Believe me, I really am a professional League of Legends player.

Chapter 144 Unexpected! Mid-lane Master Yi! (5k views, please subscribe)
At 2:00 AM Beijing time on May 22, at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The venue, which can accommodate tens of thousands of people, was packed to capacity and filled with the sounds of cheering. Esports enthusiasts from all over the world waved their support items, turning the scene into a dazzling ocean of red and blue glow sticks.

In the center of the stage, a huge circular screen lit up, and rhythmic background music immediately began to play. It has to be said that Riot Games is truly a music company that got sidetracked by games.

The music they make is all of very high quality... If they didn't make games and focused solely on music, it probably wouldn't be much worse.

The exciting countdown to the start of the final has begun!
"ten!"

"Nine!"

"Eight!"

More than 30,000 spectators cheered in unison, their shouts rising in waves!
"...Three! Two! One!"

The moment the countdown reached zero, dazzling lights and fireworks erupted around the stage, instantly igniting the atmosphere to its peak!

The Brazilian host, with a passionate and infectious voice, strode to the center of the stage and announced loudly in English:
"ladies and gentlemen!"

"This is the Rio Olympic Stadium in Brazil! The 2017 League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational Finals are about to begin!"

As soon as he finished speaking, cheers swept across the entire stadium like a tsunami.

"First!" The host gestured to the side of the stage, "Let's welcome the first finalist to take the stage with the warmest applause and cheers!"

"They are the Spring Split champions from the Chinese LPL region, E-D-G!!"

The spotlight instantly shone on the entrance, where the entire EDG team, dressed in black and red jerseys, walked proudly into the center of the stage under the guidance of their coach, QuickStar.

"Top laner—Mouse!"

"Jungler—Clearlove7!" The appearance of the jungler caused quite a stir, as this veteran still has some fame on the international stage.

When the host deliberately prolonged his tone and shouted out the next ID with all his might, the decibel level in the venue reached an unimaginable level.

"Mid laner Unreal!!!"

"Unreal! Unreal! Unreal!"

Not only Chinese fans who had traveled from afar, but also many local Brazilian viewers and viewers from other countries were shouting out this ID with great enthusiasm.

Li Fan's dazzling performances in the group stage and semi-finals, along with his numerous championships off the field, have earned him a large number of international fans.

Li Fan calmly walked into the group and nodded slightly to the camera and the audience.

"ADC—Zet!"

"Support—Meiko!"

After introducing the EDG players, the host's voice rose again.

"Next—" He took a deep breath and pointed to the other side of the stage, "Let's welcome the three-time World Championship winners of S3, S5, and S6! The creators of legends! The kings of the LCK region, SKT!!"

"boom--!!!"

If the cheers when EDG entered the stadium were like a tsunami, then when SKT entered, the entire stadium seemed to be shaken by an earthquake. The power of the three-time world champions was perfectly demonstrated at this moment.

The stage lights focused on the entrance, where SKT's players, dressed in their classic red jerseys, strode into the venue with an imposing presence.

"Top laner—Huni!"

"Jungler - Peanut!"

The host, almost screaming, shouted out the ID that League of Legends players worldwide revered: "Mid Laner—Faker!!!"

In Brazil, Faker's popularity is beyond imagination.

At this moment, the cheers inside the stadium reached an unprecedented peak!
The roar almost lifted the roof off the stadium!
Countless glow sticks were dancing wildly!
That's how esports is. As long as you win championship after championship with your skills, even the live event in Brazil can become your home ground.

The shouts of "Faker! Faker! Faker!" continued for a long time...

Faker's expression was calm, just as he had been on the world stage countless times before, but the aura of a king built up by countless honors and victories enveloped the entire arena.

"ADC—Bang!"

"Support - Wolf!"

Two teams stood on either side of the stage.

On one side is EDG, a fearless newcomer with brand-new tactics and talented players, aiming to overthrow the reigning champions.

On one side is SKT, a team with a deep history and the greatest players of today.

The three stars on their bright red jerseys represent their glory and dominance.

The lights swept between the two teams, the camera zoomed in on each player, and finally focused on the championship trophy in the center of the stage, which symbolized the highest honor of the Mid-Season Invitational!

