EBE Chapter 32: Facing Niu Guli, the advantage is mine!
Chapter 32: Facing Niu Guli, the advantage is mine!
With JD Gaming being reverse-swept by DRX after being down 2-0, EDG's 1-3 loss to Samsung doesn't seem so glaring anymore.
The commentators said helplessly:
"Congratulations to Samsung for defeating EDG 3-1 and advancing to the semifinals of the World Championship."
"EDG has sadly bid farewell to the World Championship stage."
Miller let out a breath: "This is the third team eliminated from the LPL. Well, then we only have... Top Esports left."
Doll: "Well, all I can say is, good luck."
The LCK commentary booth is right next door.
The Roaring Emperor was leading the commentary team in a joyful dance.
That was genuinely fun.
The LCK has reached the semifinals three times in a row, with three best-of-five series.
The top four are in the third place!
Now all the attention in the LCK has turned to DK.
If DK defeats Top Esports, they will be able to create an unprecedented four semi-final teams in the LCK!
We've got them all!
Turn the World Championship into an LCK Autumn Season!
To be honest, this is a situation that Riot Games doesn't want to see, and that players all over the world don't want to see either.
In an instant, Topsports' approval rating soared.
The topic is being hotly debated on major domestic forums.
"EDG is really hopeless."
"They said they couldn't beat Samsung, and they lost so decisively."
"Alright, at least we won one game, unlike some teams that got swept."
"EDG, aren't you the defending champions? Comparing yourself to the fourth seed? Where's your pride?"
"Anyway, I only have the third seed. Winning one game against a three-star seed is enough. Let the second seed handle the rest."
"Heh, look at the true face of a pig offal."
"If they win, they're the defending champions, they're awesome, they have the championship pedigree. If they lose, they're just the third seed, that's all they can do."
"Your husbands will definitely leave after this year's tournament. You should think about how to get on the coattails of a Korean AD carry again."
"And the junior students, they'll definitely be gone next year too."
"The pig offal family is all gone; good luck to them."
They are just as good at criticizing EDG fans as one of the largest LPL fan groups, and their ability to divert attention is very precise.
They immediately turned all their criticism towards Top Esports, hoping that Top Esports would also suffer a crushing defeat and lose the game tomorrow.
If we're going to die, we'll die together.
Li Ning, JD.com, EDG, Top Esports—they're all trash.
What LPL representative team? They're just roadside teams.
Many fans from different regions share this view and are very disappointed with the LPL.
On Weibo, commentators, streamers, and players all expressed their feelings.
Wawa: "The most hopeful yet most despairing episode. We've already lost three of the four semifinal matches. Tomorrow is the last one. Please, Top Esports!"
Miller: "I don't want four quarter-final matches. Congratulations to South Korea for winning four times. It's our turn to win once."
Wang Duoduo: "EDG played with enough resilience today, showing the style of the defending champion, but unfortunately, Samsung performed better. Good luck to Top Esports tomorrow."
Wang Jiji: "Second brother here apologizes to everyone. Before the match, I thought EDG would lose, not because I thought EDG wasn't strong, but because Samsung was too strong, seemingly overpowered. Similarly, I also think DK will lose next year, haha, Top Esports, keep going!"
Rita: "It's really tough. We've fallen to the Korean team time and time again. I hope we can win just once tomorrow."
Guan Zeyuan: "The LCK commentary booth is right next to us! Seriously, guys, can I raise my arms and cheer just once? Just once!"
Many commentators and anchors also expressed their expectations for Top Esports tomorrow.
…………
After browsing the forums, Lin Jin was playing ranked games. While waiting, he saw many netizens' angry criticisms of EDG and LPL.
Few people even believed that Top Esports would achieve victory tomorrow.
This overwhelming despair has descended upon all LPL players.
While everyone was playing ranked matches, Guo Hao walked into the training room.
He smiled as he walked past his teammates one by one, chatting casually from time to time.
Everyone knows that Guo Hao is nervous.
When he gets nervous, he likes to walk around behind everyone, which makes everyone a little nervous.
Jack said, "Brother Hao, don't leave, it's hurting my eyes."
Guo Hao asked with concern, "What's wrong? Should we see a doctor?"
"It's okay, if you shake it again, my tinnitus will flare up too."
Guo Hao gave an awkward smile: "Okay, okay, everyone, let's train and then get some rest early, don't stay up too late."
"Especially you, Xiao Huo, don't push yourself too hard. Get well soon, there's a big battle ahead."
Lin Jin shrugged, neither confirming nor denying.
The training room returned to silence.
The mobilization meeting has been held, the debriefing has been completed, and the draft is ready. We're just waiting for tomorrow's showdown with DK.
When Lin Jin checked the system, it still showed a 50% recovery rate.
He hasn't won a single match in the LPL knockout stage these past few days, and he hasn't received any additional rewards.
We can only watch Top Esports' game tomorrow. He must do everything he can to help Top Esports beat DK and see how much "save value" he can gain.
Lin Jin played until 2:30 AM local time, then went to sleep.
…………
The next day.
After getting up at 10 a.m., he first ate some white food, and then went to the training room to play ranked games to keep his skills sharp.
They need to leave for the venue at 2 p.m., and the competition starts at 4 p.m., so they need to start makeup an hour and a half in advance.
There are also some pre-match interviews that need to be arranged in advance.
Upon arriving at the familiar venue and entering through the side door, they found representatives of international student fans already waiting for them.
As soon as they arrived, they waved their hands, held up support items, and cheered for Top Esports.
Lin Jin was also deeply moved and bowed to them.
Meanwhile, the fans cheered even louder, and the cameraman captured the moment.
Upon arriving at the venue, after a simple registration, I started getting my makeup done.
While he was getting his makeup done, the interviewer was already asking him questions.
As one of the featured matches of the day, the duel between Lin Jin and Niu Guli became a hot topic at the stadium.
The host asked him to think about his and Niu Guli's styles, and who would win in a head-to-head matchup.
If you're too aggressive with this kind of question, you'll get criticized; if you're too tactful, people will say you lack ambition.
This balance is indeed difficult to strike.
But Lin Jin followed his heart and said:
"I think I have the advantage over Niu Guli."
"This year is not 2020 anymore, it's not the year he won the championship. Niu Guli no longer has an advantage over me."
That's arrogant enough, but it's also true.
During the pre-match interview, the host was delighted to hear Lin Jin's answer.
This is the answer they wanted; this is the source of traffic and buzz.
He thanked Lin Jin repeatedly.
The live broadcast started half an hour before the match.
When the live stream showed Lin Jin's pre-match interview, netizens from both regions went wild.
LCK netizens have been criticizing the move:
"This is outrageous! Damn it!"