Rebuilding China: LGD's disaster, much ado about Vici and NEST
San Jose happened. LGD Gaming's chance for redemption came and went. The Qiao Gu Reapers have been voted into Intel Extreme Masters Cologne where some Chinese fans' hopes now hinge.
I'm not optimistic about Qiao Gu's chances at Cologne, but not because of China's problems overall. I doubt their late-game style of falling behind in lane and making teamfight comebacks will suit them this coming year. China will continue to spiral out of control at international events for a while, following the track that LGD set them on.
Weekly Hurdle: Lax GD and problems with infrastructure
In light of LGD's second international blunder — this time, they failed to win a single game against Team SoloMid, extending their all-time record against the team to 1-3 and threatening my sobriety — it's time to continue to look at teams on a case-by-case basis. When it comes to LGD, I believe there are serious infrastructural issues with the team. I don't necessarily mean coaching, though that has certainly been a problem, but management andownership.
As I've mentioned previously, many team owners and managers in Chinese eSports seem to have a lax relationship with players and teams. Teams themselves are hobbies or fascinations — think the Gravity owner — and the concern in the past was sometimes that owners would grow bored.
For example, Invictus Gaming's owner, Wang Sicong, has created a new streaming platform called PandaTV, and since his attention has waned before, many believe his focus will shift rapidly from eSports to his new enterprise. Tian Ci, the previous owner of Royal Club and LMQ, managed to disappear, allegedly leaving his wife to tend to the affairs of ownership and cutting off LMQ's resources almost entirely.
Additionally, while owners have control of clubs, they treat players more as their friends than their employees. Wang,again one of the more public figures, will stream with his players frequently and maintain a joking relationship. This doesn't necessarily have to be a bad thing, but by many accounts, it often extends to clubs behind the scenes.
This combination can create problems in a team like LGD, who are known to not scrim seriously during practice blocks, even within the LPL's environment rich with questionable work ethics. If a coach tries to change behavior, he could find himself unable to enforce those changes if the club doesn't understand the importance of a coach. Given LGD's alleged refusal to pay coaches high salaries, this may be the case. It could also be, of course, that FireFox doesn't understand how to impart information to LGD, particularly in a manner that suits them.
Given how often Gu "imp" Seungbin has claimed injury or visa complication at a third party tournament, forcing the team to put another player in the AD Carry position — or that Wei "GODV" Zhen has joked about feeding in scrims on stream — I get the sense that if a player on LGD doesn't necessarily want to listen, he doesn't have to. I don't know the specifics of LGD's problems, but it's unlikely anyone on LGD rules with a tight grip.
Chen "Pyl" Bo has even described his captaining style for the team as patient. He's said that while some captains will go after their teammates' flaws or tell them to practice, he tries to be someone they can lean on or vent to instead. Recently in imp's Inven interview, he said he felt "more free" in China, suggesting practice or commitments are less enforced on LGD.
The result was a team that didn't look disciplined or prepared, though they begged to be sent back to the international stage. imp's pre-IEM testimonial suggested morale was still low, and the team didn't expect to win. The confident LGD we saw in the LPL that dove their lane opponents didn't exist, and they simply let TSM have control in both games. They seemed to lack communication and coordination more than TSM — a team together for less than a week — and though they outfarmed their opponents in most instances, they failed to provide any game pressure whatsoever.
I won't presume to know every problem with LGD Gaming, but the obvious ones are the need for a consistent coaching staff and a lack of practice commitment, even after they begged fans to vote them back into an international tournament. To me, those two things are likely symptomatic of the same problem.
I don't know if it's possible to strictly enforce a better scrim culture with the same roster even if staff changes are made. Changing the environment drastically eventually resulted in OMG players retiring en-mass this year. But when a team cannot effect a change in morale or commitment after an event like the World Championship, that falls on the organization. LGD need to seriously examine their internal structure and whether or not they have a desire to succeed internationally.