EDG is once again the challenger, facing SKT!

The players from both sides have taken their seats, and the first match of the Mid-Season Invitational is about to begin.

At this moment, esports enthusiasts around the world gathered in front of their screens to watch this match, which was second only to the World Championship Finals.

The LPL commentary team, including Wawa, Miller, and Su Xiaoyan, is ready.

"Hello, viewers! This is the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Stadium. The atmosphere here is incredibly exciting! The athletes on both sides are currently testing their equipment, and the competition will begin soon."

"To all the LPL viewers here and watching on screen, I know many of you may still be staying up all night and feeling nervous! But at this moment, let's all lend our strength and our light to EDG! EDG—Go for it!"

Meanwhile, at the LCK commentary booth.

"Welcome to the 2017 MSI World Championship Finals, SKT vs. EDG." LCK veteran commentator Roaring Emperor's voice was still steady. "For SKT, this is just another world-class trophy to be added to their hall of fame."

CT laughed and agreed: "Indeed, SKT with Faker is always reliable on the finals stage. Although EDG's Unreal has been performing well recently, I believe SKT can secure the victory with absolute strength and experience."

"Let's look forward to SKT once again demonstrating their dominance! SKT Fighting!"

……

SKT successfully secured the right to choose sides and directly selected the blue side.

After all, in this version, the blue side has a win rate that is six or seven points higher than the red side, making it extremely difficult for red to defeat blue.

Actually, it should be said that... because of the existence of OP heroes, the red side is at a greater disadvantage in every version. Unless you specifically study the strategies used on the red side, you won't actively choose the red side.

This really puts the players' abilities and tactical reserves to the test.

Even in this situation, there is still a possibility that the opponent will pick an overpowered hero that you cannot handle, and even if you have an advantage at the beginning, you may still lose the game because of this hero.

With both players ready, the big screen officially switched to the BP (Ban/Pick) interface!

"SKT on the blue side, EDG on the red side!"

“SKT banned Ashe first! This choice is mainly aimed at Zet's utility AD carry picks,” Miller quickly analyzed.

"EDG has banned Galio! This support champion is almost always banned or picked in this patch, and he can be played in both the mid and top lanes. We absolutely cannot let SKT have him. This decision is still spot on," Wawa added.

SKT's second ban was of Tristana, which Lee Fan had performed amazingly well in the semifinals.

"Oh? Banning Tristana directly, that's a huge sign of respect for Unreal Engine players!" Su Xiaoyan exclaimed.

The mid-lane Tristana has a significant level and item advantage, and when paired with a jungler Ivern, her performance becomes incredibly exaggerated.

This kind of hero is just too difficult to counter.

In this situation, stability should be the top priority, and absolutely no problems should occur.

SKT still opted to remove Tristana.

EDG's second ban was Zac, a jungler who is also strong in this version.

SKT's third ban was for Sejuani...

“EDG’s third ban… is Lee Sin! This is to limit Peanut’s tempo-oriented junglers, as Clearlove’s champion pool still includes champions like Rek’Sai and Gragas,” Miller said.

The first round of bans has ended:
SKT: Ashe, Tristana, Sejuani

EDG: Galio, Zac, Lee Sin
"Let's see what SKT will pick in their first pick!" Wawa stared intently at the screen.

With almost no hesitation, SKT instantly locked in Rumble on the first floor!

"Rumble! Huni's Rumble!" Miller's voice rose. "This champion is very threatening in the top lane, whether it's in conjunction with the jungler or in mid-game team fights with his ultimate. SKT has taken a very proactive approach with this pick."

"How will EDG respond? Should they prioritize picking the bot lane duo?" Su Xiaoyan asked.

After a brief exchange during the hero selection process, two hero icons lit up on the first and second floors in succession, indicating that the heroes were locked in!
Big Mouth and Lulu!
"Koo and Lulu! EDG's signature Ardent Censer composition has been revealed! No hesitation whatsoever, that's confidence! I believe my bot lane can be effective, I believe in my Ardent Censer composition!"

