Alliance: My Qinggang Shadow made my alma mater famous

Chapter 408 [S8 Unveiled! 】(medium cup)

In the lobby on the first floor of the hotel, the entire RNG team was checking in.

"Hi, brothers, long time no see!" Wearing a Hawaiian-style floral shirt and a pair of Nike slippers, Uzi greeted Su Chen and the others with a smile on his face.

Behind him are Xiaohu, Xiaoming, Xiangguo and other RNG players.

"If you come here one day later, you will hit the golden week. I remember that the air ticket seems to be doubled." Su Chen laughed.

"I can't help it. I have been participating in the sponsor's activities for the past few days, and we rushed here today." Uzi complained.

"That's really impossible." Su Chen could also understand Uzi's resentment.

RNG can be regarded as one of the most successful teams in the LPL in the past two years. Its commercial activities are much more than other clubs in the league. After all, e-sports can’t generate electricity for love.

As the main target of the contract, the players naturally had to cooperate wholeheartedly.

For this, Su Chen felt very fortunate.

After winning the MSI championship, YM actually became famous, and there are countless big-name sponsors waving their checkbooks.

But YM signed Tenda's commercial contracts, and there were not many parts that the players had to personally fulfill.

Su Chen had already received all the endorsement fees after playing the summer finals, and what he did specifically was to authorize his own portrait rights.

In addition, several simple endorsement advertisements were shot at the base.

Basically nothing.

"The hotel arranged for this year's group stage looks good. I think there is a beach behind, which is much better than the previous world championships." Xiao Ming looked around.

"It's just that the appearance looks good, but the internal facilities are actually a batch of crotch." Xiao Tian immediately complained.

"Indeed, I almost suffered from heat stroke this morning." The left hand behind him also echoed.

"I saw the news from the FNC official's tweet. It seems that the air conditioners on the several floors where the players live are all broken, and they are being repaired right now?" Hart laughed.

Su Chen took out his mobile phone and logged in to Twitter using a scientific method of surfing the Internet. Sure enough, he saw the news posted by some teams participating in the group stage.

FNC: "On the first morning after arriving in Busan, there were some bugs in the room of the Caps player."

In the accompanying picture, Caps sits shirtless in front of the open refrigerator in the room, closes his eyes in a meditative pose, and accepts the cold air from the refrigerator to cool down.

TSM forwarded this dynamic: "It seems that you are not able to adapt to the environment in Busan. Why don't you go back to Europe and enjoy the Mediterranean climate."

Before the group stage started, Europe and North America staged a classic exchange of words, which immediately heated up the atmosphere of the World Championship.

Even G2, who was still in the finals, stepped in and spoke confidently: "That's why we came to Busan a week late."

Compared with the usual tidy style in Europe and the United States, the East Asian division appears to be a lot more reserved.

The official tweets of YM and RNG were just forwarded.

On the LCK side, Samsung GenG showed the attitude of the host, and warmly reminded that the temperature in Busan has been high in recent days. I hope everyone can pay more attention.

On the other hand, KT introduced some attractions and food in Busan, and suggested that other teams can go shopping.

Although the attitudes are relatively friendly, they did not directly name the poor arrangement of the host hotel, and the accompanying pictures are all the beautiful scenery of Busan, which looks like a peaceful time.

However, soon some netizens picked up good things.

None of the LCK teams are currently going to Busan, but are staying at the base headquarters to prepare for the battle. They did not stay in the hotel in Feiyundae District like other teams in the group stage.

After all, it is a local battle, and there are indeed geographical conveniences, so there is no need to come here in advance to prepare for the battle.

But this also made the other teams feel a little uncomfortable.

"It's okay. When the Korean team is eliminated, it will be very fast to go home. You don't need to book a plane ticket, and you will be home within a few steps." Someone mocked.

After RNG completed the check-in procedures, he had lunch at a nearby restaurant with YM's people.

The coaching staff did not participate because they had to prepare the training room.

Only 12 contestants and 2 translators went out together.

In the restaurant, after a group of people finished ordering, they chatted happily.

"You guys are comfortable this year. Group A feels like you can qualify with your eyes closed. It's not like our group D. The MSI Brawl is here." Xiaotian teased Shi Senming pretending to be sour.

"I can't help it, whoever let you beat us in the summer game, you are now punished by God." Shi Senming laughed.

