novellk Chapter 30 First Round Loss
Chapter 30 First Round Loss
"I have a question..." Miller steered the conversation back on track.
"As a senior player for Top Esports, which team do you think has the best chance today?"
The moment this question was asked, the live stream chat exploded with comments.
[As a veteran of Top Esports, Xiongxiong would definitely say Top Esports, is there even a need to ask?]
[I support Top Esports out of sentiment, but rationally I choose NIP.]
[It's starting! The commentary and predictions are here. Buy the opposite, and you'll own a villa by the sea!]
【…】
After pondering for a moment, Xiong Xiong gave an answer that surprised everyone.
Personally... I might be more optimistic about NIP.
Upon hearing this, not only Miller and Tongxi were stunned for a moment, but even the comments section paused for a split second.
"Oh? Why?" Miller pressed.
"It's very simple." Xiongxiong's expression turned serious, and he analyzed the situation logically.
"First of all, judging from their recent form, NIP has won three consecutive games, and the team's morale and team synergy are on the rise."
"On the other hand, although Top Esports won against LNG in the last game, it was not an easy victory, and the team still has issues with team cohesion."
"Secondly, there's the middle lane."
Xiong Xiong's gaze fell on the close-up shot of Chen Xiao on the big screen.
"This rookie's performance in the last game was indeed very impressive, with very solid last-hitting fundamentals—but he's going to be facing Rookie today."
Xiong Xiong's tone was tinged with emotion.
"Rookie's greatest strengths are lane dominance and teamwork. He'll give you a huge advantage from level one, constantly probing you, pressuring you, looking for your mistakes, and then delivering the final blow!"
"Many rookie mid laners get completely overwhelmed after laning against him for ten minutes. Then, in the mid-to-late game, they get completely disoriented by Rookie's support and synergy, ultimately losing the game!"
"It's not that I don't have high hopes for Lucifer, it's just that I feel that facing Rookie in his second LPL match is a bit too much of a challenge for him."
"Of course, I also hope that Lucifer can withstand the pressure and play to his full potential!"
Tongxi added from the side:
"Indeed, Rookie's win rate with Taliyah, Azir, and Corki this season is terrifying. NIP is also very good at playing mid-jungle offensive tactics around him. Top Esports' mid laner may be under a lot of pressure."
Miller's final waterway:
"Okay, thanks for the professional analysis, Xiongxiong! It seems that in today's match, Top Esports' rookie mid laner Lucifer will face the real test of his professional career!"
"Will Rookie prove his skills are still sharp and teach the newcomers a lesson? Or will Lucifer, fearless as a newcomer, surprise us once again? Let's move on to the draft phase and wait and see!"
As the commentary ended, the large screen switched to the BP interface.
Top Esports is on the blue side, and NIP is on the red side.
NIP's first two bans were given to JackeyLove's Lucian and Varus without hesitation.
The main focus is on respect!
The duo of Shui Mei and Nai Mei have an overwhelmingly strong laning presence, boasting the highest lane lead among all LPL bot lane duos.
Photic and Zhuo's laning ability is only barely above average, and they may not be able to withstand the laning pressure from Ah Shui and Meiko.
Banning Lucian and Varus was to ensure the bot lane's development and lane dominance.
NIP's third pick was to ban Zhao Xin, who had the highest win rate among Xiaotian's picks.
They can basically make plays in the early game, so NIP's head coach wouldn't dare take that risk!
"NIP still respects Top Esports' two bench and jungle positions; JackeyLove and Tian are indeed Top Esports' two core players!"
"Top Esports banned Azir, Ahri, and Lee Sin, mainly targeting Rookie and Aki in the mid and jungle!"
"Top Esports' decision to first pick Maokai is indeed a good one; it synergizes well with any team composition!"
"..."
The BP process ended quickly.
TES: Top lane Udyr, Jungle Maokai, Mid lane Orianna, ADC Zarya, Support Yuumi.
NIP: Top lane Aatrox, Jungle Vi, Mid lane Alter, ADC Senna, Support Tahm Kench.
Maokai's idea was simple: to relentlessly exploit NIP's weaknesses!
Since the bottom lane is weak, let Ah Shui and Meiko pick Zephyr and Yuumi.
They face no pressure in the laning phase, and their carry potential explodes in the mid-to-late game.
A lineup that favors a four-protect-one composition can easily take over the game.
With Udyr, Maokai, and Orianna as his three bodyguards, the team fights in the late game are quite imaginative!
But what Maokai didn't expect was that NIP's coaching staff had anticipated his prediction—they picked the bot lane duo of Sene and Tahm Kench for Photic and Zhuo.
Senna can heal, and Tahm Kench can devour people.
It has strong lane sustain and maximum anti-tower diving ability.
This completely thwarted his plan to focus on the bottom lane!
Then, they focused on the top, mid, and jungle, gaining a significant advantage in the early game!
Although Chen Xiao wasn't killed, he was too distracted to keep up with the minions constantly being pushed into the tower and a jungler who could appear at any moment.
It can only be tethered to the line, and can't even eat jungle monsters!
Whether Photic harbored "hatred" towards Top Esports or something else, he played exceptionally fiercely in this game.
Although he was timid and hesitant during the laning phase, he was outmaneuvered by Ah Shui.
But when it comes to team fights, they unleash their fury under the protection of their three core teammates in the top, mid, and jungle.
They achieved a perfect score of 5-0-7!
At the 27th minute, Ah Shui's Zeli hadn't fully developed before the game ended.
Trailing by one to zero.
-
"I knew NIP had a higher win rate today. The Rookie, Sanji, and Aki mid-top-jungle combination is just too dominant!"
Xiong Xiong stared at the score on the big screen, spittle flying everywhere.
"With Little Cream gone, Top Esports can only focus on the bottom lane. JackeyLove is very strong, but he can't carry the team alone. Lucifer performed well in the last BO3, but he's still young."
"Top Esports will likely be swept 2-0 by NIP today!"
He's not a commentator; he doesn't need to be impartial. He can say whatever he wants!
Miller, wiping the cold sweat from his brow, tried to salvage the situation:
"What Xiongxiong means is that if the other lanes of Top Esports can't step up, today's game will be very difficult."
Tong Xi nodded and followed:
"But we all know that Top Esports has always been a team that dares to create miracles, and we believe they will bring us an even more exciting game in the next match!"
The viewers in the live stream weren't buying this attempt to save face.
[Creating a miracle? Referring to the S-series Round of 16, Vietnamese fermented bean curd?]
[Where was the excitement? Wasn't the last game a one-sided beating from start to finish?]
[Ze Li's scent is still the same; she loves to fly in people's faces and kill them instantly!]
[This Lucifer has finally shown his true colors; he plays a clockwork character and becomes invisible, basically useless!]
[This loss probably wasn't due to the mid lane, right? The mid laner played exceptionally well; he survived all that ganking and didn't fall behind in CS!]
Although a few people spoke up for Chen Xiao, they were all drowned out by the vast barrage of comments.
Rookie, as the first champion mid laner in the LPL, has undeniable popularity!
Winning is awesome, losing is just doing your best.
Is a newbie trying to stage an accident?
Go play somewhere else!
-
After a short ten-minute break, the second match resumed.
Maokai walked at the front of the group with a serious expression, seemingly lost in thought.
The last game was lost too easily, which put enormous pressure on him as the head coach.
His mind was racing... trying to think of a way to break the deadlock!
Chen Xiao followed behind him, his mind racing.
He knew that focusing solely on the bottom lane would make it difficult to beat a team like NIP, which had a strong mid, top, and jungle.
We must find a way to persuade Maokai to give him some offensive heroes!