League: I really didn't tank!

Chapter 241: Explosive Popularity!

June 9th, 4 PM.

Chen Dongqing and Park Yunlong got off at Kintetsu Plaza and watched the bus slowly drive into the distance.

The bus will then continue its journey to Zhengda Plaza, where it will take the remaining team members to another venue.

Chen Dongqing calmed down, exchanged a glance with Park Yunlong, and the two turned and walked into the square.

The same venue as yesterday, except that this time the audience was packed.

Everyone is eagerly anticipating the StarCraft finals featuring the supernova Ilex!

Will Macsed have the last laugh, or will Ilex successfully get his revenge? Everyone is waiting to find out!

While Chen Dongqing was backstage making his final preparations, two people were already locked in a fierce battle on stage.

Before the grand final, the third-place match was underway. Two Zerg players, Toodming and IA, were locked in a fierce battle in the fifth game. The two were evenly matched, but in the end, IA prevailed, overwhelming his opponent with his Zerg army.

With a score of 3 to 2, IA became the third-place winner in this competition. However, since only the champion and runner-up could go to the Shanghai station, the only significance of his third-place finish was the extra 6000 yuan in prize money.

Seeing this, Chen Dongqing stood up; he was ready.

"Go," Park Unryong said calmly, "and surprise everyone!"

Chen Dongqing grinned: "Definitely!"

After a short break, the contestants from both sides took to the stage under the guidance of the host.

As soon as Chen Dongqing stepped onto the stage, the voices of the commentators echoed throughout the venue.

Once they reached the finals, Huang Xudong and Sun Yifeng no longer sat in the live broadcast room, but instead took to the commentary booth to provide their own commentary.

The StarCraft veterans introduced the two players, and after they shook hands, they took their seats.

While the equipment was being set up, the event director switched to all the footage that had been prepared in advance.

The first one, of course, is trash talk, which was recorded after yesterday's game.

Macsed appeared on screen, laughing and saying, "I think ilex is a really strong player, very good at rushing. But unfortunately, I like playing against players who like to rush, and I've already beaten him once, so I think I have a very high chance of winning."

Then, Chen Dongqing appeared on screen, grinning, "Teacher Sed, you should know that I'm improving pretty fast. It's been over a week since you beat me last time, so guess if I've trained specifically against you?"

"You think you can beat me after just over a week of practice?" Macsed looked incredulous. "Then all those years of StarCraft playing have been for nothing? Ilex, go back and train for another two years. The future is yours."

Chen Dongqing responded with a smile: "I've already beaten two IG players. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to wipe out IG."

Macsed quickly responded, saying he would avenge his teammates.

That's the end of the trash talk.

Immediately afterwards, the director switched to data charts for both players.

The data charts in StarCraft are quite simple, with three data points showing the win rate against each of the three races.

First is Macsed, whose win rate is 58.3% against Terran, 67.3% against Protoss, and 58.0% against Zerg.

With a win rate of over 55% against all three races, this is an astonishing number. As long as this win rate can be maintained, all championships can be won.

But, as always, comparison is key.

ilex.

The win rate against the Protoss is 50%, which is somewhat average.

The win rate against the Human race is exactly 90%, which is simply outrageous.

The group stage and knockout stage consisted of three best-of-three matches and one best-of-five match. Chen Dongqing only lost one match unexpectedly in the group stage.

The win rate against Zerg is 100%!

That's absolutely outrageous!

The audience erupted in cheers, shocked by the staggering numbers.

Just then, commentator Huang Xudong spoke up: "Ilex's dominance against Zerg and Terran is undeniable, but that's useless! His opponent in the finals is a Protoss! His win rate against Protoss is only 50%!"

These words also earned Sun Yifeng's approval.

Yes, what's the use of having a high win rate against the other two races? The Protoss's win rate is what it is. If you can't improve that win rate, you can't win the championship!

At this point, the screen changes, and we enter the map selection interface.

Both players will each ban one map from the seven maps, and then the selection will be random.

