LOL: Do I have to be a spinning top too?

December 25th.

In the Demacia Cup semifinals, TES will face off against RNG.

When the bus entered the venue's underground parking garage, Li Hu was leaning back in his seat with his eyes closed, resting.

After playing a practice match against UP yesterday, he already has a good grasp of today's match...

Chieh provided a solution to the problems exposed by TT in just one day.

The solution is simple and crude.

"Prioritize the entire draft phase for the top lane."

These are Chieh's exact words.

He drew a large circle on the tactical whiteboard, circled Li Hu's name inside, and then drew five lines from the circle, connecting them to the other four positions.

"Our previous strategy was to have Glory draw fire while the other lanes stepped up."

"But as it turns out, the experience gap between LDL and LPL cannot be bridged in a day or two."

"Haoyang and Jiaqi can hold their own in lane, but their mid-game decision-making and team fight positioning still lag behind the veterans."

"So... instead of letting them tough it out, it's better to let the best carry player pick the most comfortable hero."

  

Yesterday's two training matches were the best proof of that.

In the first game, UP copied TT's strategy and banned five top laners.

Chieh then used the banned units to replace more advantageous heroes for the mid and bot lanes.

As a result, although they managed to stabilize their lane, Haoyang's Sylas and Jiaqi's Aphelios were still caught out by Ning and Baolan's experience at crucial moments in the mid-game team fights, resulting in a regrettable defeat.

In the second game, the opponent banned Camille, Sett, and Vayne in the first three picks.

Chieh instantly locked in Riven on the first floor.

Then Li Hu began his performance.

Ning's Xin Zhao stayed in the top lane for a full eight minutes.

Level 3 ganks, level 5 ambushes, level 7 tower dives—they practically want to pitch their tents in the top lane bushes.

However, Xiao Fang's Maokai followed Chieh's plan and launched two counter-ganks. Li Hu's Riven kited under the tower until Maokai arrived and then counter-attacked, securing a double kill.

After that wave, Hery's crocodile completely disconnected.

The top lane tower fell in fifteen minutes.

Nineteen minutes in, Li Hu's Riven arrived at the bottom lane for a dragon fight, kicking Doggo's Lucian to death and then taking down Baolan's Nami.

At 29 minutes, UP typed GG.

After the match, the UP coach sent a message in the group chat: "Could you please stop letting your top laner play Riven?"

Chieh replied with a smiley face but didn't say anything.

He has discovered that as long as Li Hu is present, he can control the opponent's draft picks, allowing them to choose heroes they are good at that can not only carry but also survive, and also make their teammates' gameplay very comfortable...

This was clearly demonstrated in yesterday's training match.

"We've arrived, get off the bus."

Guo Hao's voice pulled Li Hu back from his memories.

The car door opened, and a blast of cold air from outside rushed in.

Li Hu jumped off the car with his peripheral bag on his back, and looked up at the venue...

Hongqiao Tiandi Performing Arts Center, one of the home venues for LPL regular season games.

A giant screen on the exterior wall is playing a promotional video for the Demacia Cup on a loop.

The TES and RNG team logos flashed alternately, and the music made the ground tremble slightly.

Guo Hao led the way at the front.

This hardworking manager of TES could have taken a break during the transfer period, but he gave up his rest because of Li Hu's presence.

In his own words, "It's rare for the second team to produce such a promising talent, so I have to keep a close eye on him. What if he wins the championship?"

The door to the backstage players' lounge was pushed open.

Guo Hao went in first, then stopped in his tracks.

"Jack? Rookie?"

His tone was clearly surprised.

Li Hu followed him in, his gaze sweeping over the lounge, his pupils slightly contracting.

A tall man with a long face was sitting on the sofa by the window. He was wearing a white casual sweatshirt, holding a half-finished cup of milk tea, and looking down at his phone.

Next to him was Rookie, who was chatting quietly with a sweet girl in a denim miniskirt...

That person was Xiaoyu, a well-known LPL host and Rookie's girlfriend.

The two were very happy at that time, but a few years later...

Near the door, Yu Wenbo sat with his legs crossed, and grinned when he saw Guo Hao enter.

The three members of IG, the S8 champions.

Jiang Chenglu, Song Yijin, and Yu Wenbo.

Li Hu's heart stirred slightly.

He didn't expect to meet these people so soon, especially TheShy.

In his mind, these were all seniors he could only meet on the LPL stage.

They're just sitting casually in TES's lounge, waiting to watch the game like ordinary spectators.

TheShy has renewed his contract with WBG this year.

WBG kicked all four of SN's world runners-up out of the team and rebuilt the team around TheShy...

Jungler Karsa, mid laner Xiaohu, AD Light, and support Crisp have formed a new super team.

However, Li Hu knew the ultimate fate of that galactic battleship...

In the S13 World Championship, LPL was swept 3-0 by T1, falling on the final stage and bringing another dark moment to the LPL.

"Why are you here?"

Guo Hao walked up to Yu Wenbo, his tone still filled with surprise.

Yu Wenbo said with a smile:

"The guys and I just finished having dinner together today, and since we didn't have much to do, we thought we'd come and check out the competition."

Guo Hao nodded, then turned and waved to Li Hu and the others:

"Come here, everyone, let me introduce you to our senior."

Li Hu led the way over, and as he shook hands with Yu Wenbo, the latter looked him up and down:

"You're Glory?"

"I watched your performance in the last game, and you played very well."

