League: I really didn't tank!

Chapter 290 The Strange Audience

7 month 6 number.

The 2017 Asian Games were officially held at the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center.

Around noon, the twelve teams from the three competition zones were already ready backstage.

This backstage lounge was converted from a large meeting room, furnished with many sofas and chairs for the four teams to rest together.

It has to be said that it's not easy to find a lounge like this in a normal stadium.

But a grand lounge is of little use.

On their way to the interview, Shi Senming peeked at the stage.

Kaohsiung Exhibition Center is not a large venue, so there are very few visitors inside, at most two thousand people, and most of the seats are temporary plastic stools assembled together.

Shi Senming's first international competition was the Rio Olympics, which could hold up to 60,000 people.

Now, his second international competition is this very thing, and the contrast is indeed hard for him to accept.

"It is indeed a bit rudimentary." Uz couldn't help but shake his head. "But it's alright, it'll only last four days, so it doesn't matter."

The main platform for esports competitions is still the internet. Even if there are 60,000 spectators on-site, it is still insignificant compared to the online audience.

Chen Dongqing watched this scene and pondered for a moment.

He recalled that some unpleasant things seemed to have happened during the intercontinental competition that year.

At the time, LCK and LMS teams were greeted with cheers when they took the stage at the Intercontinental Cup opening ceremony.

But when the LPL teams took the stage, the applause and cheers from the Taiwanese audience instantly disappeared, as if the room had been turned into a library.

Later, the LPL team won the championship at the Kaohsiung Library, giving those viewers a resounding slap in the face.

Will this scene from the library ever reappear?

I need to keep a serious expression on my face later, otherwise it will be very awkward if there are no cheers.

Chen Dongqing muttered to himself.

Soon, the preparation time was over, and it was time for the opening ceremony to begin.

The twelve teams stood ready backstage, awaiting the host's call.

The female host, Xiao Xiong, maintained her usual sweet and coquettish voice, and greeted the host team, LMS, on stage.

"Let's welcome FW! AHQ! JT! M17!"

When the home team took to the stage, the cheers were naturally quite terrifying. The two thousand fans in the audience did their best to unleash a frenzied shout in this not-so-large enclosed space!

It must be said that the enthusiasm of the more open-minded Taiwanese audience is quite good; even with the same number of people, the cheers here are much louder.

Then, Xiao Xiong continued, "Next, let's give a round of applause to the LPL teams! QG! WE! EDG! FPX!"

Amid the shouts, Chen Dongqing's spirits lifted slightly.

coming!

You absolutely must keep a straight face at this time; only in this way can you avoid feeling awkward when you encounter a library.

With that thought in mind, he put on a stern expression and strode towards the stage.

The four teams lined up in order of their rankings to take the stage.

As the top laner of the number one seed, Chen Dongqing naturally stood at the top of the long queue.

As soon as the camera turned to him, the whole world saw his cold and stern expression.

But then, something strange happened.

The moment Chen Dongqing stepped onto the stage, the audience erupted in enthusiastic cheers!

The level of support and attention they received was no less than that given to the home team just now.

Chen Dongqing was slightly startled.

What's going on?

But with his cold expression already on display, he certainly wasn't going to do a Sichuan opera face-changing act. He simply went all out with his cold demeanor, walked coolly onto the stage, and stood with his arms crossed.

Coupled with the enthusiastic cheers from the audience, it has a kind of beauty that is pure and untainted by the world.

Meanwhile, in the Wanwan Sports Live Broadcast Room, where Chen Dongqing couldn't see.

The chat was buzzing with excitement!

[Brother Tree is here!]

Wow! This guy is so weird, he's actually trying to look cool!

[Let him be cool, he certainly has the looks to pull it off!]

[Sure enough, he's handsome and plays games really well. If I were him, I'd be super cool!]

The LMS bullet comments unfolded in a bizarre manner.

If Chen Dongqing saw this, he would be absolutely surprised.

It's surprising that LMS viewers would praise an LPL player so highly.

Of course, this is also the cause that Chen Dongqing planted that day, and now it is just bearing fruit.

Two months ago in Brazil, QG first eliminated GAM and TSM, helping FW advance from the group stage. Then, in the knockout stage, QG taught MiMiDan a top lane Fizz champion, helping FW advance to the fifth game.