Roster Rumblings
Confirmations
As of this week,Vici Gaming have acquired top laner Zhu "Loong" Xiaolong from Unlimited Potential in exchange for mid laners Wang "Hetong" Bin, Peng "Peng" Yibo, AD Carry Pi "Xuan" Xiaoxuan, and jungler Chen "World6" Yutian. This sets Vici Gaming up for a strong top laner when Choi "DanDy" Inkyu returns to the jungle but leaves way too many questions behind.
It undoes the work Vici Gaming have done developing talents World6, Peng and Xuan, who showed promise at the end of the season. Peng was one of my Chinese rookies to watch this year, and it's disappointing to see him shuttled to the LSPL so easily, especially when VG have yet to provide a suitable replacement.
The team's roster for the National Electronic Sports Tournament this weekend includes Xu "Endless" Hao in the mid lane, who has played mid before with Unlimited Potential, to mixed results. Li "Vasilii" Weijun will also play AD Carry.
Aside from the Vici Gaming's changes, Master3 has gained two acquisitions. Their weak bottom lane last year was probably the worst in the league, and they've picked up promising talent in Xu "PentaQ" Mingshu as well as a new support from solo queue, City. The adage here is that it can't possibly be worse.
When I'm feeling more optimistic about Master3 than Vici Gaming, it's a really bad sign.
Legend Dragon, an LSPL team, has acquired two Taiwanese players, Wang "GoDJJ" Yong Jie, formerly of Hong Kong Esports and Wang "Ysera" Tsung Chih, formerly of the Logitech G Snipers. As Legend Dragon already had two Hong Kong players, a coach from Hong Kong and a Taiwanese coach, they're one jungler away from being completely LMS-grown.
This year, Legend Dragon had some of the smartest play among LSPL teams, and both Lo "PaSa" Hung Sing and Kan "Kabe" Ho Man have impressed. Barring larger acquisitions by other LSPL teams, I think they will make the LPL in 2016.
Likely
Since almost every Chinese roster rumor is absolutely happening until it isn't, I haven't yet put Ming "Clearlove" Kai's insistence that Heo "pawN" Wonseok, Tong "Koro1" Yang, and Kim "Deft" Hyukkyu will continue to play for EDward Gaming next year under "confirmations." EDward Gaming pulled out of all remaining 2015 events, citing health concerns. pawN was unable to attend the award ceremony for health reasons as well. This could, however, also point to internal problems within the organization.
Big things will allegedly begin to move starting Nov. 25. As today is Nov. 26, buckle in. One NGA forum insider has hinted something related to Jian "Uzi" Zihao will be announced this week.
Song "Fly" Youngjun, formerly of Jin Air, who has been playing mid lane for Young Glory for a year, may be leaving the organization. It is unclear yet where he will end up, but a return to Korea is not out of the question.
With the dissolution of NaJin on the horizon, word is several players in the organization are seeking Chinese offers. Contrary to what many have speculated, it seems more likely for Koreans to look for teams in North America and China with better salary and more free time than to try to migrate back after this year's World Championship performance.
Rumor roundup
Chinese fans still want Lee "Duke" Hoseong to go to China. At this point, even with Najin potentially dissolving, I believe Duke will play for a Korean team next year and it will remain a distant dream brought on by Sun "XiaoXiao" Yalong's desire to troll his fan base.
Vici Gaming are still front-and-center for the rumor mill, especially with so many players being transferred to Unlimited Potential. LGD Gaming's Chinese player contracts are expiring this month, and given LGD's friendly relationship with Vici Gaming, some fans are looking to Chen "Pyl" Bo (should Cho "Mata" Sehyeong leave) and Wei "GODV" Zhen as potential pickups.
Vici Gaming prefer to grow their own talent. They've worked with GODV in the past and transferred him to LGD, believing his attitude made him difficult to mold as a player. Though GODV's in-game style has changed from "hero mode," he still has a reputation for trolling in scrims that might make him unattractive to Vici Gaming.