Chen Dongqing didn't care much about the map, so he just banned one at random and then saw the map for this match.

New Kirk District.

This is a relatively balanced map between Protoss and Terran. At this point, the director also brought up the data, which showed that the Protoss win rate against Terran on this map was exactly 50%.

Chen Dongqing took a deep breath, and the competition began.

He is now adept at dealing with the Protoss, and he has changed his previous two-ship harassment tactic, opting instead for a normal opening.

He casually airdropped landmines to harass them, but MacSed defended them perfectly.

Seeing this scene, the audience's hearts sank.

It's not a good thing that the cowardly god has such a comfortable start.

But at that moment, Chen Dongqing smiled.

Although the airdrop failed, Chen Dongqing still managed to gather enough information by having Death continuously fly around several key locations on the map.

He knew the other side wanted to open three bases and produce Colossi.

Chen Dongqing decisively accelerated, first using riflemen to block the enemy's reconnaissance, and then launching a two-tank attack in one wave!

The two sides exchanged forces, and the Protoss army was completely wiped out. Chen Dongqing won the first game, followed by a slow and methodical approach to control and suppress the enemy. He easily won the first game.

When the word "Victory" appeared on the map, the audience below the stage, the commentators, and the viewers in the live broadcast room were all dumbfounded.

what?

How did they win? It feels like they won so easily.

This unscientific!

On the other side, Macsed looked at the screen in disbelief.

What surprised him was not the loss in this game, but the change in ilex's playing style.

What are the characteristics of the player ilex? He has a simple playstyle, unparalleled skills, and can only rely on his skills to beat opponents, but he is extremely lacking in tactical experience.

Even if the opponent has an incredibly strong learning ability and can adjust their tactics in time after losing a game, I can easily win as long as I come up with a new set of tactics.

Today, even though I came up with a new strategy right from the start, my opponent reacted perfectly and quickly devised a counter-strategy.

This level of response capability is absolutely not something Ilex should have!

It felt like the opponent had suddenly gained countless matches of experience.

For some inexplicable reason, Macsed suddenly remembered a magical item—the Time Chamber.

This is a famous training ground in Dragon Ball, where one day outside is equivalent to one year inside, which can help you train quickly.

Does this guy have a mental time chamber to aid his cultivation?

Macsed quickly dismissed this absurd idea, stood up and went backstage; he needed to prepare a countermeasure immediately.

After a short break, the second game began.

In this game, Chen Dongqing continued with a defensive start, followed by a scouting phase.

Death scanned the entire field and immediately discovered the opponent's tactical choice.

Chen Dongqing took a closer look and immediately burst out laughing.

In this game, Macsed adopted the tactic invented by PartinG—three barracks and Apostles to suppress the three-way opening.

As Chen Dongqing's top sparring partner, PartinG was someone Chen Dongqing had thoroughly figured out, and this set of tactics was naturally in his mind as well.

Chen Dongqing executed a perfect defense and seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack. At the most crucial moment, he destroyed the Protoss's Lightning Storm technology, utterly defeating Macsed's low-level units with no technological content.

They won the second game easily.

In the third game, Chen Dongqing launched a counterattack despite the unfavorable situation of his economy being severely harassed by the Prism. He decisively struck the enemy's vitals, blocked the Colossus timing, and, with the Super Battery in hand, crushed the Protoss main force head-on, winning another game!

3-0!

In the BO7 match, Chen Dongqing surprisingly won three consecutive games!

The championship is within reach!

Everyone in the audience wore an expression of disbelief.

No one expected today's match to unfold in this way.

The audience couldn't help but recall Chen Dongqing's trash talk before the match.

"I'm improving pretty fast. It's been over a week since you last beat me, so guess if I've trained specifically against you?"

Is this what you call training?

This growth rate is simply too exaggerated.

Seeing this, commentator Huang Xudong's voice shrieked in shock, "It's over, are they going to win 4-0?"

Poisonous Milk Color is still trying to do something.

But given the current situation, even a powerful sage couldn't salvage it.