In the finals, QG defeated KT 3-1, avenging FW.

Throughout this entire MSI, QG can be said to have done a very generous job, elevating Flash Wolves to a level they shouldn't have been at.

None of this happened behind the scenes. In a later interview, Mimi Egg also told the reporter about the top lane Fizz, which greatly increased Chen Dongqing's popularity in the LMS!

The thunderous cheers from the audience today were mostly for Chen Dongqing.

And the most interesting thing is yet to come.

After all the LPL teams took their places on stage, the Taiwanese female host continued the segment.

"Let's welcome the LCK teams! KT, SKT, SSG, and LZ!"

In that instant, the cheers grew fainter, weaker, and until they disappeared completely.

Hmph, do you think we're stupid enough to yell like that!

MSI was KT's own doing, and I'm still cheering for you?

dream!

This is the emotional journey of Taiwanese viewers.

Smeb, standing at the head of the KT team, walked out waving his arms, ready to greet the cheers of the audience, but the scene before him made his arms freeze in mid-air.

It was incredibly awkward.

On the field, Chen Dongqing couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before him.

As it turns out, it's always good to be prepared.

After KT comes SKT.

Only at this point did a few scattered cheers rise from the audience.

Most of these calls are for Faker.

But it is also very limited.

When SKT took the stage, the cheers completely disappeared again; the Taiwanese audience showed absolutely no respect for LCK.

The players from the four LCK teams looked quite grim.

The Korean livestream room on Laoshu TV was also filled with question marks.

The host, Xiao Xiong, had clearly never seen anything like this before. She panicked for a moment and decided to move the game to the next stage.

"Alright, the three teams have taken the stage, and the 2017 Asia Games officially begin! Let's look forward to the exciting performances to come!"

With that, the opening ceremony concluded, and the three teams quickly left the stage.

Chen Dongqing glanced to the side and saw that the twenty LCK players had faces as black as ink, seemingly planning how to get revenge and make the LMS audience suffer.

But can they really do it?

The opening match was a battle between the two top seeds.

FW vs. KT.

This was a rematch of the MSI semifinals, where KT narrowly defeated FW 3-2 to advance to the finals.

But that's a best-of-five series.

Now that we're in BO1, that's Flash Wolves' territory!

Offstage, countless Taiwanese spectators cheered enthusiastically, hoping to see their team secure the region's first victory and further dampen the LCK's momentum!

And as it turns out, Flash Wolves really lived up to expectations.

The difference between BO1 and BO5 is that BO1 only has one match, and there is no need to consider the aftermath. Both teams just need to go all out and play everything they have.

Flash Wolves are among the best.

Karsa's counter-ganking rhythm always catches LCK teams off guard, helping them gain an advantage.

And this game was exactly like that.

Even after a two-month hiatus, Karsa is still giving Peanut lessons, his radar-like jungling skills teaching Peanut a lesson that's crystal clear.

Eight minutes later, Chen Dongqing watched on the backstage TV as Karsa executed a perfect counter-gank, securing a double kill, and couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, "Karsa! It's him again!"

In the first fifteen minutes, Karsa's pace was second to none!

"This jungler is really good." The clear-man couldn't help but nod. "I've studied him. His counter-ganks are always spot-on, and his awareness is excellent."

Chen Dongqing glanced at him sideways and said, "Why are you studying Flash Wolves? Are you studying our MSI opponents?"

The factory manager glared at him and immediately fell silent.

The match in the video is still going on.

Although Smeb could easily defeat Mimi in the top lane on KT, he didn't dare to push forward to pressure Karsa's 2-0 Lee Sin!

What's even more bizarre is that he didn't dare to go up and press, but Karsa dared to come to him on her own initiative!

The Lee Sin actually bypassed the vision Smeb had set up in his own tri-bush, appeared from behind, and used a ward-hop ultimate to kick Smeb into Mimi's arms!

After a flurry of punches and kicks, Karsa secured a 3-0 victory!

Immediately afterwards, Karsa pretended to return to base to farm jungle camps, but actually headed straight to the mid lane and once again counter-ganked Peanut.

Peanut was once again squatted back in the fountain, his head almost spinning from being hit.

Why are you everywhere?

Off the field, the cheers from the Taiwanese audience were deafening, with countless people clapping and screaming, creating a truly electrifying atmosphere!