"Is that so?" Xiaohu suddenly realized.

The people at the two tables suddenly laughed.

Only Uzi clenched his fists, his face gradually turning red.

"It depends on how the play-in match ends. It would be really fun if G2 was also assigned to Group D," Casa said with a laugh, "It shouldn't be so miserable."

"Whether you come or not doesn't matter to the overall situation," Su Chen shrugged indifferently, "It seems that the three teams at MSI have been hammered by us, it's just a rematch."

"That's right, I was still thinking that if it wasn't for the group stage, I would just give Samsung home." Xiaotian echoed.

Everyone in RNG burst into laughter when they heard this.

"It's good to qualify for the group stage. Samsung can enter the quarterfinals no matter what. After all, it was the world champion last year and this year's MSI runner-up. How could it be the quarterfinals?" Uzi shook his head repeatedly, "Don't look at the LCK too badly. Alright."

"We'll see the outcome in the group stage." Su Chen smiled confidently without explaining.

Talking about the finalists, everyone also mentioned the situation of the third seed IG.

Three days ago, IG had arrived in Seoul ahead of schedule to prepare for the National Day play-in match.

According to PDD, IG has been under closed management for the past few days, and has to play nearly 15 hours of training games every day, and the state is very full.

"We just arrived in Busan today, and we made an appointment for a training match with IG in the evening, and I feel that they are quite active." Uzi said.

Su Chen nodded, but didn't ask IG why they didn't ask YM for a training match.

The relationship between the clubs is one aspect. Meng Ma also mentioned that the game styles of YM and IG are relatively similar. Even if the two teams play training games, they can't practice any BP routines. They are all fighting with three lines without thinking.

On the contrary, the operation team of RNG is somewhat similar to the style of LCK, and IG can learn a lot.

Knowing IG's attitude towards the play-in competition, Su Chen also knew that they should be sure to qualify.

Originally, the play-in competition was not difficult for the No. [-] seed in the four major regions.

Among the 12 finalists, except for the Hong Kong team G-Rex who may enter the second round with the second pick.

C9, G2 Unless the owner bets himself, it is impossible to fall into the status of the second pick in the group and go to the second round of the elimination stage.

As long as IG doesn't collide with C9 and G2, how can B05 in the elimination stage lose to teams like Japan, Turkey, and Oceania?

So the so-called IG finalist big adventure that is ridiculed on the Internet is just a purely fun person speaking.

……

After lunch, everyone returned to the hotel.

In the lobby on the first floor, many fans who had read the news on Twitter and heard the news immediately gathered around.

"Onioni, that's JKD!" A stylishly dressed Korean girl excitedly took her companion's hand and ran up to Su Chen, looking at him nervously and shyly.

Then he said in jerky Chinese:

"I... am your... teacher..."

"I see, thank you." Su Chen replied in Korean with a smile, and then, under the surprised eyes of the girl, signed his team uniform and handed it to her.

The little sister whose wish came true cheered and celebrated with her companions, little stars almost popped out of her eyes.

"Ouba is really handsome!"

The enthusiasm of the female fans also attracted Xiaotian Zuoshou and others to switch to the pickled fish mode again. Most of them who came to see them were Chinese fans from Korea. How could such a good thing happen.

But Su Chen just felt bored, after dealing with the fans casually, he took the elevator upstairs first.

In the training room, Meng Ma led the coaching staff to arrange everything properly. After adjusting the curtain, he turned on the projector and explained the changes in the World Championship version.

"Version 8.19 has been updated in Hanbok today, and you can log in to your Hanbok account to check later." Meng Ma pressed the control switch and started playing the files made by him and the coaching staff.

Consistent with Riot's style over the years, in the S8 World Championship version, Riot officials will weaken the most outstanding teams in the second half of the year to a certain extent.

The designer's machete fell on YM's head again.

In the 8.19 version, Akali's W [Xiazhen] cancels the mechanism of avoiding the damage of the defensive tower, the energy consumption of Q [Cold Shadow] increases in the early stage, and the cooldown time of the big move of Sha Daoxuan increases.

In the new version, Akali can still appear on the stage, but the suppression power of the top lane has been severely cut, and the possibility of swinging in the middle and top lane has been reduced.

At the same time, heroes such as Jian Ji, Dao Mei, Qing Gang Ying, and Crocodile were once again weakened to varying degrees.