To come back from a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3? Dream on!

The fourth game began quickly.

Under immense pressure, Macsed was beaten to the point of being delirious and his thoughts were becoming chaotic.

In his confusion, he chose to use the Phoenix Colossus tactic, which is known as the "IG secret technique".

The most powerful aspect of this move is its control of the map and its defense; it's a tactic with strong defensive capabilities.

The problem is that this tactic was used in the group stage and even won against Chen Dongqing once.

The same tactics cannot defeat Chen Dongqing a second time.

Chen Dongqing discovered a weakness in the opponent's defense, so he immediately deployed two ships of soldiers. This time, instead of harassing the third base, he launched a surprise attack on the main base!

This sword strike sealed their throats, nearly cutting off the God Clan's water and electricity!

Immediately afterward, Chen Dongqing took advantage of the opposing defensive forces returning to their base, while another force aimed at the third base. This textbook-perfect two-pronged attack was reminiscent of the multi-pronged master TYTY in action. Ultimately, the Protoss were overwhelmed and had no choice but to concede defeat.

Four to zero!

game over!

Macsed sat slumped in his chair, his eyes blinking helplessly. He hadn't expected things to end this way.

But before he could stand there in a daze for long, a figure walked up to his side.

Although the opponent won the championship, there was no joy on his face, as if winning the championship was something he should have taken for granted.

"Well done, Teacher Sed." Chen Dongqing encouraged his opponent as usual, and even mentioned the opponent's nickname.

Macsed smiled helplessly: "You're really awesome."

"It's alright, it's alright." Chen Dongqing smiled. "Shall we cheer each other on at the tour?"

"Why the tour?" Macsed asked. "Aren't you playing in the second half of the season next month?"

"I'm not playing anymore." Chen Dongqing waved his hand. "It's not very interesting."

It doesn't seem out of place for Chen Dongqing, as the champion, to say such a thing.

Macsed was speechless for a moment. Then, as if remembering something, he asked again, "You said yesterday that you trained specifically on me? Is that true?"

"It's true," Chen Dongqing answered honestly. "Otherwise, how do you think I won? I really couldn't beat you last week."

Macsed was speechless.

He'd played StarCraft for so many years, but the opponent only trained for a week and was able to completely dominate him.

Another edifice of interstellar studies has collapsed.

After the handshake, Chen Dongqing went to the center of the stage and glanced at the championship trophy in front of him.

This is a very high-tech trophy, and unlike traditional cups, it has an octahedral shape.

Chen Dongqing held the trophy with both hands and lifted it high!

A burst of cheers immediately erupted from the audience, far surpassing the cheers of yesterday!

To win the championship as a newcomer, and to win it with an undefeated record in the elimination rounds!

Whether they are fans of Chen Dongqing, casual fans who came to see him, or even casual viewers who were indifferent before, they are all now full of expectations for this young man in front of them.

This time, Chinese spaceflight really has a chance!

Chen Dongqing turned his gaze to a spot below the stage, where Lin Yuanhua had already taken a seat in a corner of the venue and was giving him a thumbs up.

"Okay, let's congratulate Ilex on winning the first half of the 2017 GPL Gold League Season 1!" The female host shouted as she walked onto the stage, and her words quickly raised the cheers of the audience to another level.

Chen Dongqing put down the trophy and came to the center of the stage to begin the interview.

The female host smiled and asked the first question: "How does it feel to win the interstellar championship so early in your career?"

"My biggest feeling is that it feels a bit fresh," Chen Dongqing said with a smile. "Although I'm a newcomer to StarCraft, I've actually been a professional player for many years and have been fortunate enough to win several championships. This championship does give me a lot of new experiences."

【? ? ? 】

[Fill a cup? 】

Damn it, Brother Tree is showing off again.

[Sigh, there's nothing we can do, Brother Tree's strength is truly formidable.]

[Tree Bro adds another championship to his career!]

"Is it just a novelty?" The female host tilted her head slightly; it was the first time she had heard such an answer.

