungler Conyon, and mid laner Showmaker, the individual skill and champion pool of these three players should not be underestimated!"

"This team doesn't have the traditional Korean operational style. They are also very strong in small-scale group fighting, or rather, they are a fighting team with a foundation in Korean operational style."

"I believe this match will be extremely exciting!"

At that moment, the camera panned to Wang Yao in the competition area, and the audience erupted in cheers.

Although this is South Korea's home turf, it doesn't diminish the love that South Korean fans have for Wang Yao.

Especially female fans!

Wang Yao's expression was cold and stern, without any smile or emotion.

He led the way, and apart from Flandre occasionally smiling, the rest of EDG had pretty much the same expression.

On the other side, DWG looked even more serious, with all of them wearing solemn expressions.

EDG takes them very seriously, and DWG values ​​EDG even more.

They were actually under a lot of pressure for this match. As a rookie team that had only recently been promoted to the LCK league, they were a bit confused.

After the initial shock came indescribable pressure.

Because if they win this game, they will be the heroes of LCK; if they lose, they will have to shoulder most of the blame. There is both risk and opportunity.

Although the LCK region had two match points, losing this game meant the match was forced into a decisive fifth game.

SKT lost in the group stage, and DWG lost another match.

KZ and GRF are slightly weaker, so who can stop EDG in the decisive game?!
With the commentators' introduction, the fourth game's draft phase officially began.

Everyone put aside their own thoughts and focused entirely on the competition.

As the region with the best record, the LCK region has the priority to choose sides in games 1, 3, and 5 of the finals.

Therefore, in the fourth game, EDG had the right to choose sides first.

EDG chose the blue side, while DWG switched to the red side.

EDG secured the blue side, but the advantage of having the first ban and pick wasn't the main point.

Most importantly, the top laner on the red side has an extra river bush compared to the blue side, making them more vulnerable to ganks from the jungler.

This aligns with EDG's pre-match assessment of DWG's style.

We absolutely cannot let DWG find a breakthrough in the top lane!

DWG banned Neeko, a popular flex pick in the current patch.

Karma was then banned. Karma is the queen of lane sustain in this Intercontinental Cup, with a ban rate of 88.9%.

He's an absolute Tier 0 pick in a single lane, and Scout's Karma is also exceptional.

Another ban slot was given to Wang Yao's Sylas.

These three draft picks were all very targeted.

Leaving aside Neeko and Karma, the ban of Sylas suggests that the LCK coaching staff is likely considering Wang Yao as the jungler.

When Wang Yao got his hands on Sylas, he played him like a mid laner, racking up 25 stacks of Mejai's Soulstealer every game in 20-30 minutes.

How to play this? !

EDG, on the other hand, banned Vladimir. Nuguri's Kleptomancy Vladimir is too difficult to suppress, it's his signature move.

They then continued to ban Jayce. DWG is a true Jayce team, with Nuguri and ShowMaker both capable of playing Jayce.

The last ban was given to Tahm Kench, who plays an important role in the Korean-style macro play in this version.

It can be said that Tahm Kench is currently the most popular support champion in the LCK, and also the one that best suits their strategic playstyle.

EDG has no reason to release it.

The three bans at the start of the game also show that both EDG and DWG's coaching teams are very clear about the strengths and weaknesses of both teams.

It's time to select the candidates.

EDG, on the blue side, had the first ban and first pick.

I immediately locked in Lux on the first floor; Lux has a very high priority in this version so far.

This champion has too long a range in lane, and Lux ​​has been buffed a lot in this patch.

Although he can't play mid lane, he can now play support in matches.

Meanwhile, DWG also made their move, immediately locking in Irelia on the first pick.

They first waved their hand, showing that both Niu Guli and Showmaker have a high level of proficiency with Irelia.

DWG then locked in a champion, causing a stir among the crowd.

Death song!

"Wow, Karthus?! DWG's jungler Conyon is really fearless, daring to pick Karthus jungle in such a crucial game?!"

The doll was also taken aback by Conyon's boldness.

"Yeah, Karthus is a champion with a very low margin for error. It's like dancing on the edge of a knife. If you can farm well, you'll be very strong, but if you die once or twice in the early to mid-game, you're useless!"

Rita did some research and has some understanding of the champion Karthus.

"However, Conyon is a Karthus specialist. He has used Karthus jungle in the LCK league before, and the results were excellent!"

Miller said with some concern.

"The good news is, he's facing Kshine, not some other jungler!"

"If it were any other jungler, they might actually be stumped by him, but who knows what kind of special hero Kshine will pull out this time!"

Miller's furrowed brows quickly relaxed.

They can always trust Wang Yao!!
Subsequently, EDG's second and third picks continued to choose heroes, helping Flandre secure Kennen.

Although Kennen's strength has decreased in this version, he is still the top choice for AP top lane.

This move also suggests that EDG's mid and jungle players might be going to pick AD champions.

Then, the third floor team decided on Sivir for the ADC, an extremely versatile champion!
DWG's third floor immediately confirmed the hero for Nuguri, otherwise he would definitely have to be banned again in the second round.

Camille, the Steel Shadow!

A hero that requires exceptional individual skill to control.

(End of this chapter)