SK Telecom T1's release of Jang "MaRin" Gyeonghwan has sparked one of the most humorous rumors yet. LGD's media manager, Jenny Lee, made a joke on Twitter that made its rounds across Chinese social media. Let's just say her clarification Tweet covers the entire story.
Lee "Easyhoon" Jihoon rumors continue, sparked by his release, Fly's potential departure from Young Glory and YG's manager's posting of "welcome Easyhoon to China" from weibo. Some fans have begun to believe Easyhoon will go to Young Glory, but this is mostly met by incredulous responses. Easyhoon went to China to visit Chinese fans recently, which could have spurred the mixup.
Easyhoon may end up playing for a Chinese team next year, but I don't think it will be for YG.
Upcoming Events: National Electronic Sports Tournament
Bullet point reasons to watch
Snake has announced they will play with the lineup I perceive to be their best
imp hasn't found an excuse to skip out yet
Despite his transfer to LSPL team Unlimited Potential, Peng is still one of my new Chinese players to watch in 2016
Master3 are showing off their new bottom lane, and PentaQ has made great plays in the past
DanDy is jungling — let's be real I could have skipped the rest
Details
If anyone read last week's column, they know the LPL's end of year awards took place this week during the Demacia Cup. I previewed the awards with the winners I'd choose for each category, but if you missed the actual winners, they were as follows:
CATEGORY
WINNER
Favorite player
Clearlove
Favorite caster
Miss
MVP
Clearlove
Best club
EDward Gaming
Best coach
Aaron
Best import
pawN
Best rookie
Meiko
Best top
Flandre
Best jungler
Clearlove
Best mid
pawN
Best ADC
imp
Best support
Meiko
Best manager
San Shao
Best new club
Qiao Gu
It could have been worse.
This weekend ended, EDward Gaming won yet another tournament and the Chinese world turns. NEST, not to be confused with NESO a few weeks ago, will take place this weekend, starting Nov. 26 at 9 p.m. EST.
Other NEST games include FIFA Online 3, another MOBA called 炉石传说, Crossfire and Heroes of the Storm. The grand prize is $32,530 USD with smaller prizes for second and third place. CGA sponsors the tournament.
League of Legends teams that have advanced from the qualifier, which took place before the World Championship, will compete in NEST this weekend. Invictus Gaming, WE, Vici Gaming, LGD Gaming, Unlimited Potential, Snake and Master3 remain in contention. EDward Gaming also advanced, but as I've said, they have withdrawn from all remaining 2015 tournaments. As a result, their quarterfinal opponent, Unlimited Potential, will advance directly to semifinals.
The event will also run alongside secondary league and university league competitions in League of Legends. All matches will be best-of-three and single elimination in the bracket. The first match will be between Invictus Gaming and WE.
DATE
TIME
MATCH
November 26
9:00 p.m. EST
Invictus Gaming vs WE
November 27
4:00 a.m. EST
Vici Gaming vs LGD Gaming
November 27
7:30 a.m. EST
Unlimited Potential vs EDG - FF
November 27
8:30 p.m. EST
Snake vs M3
November 28
4:00 a.m. EST
Semifinal 1
November 28
7:30 a.m. EST
Semifinal 2: Unlimited Potential vs TBD
November 28
8:30 p.m. EST
Third place match
November 29
5:30 a.m. EST
Final match
Both Longzhu and Zhanqi will stream NEST. The official Longzhu stream can be found here. Zhanqi stream will likely be found on the front page of Zhanqi at the time of the tournament.
It's a good chance to see the state of Vici Gaming's roster and DanDy's first jungle appearance since early summer. The only confirmed lineups for the event are Master3, Snake and VG. Snake will play Ceng "U" Long in the mid lane, Liu "ZZR" Yuan in the jungle and Yang "kRYST4L" Fan as the AD Carry. Master3 will debut their new bottom lane, but their roster will otherwise remain the same.
This is a short description in the author block about the author. You edit it by entering text in the "Biographical Info" field in the user admin panel.
0 nhận xét:
Post a Comment