Urgot, son of the version, has been strengthened again, the damage of Q [Corrosive Charge] has been increased, and the base armor has also been increased again.

Urgot, who was originally a top laner, has now become a must-have option for S8.

As long as you get this hero, you can greatly narrow the gap between the top laners on both sides.

Such a change naturally caused a lot of complaints, but the designer's reply was also very fucked.

[We are trying our best to avoid the deformed version of Warrior Heroes ruling the top lane in the S5 period, and at the same time hope that the three routes have the ability to carry in the game. 】

In addition to reducing the laning gap of the top lane as much as possible through hero changes.

Rhythm jungler, blind monk, rock sparrow, including the aforementioned swing position Qinggangying, etc. have all been weakened.

Herbivorous junglers, pig girls, trolls, etc. have been strengthened in a large area.

This is also the designer's intention to forcibly slow down the pace of the game.

In addition, the core equipment of critical attack speed ADC heroes such as Storm Sword has been reduced in price, and heroes such as Kai'Sa, Dazui, and Policewoman have been strengthened.

Among the elemental dragons, the buff attributes of the wind dragon and water dragon have been increased, avoiding the situation where the two sides ignore the little dragon in the early stage and bet on the vanguard of the canyon.

After listening to Meng Ma's explanation, everyone in YM was also speechless.

Although I have read the version update announcement, but after this analysis, Riot is completely targeting YM's fast-paced style of play in the upper half.

"You don't need to pay too much attention to it. World Championships have made similar changes over the years, and this kind of change is to tear down the east to make up for the west. Although our dominance in the top half has weakened, there are more tactical choices in the bottom lane. Some." Meng Ma looked at Gala.

Kai'Sa's appearance rate declined in the second half of the summer split, but after the World Championship version is updated, Kai'Sa will rise again.

And this hero is also the signature of Gala.

"Indeed," Su Chen agreed, "and the loss of the top four sisters doesn't have much impact on me. I've already passed the stage of the four sisters' strength."

"Speaking of AD hero strengthening, doesn't that mean I'm strengthening?"

Hearing what he said, Xiaotian suddenly laughed.

"Indeed, Brother Chen is an old ADC."

"It's okay, just let Urgot come and play with me and it's over. Put all the witches and clockwork on the opposite side, and I will pretend to be helpless with pure meat." The left hand also smiled.

Seeing that the players were in a good state of mind, Meng Ma was also relieved.

"Everyone will play Korean server this afternoon to get used to it. We will start the training match at [-]:[-] p.m., and then it will continue until the start of the group stage."

"Who are we going to fight with in the first battle, RNG?" Xiaotian asked curiously.

"RNG has already made an appointment with IG," Meng Ma said with a smile, "tonight I will play a round of B03 with FNC, followed by TSM, and tomorrow I have an appointment with AFS... In the last few days, the 8 teams in the group stage will play a round one by one .”

"As the No. [-] club in the global combat power list, we still have a good reputation, and the reservations for the rest are already full." Meng Ma laughed.

"It's really different from MSI." Su Chen couldn't help but sigh with emotion.

When in Europe, the LCK team directly rejected YM's request to play a training game.

At that time, their attitude was also straightforward. The LPL team had nothing to study, and playing training matches might have revealed their own tactics.

But half a year has passed, and now the teams in all divisions want to play scrims against YM to study and learn their style of play.

This is the effect of MSI champion + Asian Games champion.

Strength is the foundation of gaining respect.

……

Accompanied by the beginning of the National Day Golden Week.

The play-in match in Seoul, South Korea has also officially started.

As predicted before the game, the wild card teams in the play-in round are just experienced babies of the No. [-] seed in the four major regions.

In Group A, IG won all four games in the first round, beat the INF (Latin America Division) and DW (Oceania Division) in the same group, and qualified as the No. [-] seed.

The remaining three first-seeded teams are C9, G2, and the Hong Kong team G-Rex.

In the knockout round of the second round, IG once again slaughtered the second seed DFM (Japanese team) in Group B, and entered the group stage [-]-[-] first.

After that, the other three No. [-] seeds broke through without any suspense and advanced to the group stage.

After the official end of the play-in competition, Riot officially announced a data list.

These include data such as average KDA per game, one-tower rate, and Baron control rate.