"Two MVPs in three games, Riven, Sett, and Vayne took turns showing off, they're really something."

He paused, a playful smile playing on his lips:

"Especially your post-match statement about aiming for the World Championship, I really admire you, bro."

Li Hu was indeed a little excited.

Because these people are all members of S8IG.

That team, IG, fought their way through the LCK's dominance and brought home the first S-series trophy for the LPL.

"Thank you for the compliment, Jack. I will work even harder."

Li Hu's tone was sincere, but not overly reserved.

At this moment, TheShy, who had been sitting in the corner scrolling through his phone, looked up.

He put the milk tea on the table, looked at Li Hu, and said something.

He spoke slowly and his pronunciation was a little off, but Li Hu understood him.

"You hit it well."

"I saw your Riven in the video."

Li Hu was stunned for a moment.

Has TheShy ever seen his Riven?

This S8 Aatrox was a godlike performance, the most entertaining top laner in LPL history. Watch his Riven performance?

"He's still far behind TheShy."

Li Hu looked at ThrShy as if he were looking at a treasure trove, longing to be spun around by him.

His tone became somewhat more modest:

"You are all my seniors, and there is still a lot I need to learn. Please give me more guidance in the future, Shy."

TheShy nodded, said nothing more, and continued scrolling through his phone.

Chieh clapped her hands, interrupting the fan meeting:

"Alright, time is tight, let's analyze RNG's five positions first."

He pulled the tactics whiteboard in front of him and quickly wrote down a few IDs.

"Breathe, the top laner for BLG last year."

"His laning style is aggressive, and he excels at playing lightly armored fighters. He plays Fiora, Camille, and Gnar quite well."

"But he has a problem... He tends to get carried away in crucial games, and he's not good at team fights. When he tries to prove himself, he only exposes his weaknesses."

Li Hu smiled inwardly as he looked at the ID.

Breathe, also known as Breathe the Breathing Guy.

Because in the footage of BLG's rest area released last year, he compared himself to Nuguri, the top laner of the S10 World Champion, and publicly stated that he wanted to be the best top laner in the world.

However, he eventually earned a title that surpassed even the concept of a god.

Disband the team, but don't let him know you want to disband it, otherwise he'll carry you to victory.

"Wei, the jungler, is a two-time MSI champion."

"A representative of jungle tempo-oriented junglers, who are quite skilled at utility junglers and jungle management."

"What's most terrifying about this guy is his ganking instincts..."

"He's not the kind of jungler who waits until level six to make a move; he could be on any lane as early as level three."

As Li Hu listened to Chieh's analysis, he silently added some information about the future in his mind.

Wei was relegated to a rookie jungler in 25, and then rose again in 26, his professional career starting strong but ending poorly.

But Wei is currently at his peak, and the value of his two MSI titles is no joke.

"Mid laner Tangyuan."

Chieh paused subtly as she wrote the name:

"A god in training matches."

"It's said that in RNG's scrims, he held his own against left-handed opponents."

"But in official matches... there haven't been any particularly outstanding performances yet."

"A common problem for newcomers is that their mindset is easily affected."

"AD UGLY...a complete newbie!"

"Support Bunny, a complete newbie, just promoted from LDL."

After Chieh finished speaking, she put down her pen and glanced at everyone.

At this moment, Yu Wenbo suddenly spoke up.

"Breathe has a habit."

He was very specific: "When he plays Fiora, he especially likes to ambush people in a bush during the first three levels."

"When you're laning against him later, pay attention to his habits and try to gain an advantage in the laning phase."

Li Hu glanced at Yu Wenbo and nodded.

"And Wei," Yu Wenbo continued:

"Seventy percent of the time, his first gank route is to look at the bottom lane."

"If the bot lane pushes too far, he'll gank bot at level three."

"He'll only go to mid or top if there's no opportunity in the bot lane."

"So Xiao Fang, you can move more towards the top lane in the early game. Wei is probably not here, so try your best to help Glory gain an advantage."

Xiao Fang nodded seriously and wrote it down.

Rookie chimed in from the side, adding in his Korean-accented Chinese:

"Breathe's Gnar doesn't control his anger very well."

"After he grew bigger, he really liked it and immediately jumped up to start a group buy."

"But often, my teammates can't keep up."

"This is an opportunity."

TheShy didn't speak, but seemed to be thinking about something.

"Did you hear that?"

Guo Hao stood to the side, his smile impossible to hide:

"Your seniors have given you all some advice, so do your best today."

Li Hu nodded: "Understood."

After the discussion, the referee came to announce the start of the match.

Li Hu slung his peripheral bag over his shoulder and walked with his teammates toward the player tunnel.

As he passed Yu Wenbo, the other person patted him on the shoulder:

"Go for it, Glory!"

"If we win today, I'll treat you guys to dinner."

Li Hu turned around and smiled:

"Then Jack's better get his wallet ready."

The Tiger Duck platform has opened a live streaming room for four dogs.

Zz1tai was wearing a black work uniform today, slumped in his gaming chair. As soon as the camera switched to the player tunnel, he started yelling:

"Here they come! TES vs. RNG!"

"Guys, I've been looking forward to this for days!"

Crystal stood to the side, making sarcastic remarks:

"Are, what are you expecting?"

"You're not a member of TES."

"I'm looking forward to seeing Glory and Breathe passionately 'penetrate' each other!"

Zizhi tugged at the black work clothes that were stuck to his body:

"What do you think of those two today...?"

"Who can spin whom like a top?"