But I have to say, this answer is definitely very sophisticated.

The host thought for a moment and then asked, "The second half of GPL Season 1 will begin again in May. Will you continue to participate?"

"Probably not," Chen Dongqing said with a smile. "My main job is as a professional League of Legends player. If nothing unexpected happens, I'll have a lot of competitions in May, and I really won't be able to focus on participating."

Upon hearing this, the live chat was filled with question marks once again.

[A sure thing for the Spring Split championship?]

[You've already started researching MSI's competitors, haven't you?]

Haha, it's like having a cup at both ends!

"What about the WCS World Tour?" the host asked again. "According to the rules, you will have the opportunity to represent China in the WCS World Tour. Will you have time then?"

"Yes, I will." Chen Dongqing nodded and smiled this time. "That's why I participated in GPL."

"So what are your expectations for the future of the tour?"

"There's not much to say about that. My goal in any competition is always to win the championship!"

The audience erupted in applause, filled with anticipation as they listened to Chen Dongqing's bold words.

After winning the match, Chen Dongqing went backstage to organize his equipment. At that moment, a staff member came over and gave him a replica trophy.

The GPL Golden League is divided into four seasons throughout the year, and there is an additional year-end finals. Chen Dongqing was only the champion of the first season, so of course he couldn't win the trophy.

Park Unryong fiddled with Chen Dongqing's trophy for a moment, looking slightly wistful.

When he came to QG Club as a coach, he had already prepared to say goodbye to StarCraft.

But unexpectedly, he would one day lift the Star Cup again.

Park Unryong couldn't help but look at Chen Dongqing, who was texting on her phone next to him.

With this unparalleled talent, perhaps he really can become a world champion.

At this moment, Chen Dongqing put away his phone and turned to the coach, saying, "Let's go, Coach Park, shall we go to Zhengda Plaza?"

Park Unryong remained calm: "Let's go."

It has to be said that today's finals ended very quickly.

The third-place match, a best-of-five series, went to five games, but the grand final, a best-of-seven series, only lasted four games, and each game lasted less than twenty minutes, with the fastest game ending in just seven minutes.

The finals were supposed to start at 3 PM, but it's only 4:30 PM now.

The LPL matches haven't even started yet.

Of course, it would be too late to go now, as the entry time has already passed, and it would take time to get there anyway.

But this didn't stop Chen Dongqing from going to watch the game.

Chen Dongqing made a phone call outside the venue, and Lin Yuanhua quickly came over.

"Wow, Chen Dongqing is amazing!" Lin Yuanhua put her arm around Chen Dongqing's arm and praised him generously.

Chen Dongqing grinned and said, "Fine, go ahead!"

As he spoke, he also made an eight with Lin Yuanhua's fingers.

Lin Yuanhua smiled with narrowed eyes when she saw the number.

One hundred championships—this has always been a little joke between the two.

2016 Spring Championship, 2016 MSI, 2016 Summer Championship, Douyu PUBG League, 2016 World Championship, 2016 SOLO Tournament, Dou Dizhu Championship, 2017 GPL.

Chen Dongqing is now the cupping master!

The three hailed a taxi and planned to head straight to Zhengda Plaza. Park Yunlong, seeing the two young people being affectionate, chose to sit in the passenger seat, choosing not to look.

This also forced him to pay a taxi fare of nearly three figures.

When the three walked backstage, the first match between QG and LGD was in its mid-game.

Chen Dongqing squinted and could see that Uzi's Ice had already achieved a magnificent 3-0 score, leading a frenzied attack on the mid-lane turret.

Looking at the top lane, 369's score was abysmal, with a 0-2-3 Maokai, who was defending the second top lane tower all alone.

As a newcomer, 369 certainly couldn't have the tactical prowess of Chen Dongqing. The team's task for him in this game was to pick Maokai and defend the top lane.

The translation is EDG's playstyle.

And as it turned out, this tactic worked perfectly. Uzi went on a killing spree, and Tree's K/D ratio was also positive, proving that it helped the team.