And IG occupied the top of every list, showing an extremely fierce state, and also sparked heated discussions.

[It is unbelievable that IG with such strength will be forced to play in the finals, while teams like FW and MAD can directly advance to the group stage. Riot really should modify the competition system]

[The play-in round is simply a personal show of IG players. Rookie and The Shy's laning dominance is too terrifying. Such a team is actually only the third seed of LPL? 】

[Song Yijin is the number one mid laner in the world!Just wait to be blown up by him, I’m talking about your Caps!]

[Now it's the team's turn to panic in the group stage, haha, FNC and KT probably don't want to meet IG after watching the play-in matches]

……

On October 10th, after all four qualifying teams were born.

The draw ceremony for the second round of the group stage began at the League of Legends themed pavilion in Seoul.

The eldest princess Flame took out the first ball first, and after taking it apart, the ID of "C9" was displayed on the note.

"The first one to be drawn is C9, they will enter Group A!"

The camera showed C9's mid laner Jensen Jianhuang, who couldn't hide the smile on his face at this moment.

Although there is RNG in Group A, it is the weakest of the four groups as a whole. C9 is very hopeful to qualify as the No. 2 seed.

The second one to be drawn was G-Rex. Knowing that they had no hope of qualifying, they didn't respond to this lottery.

Unless it is assigned to the weak group A, G-Rex's strength is used to send points in the other three groups.

Instead, the camera was shown on IG. The player representative Rookie looked calm and knew what happened.

Group AB is already crowded, Group D has YM, and IG is automatically assigned to Group C, which is a good draw.

"Great, IG is assigned to Group C, so their chances of qualifying will be greatly increased!" Miller said excitedly from the off-site live broadcast.

Although there is South Korea's No. [-] seed KT in Group C, there are two remaining teams, and IG is not in vain.

Even if they can't beat KT, IG is very sure to qualify as the second seed. This is absolutely good news.

"But in this case, in the end, G2 still went to Group D, and the prophecy on the Internet has come true." Waowa smiled helplessly.

The final grouping of the S8 group stage:
Group A: FW, RNG, PVB, C9
Group B: FNC, AFS, 100T, GRX
Group C: KT, MAD, VIT, IG
Group D: YM, GenG, TSM, G2
The addition of G2 directly raised Group D to another level, from the group of death to the group of hell.

[Hahahaha I laughed so hard, the top four of MSI were actually assigned to the same group in the world championship, and the group stage directly reduced MSI]

[What kind of shit luck is this YM, he said he didn't want G2 to come, but it turned out that G2 really squeezed in, it's amazing! 】

[Perkz: I didn't expect it, my Ah P is back! 】

[I have a very bold prediction. The final winners from Group D will be G2 and TSM, Samsung and YM both in the round of [-]. Is there such a possibility?]

[Those upstairs think too much, have you ever seen the world champion go home in the round of 16? 】

After the final grouping of the S8 group stage was established, the official tweets of the sixteen teams also released news one after another, gradually heating up the atmosphere of the World Championship.

In Group D, where netizens gloated and watched, G2 had the most optimistic mentality. They directly called the other three clubs, saying that you have decided who is the second seed.

But neither TSM nor GenG responded to G2, only YM replied with a meaningful smiley face emoticon.

……

On October 10th, at 10:[-] pm, inside the BEXCO Convention and Exhibition Center in Busan.

The S8 group stage has officially kicked off!
On the dimly lit stage, as the countdown ended, the roaring Emperor Jeon Yong-jun of the LCK in a wine red suit slowly appeared on the stage.

He raised the microphone, as if he was about to shoot an arrow, bent his body at an exaggerated angle, and shouted with all his might.

"All summoners, welcome to Busan, are you ready for the 2018 LOL World Finals?"

"After a whole year's journey, 16 teams have come here with their dreams, hoping to win the legendary Summoner Trophy and become the champion of the 2018 League of Legends Global Finals!"

"16 teams, 16 different journeys, everyone experienced laughter and tears, and wrote their own stories, but in the end, only one team won the Summoner Trophy!"

"Let us witness together, the birth of the strongest!"

"Tell me loudly again, are you ready!!!"

Under his hoarse shouts, there was a sound wave that almost toppled the dome from the entire venue.

Seeing that the atmosphere was heated up, Roaring Emperor stepped aside and directed the audience's attention to behind him.