“EDG hasn’t really done any research during this period. Other teams are also researching the Ardent Censer item. I asked Uzi about it yesterday, and he said that the effect of this item is really great and can help the ADC increase damage a lot.”

SKT seemed to have anticipated this and reacted quickly, locking onto Olaf and Karma on the second and third floors.

"Olaf and Karma! SKT is going for a strong dive and early-mid game tempo!" Miller's speech quickened. "Olaf can just use his ultimate and charge right at Kog'Maw, and with Karma's speed boost, they'll be terrifying once they get fed."

Another reason is that if they don't pick Sona, it will definitely be banned in the second round. Kkoma doesn't want to find another suitable support...

"EDG's third pick... is Titan! That's a solid move," Su Xiaoyan analyzed.

The first round of selection has ended:

SKT: Rumble, Olaf, Karma

EDG: Kog'Maw, Lulu, Nautilus

Entering the second round of bans.

Since the mid laner hasn't been released yet, there's a possibility that Karma could play mid, but it's not very high...

So we removed Taliyah and Ryze.

It's not that it's difficult to play, but rather that we need to avoid potential problems.

SKT banned the jungler, Rek'Sai, and Gragas...

The implication is quite clear.

"What will EDG use to complete their lineup on the fourth floor? They've reserved the counter-pick position for the mid lane, so the only suitable jungler is Jarvan IV..." Wawa guessed.

However, EDG unexpectedly locked the gem on the fourth floor, which should be called its new name, the Shield of Valoran...

"Gemstone?! Locked in! EDG locked in Gemstone on the fourth floor!" Miller's voice was filled with incredulous surprise. "Gemstone support? Then... then who is this Lulu for? Is it for mid-lane Lulu?"

"Although Unreal players have used Lulu in the mid lane before and with good results, having the team's core carry choose a utility mid laner in such a crucial final... isn't that a huge tactical sacrifice?"

The doll's words perfectly expressed the feelings of the audience watching the game.

This isn't right; it's not the kind of lineup a normal person would choose.

The viewers in the live stream couldn't help but start cursing.

[Damn, what is FastStar doing? Their previous draft was so good, but now it's a mess. How can they let Lulu be picked in the mid lane?]

[I'm disgusted, is this some kind of insane ability to let Daddy pick this hero?]

If this is how it went in the first round, I feel like I don't have much of a chance today.

In fact, commentators and viewers from all major regions around the world were baffled by EDG's use of the Gemstone pick.

Gem support is extremely rare in this patch. Lulu mid isn't bad... but her pick rate is still very low. She's usually picked as a defensive champion because people think they can't win in mid lane.

Overall, he's very strong in the mid lane, but he's not very noticeable in team fights; it all depends on how much damage he deals.

On the SKT stage, Faker frowned slightly, not understanding EDG's intentions.

However, he didn't think Li Fan would voluntarily admit defeat and take Lulu.

Coach Kkoma crossed his arms
"Gemstone... Lulu... what exactly are they trying to do?" Kkoma muttered to himself, but BP time was running out, so he made a decision immediately.

"No matter what they play, we'll pick what we're best at," Kkoma finally decided to stick to the strategy. "We'll give Caitlyn to the bot lane and LeBlanc to Sang-hyeok in the mid lane and just crush them!"

So, the policewoman and the henchwoman were locked up on the fourth and fifth floors of SKT.

"Caitlynn and LeBlanc! SKT's lineup is very solid, with strong early-game laning pressure and top-tier mid-jungle tempo control!"

Now, only EDG's last mid laner has not been selected.

But when Lulu was revealed, no one really expected EDG to pick their last champion...

It's really hard to understand.

At the last moment, the hero icon on EDG's fifth floor was frozen on a helmet-wearing Master Yi!
"It's locked!!! My God!!! Master Yi!!! EDG pulled out Master Yi on the fifth floor in the first game of the finals!!!" Wawa's exclamation rang out...

And everyone was very shocked.

Does the factory manager play Master Yi as a jungler?

What exactly did EDG practice?

The moment the Sword Saint locked onto his target, the entire Rio Olympic Stadium erupted in chaos!

The gasps and screams mingled together, reaching a decibel level that even surpassed the spectacle of Faker's previous appearances!