Chen Dongqing nodded imperceptibly.

I'm so moved to tears that 369 has such a great team here.

The status of the Great Tree as a god is obviously beyond doubt. Even if it starts 0-2, it will still stand firm in team fights in the late game, maximizing its damage and control!

Uzi and Godve followed closely behind the tree, using a dense barrage of fire to disrupt the enemy's output. With a coordinated attack from infantry and tanks, LGD had no chance to fight back and were easily wiped out in a few moves!

The first game was won easily!

Chen Dongqing looked at the game screen and nodded in satisfaction.

Without needing to exchange words, Banbazi and Linko walked out of the lounge together.

Chen Dongqing raised an eyebrow and quickly followed.

The teammates returned in triumph quickly.

He won his first LPL match, and although 369 was still down a losing streak at the end, he was still beaming with joy and very happy.

"Nice, nice!" Chen Dongqing and his teammates celebrated with a fist bump, and when they saw 369 return, they gave him a thumbs up, "Well done!"

369 gave him a silly grin.

In Chen Dongqing's opinion, 369's top lane skill is actually quite good, but the main thing is that he needs to adjust his mindset.

When 369 stops being so self-centered and realizes he's not a top-tier top laner, he will actually become a top-tier top laner.

Just like Takenori Akagi in Slam Dunk, when Jun Uozumi, holding a radish, reminded him that he was just a flounder, he was no longer afraid to confront Masashi Kawata head-on.

But after 369 joined QG, he was surrounded by star teammates, and he was even a substitute for the FMVP. The immense pressure made him feel constantly anxious and apprehensive.

"That was a beautiful win!" Banbazi praised the team's overall performance as soon as he returned, and then added, "But 369 made some mistakes in the last game, so please pay attention to them."

Coach Cui then pointed out the two times 369 was caught and killed in lane.

This accusation wasn't just baseless slander, and with people around watching, 369 didn't dare to argue back and obediently nodded.

At this moment, Xiangguo spoke up, "Now that Chen Dongqing is back, should we let him play next round?"

A moment of silence fell over the lounge.

369 lowered his head.

Linko was speechless.

Do you think 369 is your servant? Someone you can summon and dismiss at will?

They came specifically to put out your fire, you can't just send them away right after you've finished, can you?

Of course, it would be better to have Chen Dongqing play, but there's no need.

"..." Chen Dongqing quickly interjected, "No need, no need. We've already won a game, why would I go up there?"

As he spoke, Chen Dongqing came over to 369, patted him on the shoulder and said, "You're going to play again next round, but you have to do your best. If you lose the second round, then I'll have to play in the third round."

369 chuckled foolishly again, like the eldest son of a landlord.

The second game started very quickly.

369 did not disappoint Chen Dongqing's expectations. In the second game, he picked Jayce and, with his classic kiting skills, managed to fight Jianxian to a standstill.

Then, the mid and jungle players stepped up and carried the game. With Jayce bombarding them one shot after another, 369 managed to put on a pretty good performance and led the team to victory!

2-0, QG secures their 15th consecutive victory in the Spring Split!

Even without Ilex, QG can still easily crush teams like LGD!

After winning the game, 369 happily joined the QG team for a celebratory feast.

QG's matches represent the peak of LPL's popularity. With the exposure of today's BO3, 369 will likely gain the attention of various LPL teams, and may even find a suitable team in the Summer Split.

Of course, that's a story for another time.

After this match, Chen Dongqing officially rejoined the team.

With the regular season now coming to an end and only one week of matches remaining, QG's final opponent is FPX.

Because there was only one match a week, and it was on the last day of the week, the QG players got a long vacation.

Chen Dongqing, having finished his GPL season, also got some time to rest.

That evening, Chen Dongqing started a live broadcast.

The show became incredibly popular as soon as it premiered!

I'll write a chapter during the live stream to transition things up; the playoffs start tomorrow.

I should speed up the playoffs a bit and try to finish them in a week to start the MSI.

See you tomorrow, guys!

(End of this chapter)