Full-time: Starting from Ye Xiu vs. Faker

Chapter 430: Win, win, win, and finally lose everything
Adhering to the purpose of maximizing the tourism impact of this World Championship, the group stage will be moved to Chengdu.

It’s strange to say, although it is a big city with a very avant-garde style and a very high degree of internationalization, during the Glory era, no team chose it as their home ground.

A not-so-small consequence is that LPL's home advantage will be slightly consumed at this stage.

The play-in stage will be held in Wuhan, home of the Thunder team.

After asking Xiao Shiqin to help inquire, Thunder readily lent the training ground to LGM to facilitate their preparations.

With dedicated training grounds and equipment, the results will certainly be better than those teams training in hotels.

But in Chengdu, there is no such treatment.

However, ignoring this consumption which cannot be considered as consumption, the group stage of this S game can be regarded as the first time that this city has welcomed a grand event in the field of e-sports.

Needless to say, it was very lively.

Even though Chengdu also showed the utmost sincerity and chose the Financial City Performing Arts Center, which can accommodate 1.2 people, as the venue for the quarterfinals,

These 12,000 tickets were so popular that they were sold out in seconds once they were put on the shelves.

What’s even more outrageous is that for those matches where LPL teams participate, the ticket prices have been driven up by scalpers to double or even several times the level.

The result is that, due to lack of familiarity with domestic ticket grabbing software, although a large number of foreigners came to watch their own team's game,

For example, in Neon, there is a large group of Neon DFM fans who come here because of its reputation.

But only a few of them can actually grab the tickets.

Chinese people also love to watch the Taijun being beaten!

It is foreseeable that when the game actually starts, non-LPL teams (except Excellent Era) will probably be greeted with the most uniform cheering and boos.

Hopefully their soundproofing is good enough.

Soon, the sixteen teams in the group stage gathered in Chengdu.

There were a few days of rest between the play-in round and the group stage, and they quickly split into two factions.

The eight teams from LPL and LCK began their hellish training in the hotel almost non-stop, conducting targeted training matches against the opponents they will face in the next stage.

For example, Fanhua, after gathering intelligence, they immediately accepted Xingxin’s request for a training match, and the two teams began to fight day and night.

Well, it’s not just Xingxin that thinks Fanhua is a bit like KT, Fanhua also thinks Xingxin is a bit like SKT.

There’s nothing we can do. Who told Zhang Jiale to see the shadow of Ye Xiu in Faker?
A similar situation also occurred in LCK. Ranked matches and training games became the absolute mainstream during this period, which was boring but high-intensity.

It is worth mentioning that DFM, another of the three kings of East Asia, whose hard power can be said to be the weakest in the group stage, also took a similar attitude and trained day and night.

EVI even went out to arrange training matches with other teams, and they actually got the appointment.

Although DFM's overall strength is not that good, EVI in the top lane is still outstanding. At the same time, although their skills and tactics are far from advanced, they do not have the casualness of other teams in small regions. They have a certain degree of discipline and have one or two unique skills.

Especially Evi has a unique skill called crab, which he can still use even in this version where crab has little presence, and it is very powerful.

You can still gain something from playing training games with them.

Top teams like the Big Three really can't spare the time, but other teams, such as Yizhan Xuanqi who didn't make it to the World Championship, or LGM, are still happy to play one or two games with them.

Especially Jia Shi, who was unexpectedly active.

Playing against Happy is definitely not something DFM is qualified to do, but what if after they train well, they can cause some trouble to OG or even KT?

If Xingxin wins the championship, it wouldn't be too much to give DFM one-third of the credit, right?

So DFM, as a team alone in China, was able to arrange for high-level training matches.

Later, this matter was known to LJL fans through live broadcasts and interviews. They already had a kind of Stockholm-style craze for LPL, and their enthusiasm for licking their father became even deeper.

By then, LPL will probably have a lot more “Empire’s XXX”, but that’s another story.

In stark contrast to the East Asian test takers' risk-taking attitude, the European and American teams showed a strange sense of relaxation.

When they were in their own region, they did not have the same passion for training as the LCK and LPL players.