Thai cool, my wolf!

The game then continued to improve, with Flash Wolves capitalizing on their advantage and executing their strategy.

Although KT managed to regain some momentum in the mid-game thanks to their team fight capabilities, it wasn't enough for them to win the game.

At 38 minutes, in a crucial Baron team fight, Karsa's Lee Sin used his ward to escape the Baron pit, used his ultimate to kick Peanut away, and then used his second Q to return to the Baron pit and secure the Baron, giving his team a huge boost!

Flash Wolves' two carries did not disappoint, delivering a steady stream of damage and securing the victory!

Off the field, the cheers from the audience reached a peak, with countless Taiwanese spectators screaming and cheering enthusiastically.

Chen Dongqing was just watching and having a good time backstage.

After being treated like a library, and then losing the first match, most LCK viewers must be incredibly anxious today.

Moreover, there are others who are in a hurry behind them.

Because there are three divisions, but the group stage only lasts two days, four teams are destined to play two matches a day.

KT is the team that needs to play two matches a day.

Their opponent in today's second match is QG, the number one seed from the LPL region.

After the first match, LPL's third seed EDG took to the stage, and this time their opponent was LMS's third seed JT.

This is a normal win-loss match.

In some ways, Flash Wolves and QG are somewhat similar.

They both achieved a perfect record in the regular season this spring.

In terms of regional dominance, Flash Wolves are not much inferior to QG.

This also indirectly proves how weak the remaining teams in the LMS region are.

EDG's strength is still undeniable, and Clearlove has always been adept at dominating weaker opponents. He took to the stage and played the new Sejuani, helping his team gain a 5,000 gold lead in 15 minutes and establishing a decisive advantage.

Backstage at the LPL, the other three teams applauded to celebrate their region's first victory in the group stage.

The players from both WE and FPX secretly vowed that since EDG had won, they certainly couldn't let them down!

The QG players, however, weren't thinking that far ahead; they were already preparing to go on stage.

Their opponent, naturally, is KT, the number one seed from LCK, who are returning to the stage.

At this moment, staff members came forward to signal the QG players to prepare to go on stage.

"Go for it!" A chorus of cheers erupted in the LPL rest area.

If QG wins again today, then LCK's number one seed KT will suffer a complete defeat in the group stage.

It's hard to imagine what this scene would look like.

"Keep it up!" the factory manager said with a relaxed expression. "We at EDG have already won, so QG definitely can't lose, right?"

"Hehe." Chen Dongqing said calmly, "QG will lose? Just watch my performance!"

As they were talking, the five QG players walked out of the lounge carrying their keyboards.

"Welcome to the live broadcast of the first day of the group stage of the 2017 Asian Games! This is the Kaohsiung Exhibition Center!"

Wawa's voice rang out from the commentary booth. He started by reading a long announcement before shouting, "Now, the first day of the group stage has reached the third game. The first two games were won by Flash Wolves from the LMS region and EDG from our side!"

"The match has now reached its third game, and this time it's our QG against LCK's number one seed, KT!"

"This is the MSI finals!" Miller exclaimed excitedly beside him. "QG won their last match 3-1, so I think we have a very high chance of winning this game!"

The camera then pans to the stage, where the contestants from both teams have entered through the side passages.

When the camera focused on Chen Dongqing, the cheers from the audience were quite loud, and many people were clapping and celebrating.

Even in the LMS region, Chen Dongqing is considered a well-known figure.

If he can defend his title at the Bird's Nest this year, he will become the undisputed number one in history and a world-class figure.

As for the other side...

The camera then panned to KT, where the audience members suddenly changed their expressions like they were performing a Sichuan opera, and their cheers vanished instantly.

KT just lost a game to Flash Wolves. In the eyes of LMS viewers, this group is a defeated opponent. What is there to cheer about?

Having once again encountered the Black Sea treatment, the KT players adapted much better this time, but their expressions were still inevitably somewhat grim.

Chen Dongqing couldn't help but laugh when he saw this scene.

It won't do if the audience doesn't applaud you.

But not applauding others is fine!

Their main tactic is to apply double standards.

After returning to his chair and joining the game room, he was still happily sending messages to the other side.

QGilex: [Are they even capable, guys? Has LCK really fallen to the point of being mocked by LMS?]