Accompanied by the background music of "Rise", the entire Samsung team came out from the back of the stage, and the head of the team, Ahn, was holding the silver-white summoner trophy.

"I invite last year's S7 champion, the GenG team, to return the summoner's trophy!" Roaring Emperor said loudly.

Under the applause of the audience, Mr. An, surrounded by his teammates, slowly put the summoner trophy on the booth in the center of the stage.

And the lens immediately gave a close-up.

Unlike the MSI Little Gold Cup, the Summoner Trophy, which symbolizes the champion of the S game, has not been replaced since 2014 and has been used until this year.

And every year the winner of the S game will return the summoner trophy at the opening ceremony of the following year.

The design of the Summoner's Cup is also somewhat different from traditional trophies. It does not retain smooth lines and single-tone materials. It looks a bit like a short staff in an RPG game.

The silver back is inlaid with blue crystals and runes, representing the energy source of the League of Legends world.

The Samsung team left the stage amidst applause, while Roaring Emperor approached the trophy, first stretched out a handkerchief and carefully wiped the surface of the cup, causing a burst of laughter, before smiling.

"The road to Incheon is full of thorns, but I believe that the great players who have arrived in Busan will never lack the courage to overcome obstacles!"

"Next, I want to introduce to you the 8 teams that advanced to the S16 global group stage!"

"Let's welcome Team A, Flash WwwwOlf!"

Under the passionate introduction of Roaring Emperor, spotlights were lit up one by one in the aisle of the auditorium.

Representative players from sixteen teams appeared in front of the camera.

Maple of Flash Wolves.

RNG's Uzi.

Caps of FNC
IG's Rookie Song Yijin.

Everyone stood with their hands behind their backs, and when the name was read, the director would also give him a close-up, which aroused applause.

When it was the turn of Group D, the voices at the scene became louder and louder.

Head An, Su Chen, senior brother, Ah P, the four stood in a row, which also attracted the most enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

Excited spectators waved photos of the contestants, including some Chinese spectators holding the words "YM Come on".

There was Samsung, the world champion who just returned the Summoner Trophy, and YM, the best team this year, and G2 and TSM themselves are also world-class teams. The popularity of the entire group D was also the highest in the audience.

The rest of the players in the aisle also looked at Group D gloatingly.

Among these four teams, no matter which two teams are eliminated, it will be good news for the other teams, they just need to wait and see what happens.

After the 16 teams showed up one after another, the live music changed again, and the director also cut into the promotional video of the S8 group match.

In the picture, the scenery of Busan flies away, under the lyrical BGM played by the guitar.

The Roaring Emperor appeared in front of the camera, and he said with a bit of vicissitudes:
"The LOL Global Finals have been held for 7 years, and only in the S2011 season in 1, the LCK failed to reach the finals."

"why?"

"Because that year, the LCK did not participate."

"In 2012, the LCK won the runner-up, and in the following four years, the championship, the championship, and the championship."

"Not only that, every S game final is a civil war for the LCK team."

"To reassure the rest of the region, we've been saying that the gap is closing, however, until this year, there have been some changes on the international scene."

"MSI, Asian Games, and LCK are no longer the final big boss. We have suffered consecutive failures, and the real challenge has come."

"The LCK has won all the championships in the past five years. This year's World Championship is held in South Korea. I think we should also work hard to win everything and continue this glorious history."

After the Roaring Emperor finished speaking, the screen changed.

KT, GenG, Afs, the players of the three teams also appeared on the screen one by one.

"KT has gathered half of the LCK, the best top laners Marin and Smeb, honorable Pawn and Mata, as well as Deft who is at the peak of the whole value, and KT night watchman Score, they are the biggest favorites in this World Championship .”

"Although GenG has had ups and downs this year and lost MSI, they defeated Faker's SKT in the summer and grabbed a ticket to the World Championship. Why can't they win the Summoner Trophy for the second consecutive year? "

"It's hard to believe that AFS top laner Kiin's Carry ability in the game, once entering the World Championship, this team will become even better."

The picture changed again, and the Roaring Emperor stood under the night of Busan, looking into the distance.

"In 2018, will the LCK win the sixth S championship?"

"Or is it the birth of a new champion?"

"History is moving forward, let us witness together!"

(End of this chapter)