After arriving in Chengdu, this relaxation not only did not become tense because of the World Championship, but on the contrary, I was infected by the atmosphere of this city and felt even happier.

Chengdu is a very subtle city.

Compared with Wuhan, it is much more well-known among foreigners.

Even among the cities in China, its popularity is second only to Kyoto, Shanghai and Chongqing.

For LEC and LCS players, it would be a lie to say they don’t want to look around when they come to a city like this.

In particular, there is a panda base in Chengdu that specifically targets foreigners.

For foreigners who would rather pay a huge price to rent from China and endure a series of rules and regulations, it would be a bit against their conscience if they didn't go there to see the excitement.

So, although European and American teams continued to play training matches and ranked games, compared to the strength of the East Asian teams, there was a strange sense of relaxation.

From time to time, they can even take some time to look around, visit the night market and eat snacks.
One team actually went to the panda base for a tour, and when they came back, each person was holding a panda hat that they had bought for five yuan at a small commodity market and were grinning like crazy.

These scenes were filmed by their team staff and turned into vlogs and posted on their official website and social media accounts, which was considered another round of free publicity for Chengdu.

So much so that when we went to various tourist spots before the game to shoot promotional videos and talk trash, watching these foreigners finding their way expertly,

People in LPL couldn’t help but wonder if these guys had awakened some superpower to find their way?
Of course, there were protests.

"No, I, a Chinese, am not in a hurry to see pandas. Do you have to go now? Can't you have two more training sessions?" Doublelift's veins bulged.

Although he is of Chinese descent, this is his first time returning to his homeland of blood.

His teammates originally thought that he could be their guide and translator, but who knew that Peng Yilian's Chinese level was only about the same as theirs.

Of course, the spirit of the king of roll that is engraved in the bones of East Asians means that even if Peng Yiliang is able to serve as their guide, he will definitely not agree.

Can you guys pay attention to the situation in our LCS when you go out to play?
We only have three spots. The number three seed has gone home, and the number two seed has already clearly returned to LPL. We are the only one left!
To put it bluntly, we are now in the same situation as Neon Coin!
Aren’t you really afraid that the North American team will be wiped out in the round of 16?

Can you have a little sense of crisis?

But even though he has won the LCS FMVP and has become famous, his teammates obviously have their own ideas about relaxing.

You see, there are two white people and one black person in our team.

Black and white, isn't that a panda?

Wouldn't it be sensible not to go see the pandas?

So the group still took some time to go to the panda base, leaving only Doublelift and IMPACT, who also felt a deep sense of crisis.

Two Asians were waiting for their spots in the training room, staring at each other.

"I feel like this time, I probably can't control Sang Hyuk..." IMPACT smiled bitterly.

He has seen the changes in the LCK over the past period of time and is very pleased with it. Although some fundamental trends cannot be changed, at least on the surface, the environment of the LCK has improved greatly.

This shows that his warning to LCK at MSI was still effective.

But the serious problem now is that although LCK has risen, the LCS where he is seems to have declined a little.

I can't run again, right? Wouldn't that make me LeBron James?
IMPACT thought about his big contract after early contract extension, which far exceeds that of most LCK star players, and finally gave up the idea.

Never mind. There is an old saying in China next door that goes "Do your best and leave the rest to fate." I have done my best. As for the results, it depends on how much of the condition these idiots can retain.

It's not shabby to earn money.

"How about... let's go too? You haven't seen a panda yet, have you?"

"you……"

All in all, the current situation is almost developing in the direction that is most beneficial to China and LPL.

The East Asian champions seized the last opportunity to train and make plans madly, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent championship competition.

The European and American money-makers were responsible for sightseeing and doing quite a bit of international publicity for Chengdu.

Read the error-free version at 69shuba! 6=9+shu_ba is the first to publish this novel.

Maybe this is a win-win situation? China wins twice.

Amidst the noise, the group stage finally officially began.
Then, on the first day of the competition, a big wave hit the LEC, which was originally full of confidence.

The first game, FNC vs. Blue Rain.

Although Blue Rain is certainly terribly strong, FNC is no pushover either.

They even have enough confidence among themselves.

After all, judging from the visual effects of the game alone, Blue Rain, which is known for its operations, is indeed not as explosive as Xingxin Fanhua's game scenes.