"EDG! EDG! EDG!"

The official live stream chat in China was flooded with comments, a huge barrage of question marks.

The main problem is that I just don't understand it!

What exactly is EDG trying to do?
Is this how you play a game? What are they trying to do?

EDG has gone mad!!

[If this lineup can beat SKT, I'll do a handstand and wash my hair on stream!]

[The factory manager even pulled out Master Yi? What was his strategy? Is Master Yi even a viable champion? I don't see him in high-elo games, let alone professional matches.]

Regardless of winning or losing, I'll be a fan of EDG forever just for that Master Yi play!

[Bullshit! You can still say that after losing the game? You guys are so hypocritical. You're probably the one who's been the loudest with the insults!]

On the SKT bench, even the usually composed Faker showed a hint of surprise in his eyes as he looked at the Master Yi on the other side.

“The Gem Sword Saint…they…” Peanut opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn’t know what to say.

But this game didn't seem to be going so smoothly, and I had a bad feeling about it.

When the countdown for the hero swap ended, the entire esports world seemed to be muted, before erupting into an even more frenzied roar!

Because EDG switched the champion Master Yi to Li Fan! Clearlove got Taric! Lulu is still the support, EDG's trump card is actually the champion picked in the fourth or fifth pick.

What's even more eye-catching is the mid-lane Master Yi's Summoner Spells: Smite and Flash!

"My God!!! Smite Master Yi!!" Wawa almost screamed, "It wasn't Clearlove playing Master Yi jungle, it was Clearlove playing Taric jungle! Unreal was playing mid lane Smite Master Yi! We were all wrong! EDG kept their secret for so long and used their ultimate move right in the first game!"

Do you think the incense burner was their first invention?

Do not!
They have another trick up their sleeve!
Miller instantly realized, "I get it! Gem jungler, using his passive and W skill to quickly clear jungle camps and maintain his health. His core task is not to gank, but to protect Master Yi who is coordinating with the mid lane! Master Yi takes Smite, which allows him to clear jungle camps quickly, and combined with Gem's W healing and jungle clearing efficiency... he can develop quickly."

“But… the factory manager didn’t bring any punishment!” Su Xiaoyan said.

Miller was taken aback by these words; it seemed that without Smite, Gem couldn't jungle.

If Unreal uses Master Yi as the jungler, who will play mid lane?
Something seems off again. If that's the case, it should be Lulu mid lane.

Is he some kind of sister-obsessed mid-laner? If so, his playstyle is just too flashy, isn't it?

However, the chat room was still flooded with comments, and compared to the constant cursing just now, there had been quite a change.

[Holy crap!!! Mid-lane Master Yi!!!]

[Brother Fan, you're truly my Superman!!! This is way too daring!]

[I'm sorry, Coach Quickstar, I was wrong. You're not just amazing, you're a genius!]

[A LeBlanc playing Master Yi in the mid lane against Faker in the MSI finals! This is something even a novel wouldn't dare write; it's really outrageous!]

[I cried! This is esports! This is imagination!]

[Are the SKT players all dumbfounded? Hahaha!]

Regardless of winning or losing, EDG is awesome for that amazing strategy! Fan Ge is awesome!

[But this lineup feels like it's going to crumble at the slightest touch if it doesn't have an advantage; it's really hard to play!]

[If Master Yi gets fed, no one on SKT's lineup can handle Unreal, giving them a lot of room to maneuver, but I really can't figure out how to transition into that situation...]

SKT players' bench.

Faker was truly baffled at this moment.

EDG's lineup is too advanced; I don't understand why they would choose this lineup.

"What exactly are they trying to do? Mid lane Master Yi? Then who will jungle?" Peanut asked.

"No matter what lineup they choose, we just need to win the game."

The lineups are locked, and the game enters a brief loading screen.

Blue side SKT: Top lane Rumble, jungle Olaf, mid lane LeBlanc, bot lane duo Caitlyn and Karma.

Red team EDG: Top laner Nautilus, jungler Taric, mid laner Master Yi, bot lane duo Kog'Maw and Lulu.

……

(End of this chapter)