QGilex: [You guys won't even make it to the finals, will you?]

On the other side, Peanut sent over a series of question marks.

KTPeanut: [Just wait and see, we will definitely win this match, and we will definitely win this intercontinental tournament!]

LCK is indeed facing a tough challenge right now, so Peanut doesn't seem to have anything substantial to say, and can only make some tough statements.

Chen Dongqing was amused by this scene. He was about to type more sarcastic remarks when the referee behind him sent a notification that the match could begin.

Chen Dongqing simply deleted the edited text and clicked "Start Game".

Let the competition decide everything!

The competition officially began, accompanied by the clanging sound of metal clashing through the headphones.

Without hesitation, Chen Dongqing pressed Bobby down with one hand.

On the other side, KT also acted swiftly, banning Fiora in response.

Compared to the last MSI match between the two teams, the version changes are quite significant.

On the support side, the poke-heavy support Zyra has disappeared.

The support role has now returned to its traditional form, with hard supports like Thresh and Braum and soft supports like Janna and Lulu vying for supremacy.

As for the jungler position, Zac and Rek'Sai have become top priority due to their reworks, even higher than Lee Sin.

Due to these version differences, the banning of both sides proceeded quite smoothly.

"Okay, as we can see, on the blue side, QG has chosen to ban Zac and Thresh in their last two picks, while on the other side, KT has countered by banning Caitlyn and Jayce, and we're now entering the pick phase!"

Miller glanced at the bans for both sides, analyzed the situation in his mind, and immediately said, "Right now, Xayah, Rakan, Camille, and Galio are all out there. It's highly likely that each side will pick one. So now both sides face a choice: what to choose?"

Compared to MSI, two months have passed, and now Camille and Galio are no longer QG's exclusive strategy. KT is also an excellent user of this combination, so KT did not choose to ban it in this game.

Seeing this, QG immediately locked onto an excavator on the first floor without hesitation.

After Zac was banned, Rek'Sai became the top priority for the jungler role, so picking her first was definitely the right move.

As for the two combinations outside, they are actually not bad. It would be better to first pick the strongest jungler and see what the other side says.

KT quickly gave their answer.

Camille and Galio.

There are two reasons. First, both of these heroes are flexible, so picking these two first will definitely make the draft easier.

Secondly, they believe that QG may not necessarily have control of Xayah and Rakan, so it doesn't matter if they let them go.

Even during the early stages of the Summer Split, when Xayah and Rakan were at their peak, QG never picked Xayah and Rakan; they always banned them themselves.

At this moment, Chen Dongqing from QG turned around and asked, "Jian Zihao, have you mastered Xayah and Rakan yet? They're letting you win on purpose."

Uzi, sitting in the athletes' box, boldly waved his hand and said, "Don't worry, I've already mastered it!"

Xayah is actually a great fit for Uzi, but he is indeed a bit lazy and doesn't practice her much.

After the defeat against EDG in the Summer Split, Uzi never stopped practicing Xayah and Rakan, and would duo queue with Xiaoming whenever he had free time, accumulating a lot of games.

Now his Xayah and Rakan have reached the level of Chen Dongqing's previous life in S8, and are already heroes that he can pick and play.

KT was the first victim!

QG's second and third floors quickly locked onto Xayah and Rakan.

With this, the foundation for both sides' draft picks and bans has been established, and the subsequent draft picks and bans for both sides will revolve around their respective combinations.

KT then locked in Ashe and Braum in their third and fourth picks, highlighting a versatile bot laner who could both fight and survive, while reserving Camille's top and jungle flex picks for last, clearly determined to give the top lane to Smeb.

QG didn't have much of a solution either. In this situation where the top laner is picked first, the priority is to choose a hero that isn't afraid of being countered.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Dongqing decided to lock onto the captain, go to the top lane to withstand the pressure, and become a tool for unleashing ultimate abilities.

On the other hand, KT subsequently secured a top laner, Kennen, who is effective against Gangplank, thus finalizing the lineups for both sides.

Miller glanced at the lineups on both sides.

Blue side QG: Top lane Captain, Jungle Rek'Sai, Mid lane Syndra, Bot lane Xayah and Rakan.

Red team KT: Top lane Kennen, Jungle Camille, Mid lane Galio, Bot lane Ashe and Braum.

(End of this chapter)