Among the team, Ryu is the most confident.

The reason was very simple. She saw that the mid laner of the Blue Rain team was Chu Yunxiu.

A...female mid laner?
There are no female top league players in LCK, and they are almost extinct in the secondary leagues.

Ryu’s deepest impression of female professional players is still Xu Zhixiu (tossgirl) who plays StarCraft next door. It is said that she once defeated a more heavyweight player in the CNSC circle in a certain game. I think her name was...Xun Yifeng?
But even a female contestant like Xu Zhixiu is still far behind the male contestants.

So even if Ryu knew that it was this girl on the opposite side who was prettier than tossgirl who withstood the bombardment of LPL's legendary mid laner Ye Xiu in the LPL finals and helped the team win the LPL summer championship,

He still subconsciously underestimated the opponent's strength.

Coincidentally, their coach is a little more confident than him.

He did not hesitate to formulate a series of tactics for FNC with Ryu as the absolute core, focusing on helping Ryu open up the situation in the middle lane as soon as possible.

Then Ryu went up with full confidence and chose Syndra, who he was quite confident in...

Then he put it hard on Chu Yunxiu's Dragon King.

Little-known fact: when it comes to the hero Syndra alone, Chu Yunxiu’s level is even slightly higher than Ye Xiu’s, making her her favorite hero.

Although he didn't get the pick, Chu Yunxiu played with ease thanks to his ultimate understanding of this hero.

Ryu, who wanted to break the deadlock as quickly as possible, collapsed.

Whether in laning or teamfighting, the level Chu Yunxiu displayed is fully worthy of the strength of a top mid laner.

He is not inferior to Ryu at all, and his overall combat power is even much stronger.

No, is this really the strength that a female player should have?

Normally, if you must say, Chu Yunxiu did not suppress Ryu.

After all, he is a man who can play double Jie with Faker, so his level is still pretty good.

But as long as she can fight with him and not lose, it will be very satisfying for Ryu.

And if Ryu, who is highly expected, fails to make a breakthrough, what happens next may be a little bit unfortunate.

Huang Shaotian destroyed FNC's jungle area with ease.

In the bottom lane, Rekkles is definitely strong, so it is normal that he can fight back against Gangzi.

But his assistant is called hyllissang.

This guy definitely has the ability, but the problem is that he is a pure reckless man. The probability of him getting carried away is frighteningly high. Once his mentality changes, he immediately starts to go into high-energy mode.

Unfortunately, the one who was laning against him happened to be the support player who was the best at messing with people's mentality in LPL.

As soon as Yu Wenzhou's positioning gave away a slight flaw, this guy dared to charge at him recklessly, and was easily defeated by Blue Rain.

Rekkles looked at this familiar scene and tried to resist desperately, but it was of no avail.

As a result, Ryu was silenced, the other lanes were quickly broken, and FNC lost the first game.

The LEC audience was a little disappointed, but it was okay. At most, it proved that the LPL's number one seed was not undeserved.

It's not shameful for the second seed to lose to the first seed.

Then in the third game, OG lost second to KT.

Well, KT also did the same thing.

There isn't much to say about this game. OG is slightly stronger than MAD, but also limited.

If I have to say something, it's that the competition scene is a little cruel.

Compared to SSG's cuvee who is a little more reserved during games, smeb has always been more relaxed.

He was really treating OG's top laner like a spinning top.

As the team with the most bold style in LCK, the scenes in other lanes are similar.

Pinata in the jungle, IMP in the bottom lane...a speedrun competition.

In the end, in this slower-paced version, KT easily won the game in less than 25 minutes, with an alarmingly large difference in kills.

After losing two games in a row, the morale of LEC audiences has become even lower.

But at this time, they can still blame it all on the devilish schedule on the first day.

FNC plays against LPL number one, OG plays against LCK number one. The strength gap is there, so it is naturally difficult to win.

But fortunately, we still have G2 next...

However, when it came to the fifth game, 2 minutes in, G and Excellent Era were still fighting hard and it was difficult to tell who was better.
LEC is starting to feel uneasy...

We're not really here to make money, are we?
(End of this chapter)