You promised a top lane tutorial, but you're just using Worlds as material for your videos?

Chapter 121 Zhou Shen always manages to come up with something new!

"Alright, everyone, welcome back!"

"The match continues, and the next game will be a best-of-three series between LGD and QG."

For the first two matches on Saturday, the official commentators were Remember and Rita.

As soon as Rita appeared on screen, the live stream chat was flooded with comments like "Driving a Mercedes, drinking War Horse liquor, and enjoying a high-performance gaming chair."

"The match between LGD and QG is the last match between their respective groups."

"Both teams are in very good form right now, and are tied for second place in their respective groups."

"Whether we can secure second place in our group by the end of the inter-group matches, the result of this match is extremely important!"

I remember briefly introducing the recent situations of both teams.

Then he continued, "Another highlight of this match is that QG's mid laner Doinb and LGD's top laner Zhou Shen are currently ranked first and second on the MVP leaderboard, respectively."

"This direct confrontation between the first and second place in the MVP rankings could very well have a crucial impact on the outcome of the Spring Split regular season MVP!"

"Alright, both players are ready. The first game's draft phase is about to begin. Let's take a look at the draft!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the LPL's draft pick interface appeared on the big screen at the venue.

QG is on the blue side, and LGD is on the red side.

First round of BP.

QG banned Caitlyn, Jayce, and Fiora.

LGD banned Ryze, Graves, and Camille.

"Oh, QG banned Zhou Shen's Fiora and Jayce in the first round."

"And the policewoman from Imp can't be let go just like that!"

Generally speaking, the blue side's drafting and banning (BP) is usually easier to do.

Blue team often doesn't need to ban some overpowered heroes in the current patch because they can pick them.

You just need to ban the enemy's signature heroes.

LGD also banned Doinb's Ryze.

Ryze is a champion that suits Doinb's playstyle so well that he can't be given the champion so casually.

As for Camille, after being nerfed repeatedly, even if Zhou Dian gives her to the opponent, he won't be afraid.

The main reason for banning them is because QG's mid laner is Doinb.

Doinb is a player with extremely strong roaming ability, which can even be described as exaggerated.

I especially love swimming.

If Camille is given to QG's top laner, QG's mid and jungle will target the top lane, and Zhou Dian will have a hard time keeping up.

The main reason is that Camille's ability to keep opponents in place is too strong.

The system is what it is; there's nothing we can do about it.

After banning the first three champions, QG picked Rengar on the blue side's first floor.

After the rework, Rengar has become very strong, and in recent versions of the game, he has basically been a must-ban or must-pick.

Next, LGD selected Lulu and Kha'Zix on the first and second floors of the red side.

The moment the mantis was played, a cheer erupted from the audience.

Who wouldn't love watching a showdown between a praying mantis and a poodle!
"The jungler isn't afraid at all, he took down the Kha'Zix directly, a true man's battle!"

"As for Lulu, she would definitely have been a support in the past. But now she could be a mid-laner or support, because Wei Shen's playstyle has changed recently, and he's been playing a lot of support-type utility mid-laners in matches!"

"However," Remember changed the subject, "the best player in the LPL at this kind of support-oriented mid-lane play is the one opposite GodV, namely Doinb."

"If LGD really does have Lulu mid, then Wei Shen is directly challenging Doinb's strength in this game!"

Subsequently, QG secured Jhin and Karma on the second and third floors of the blue side.

Like LGD's Lulu, QG's Karma also served as a flexible mid-support pick.

Considering Doinb's past playstyle, QG's Karma pick is more likely to be a mid-laner.

In the last pick of the first round, LGD locked in Sivir on the third floor of the red side.

"Oh, Sivir! She's probably one of the best AD carries imp plays!"

We've moved on to the second round of draft picks.

LGD banned Shen and Taliyah.

QG banned Lucian and Cassiopeia.

"With Taliyah banned, LGD probably thinks Karma might play support."

"QG banned two heroes from Zhou Shen!"

Rita continued, "QG's top laner, Kabe, probably felt he couldn't handle those two champions, so he simply banned them!"

"In that case, QG has banned four top laners. I wonder what champion Zhou Shen will pick in the counter position this game!" Remember said.

Not only did I remember, but most of the other viewers also assumed that Zhou Dian would be the top laner on the fifth floor of the red team.

Otherwise, why drag it out to the second round of hero selection!

As a result, QG banned four top laners, leaving them with fewer options.

Similarly, viewers are curious about which top laner Zhou Dian will play in this game.

The top laners he used to play have all been banned, so does that mean he's playing a tank this game?
Or rather, will we see Yasuo again?

If Zhou Dian really picks Yasuo again, the audience of this match will definitely be the most delighted.

Who doesn't love watching a happy, stylish guy?
At this moment, in the LGD players' seat.

"Zhou Dian, how about I pick first? I think Doinb is very likely to pick Karma mid!" Wei Shen said to Zhou Dian.

"It's okay, I'll go first. If you go first, even if Doinb is planning to play Karma mid, he'll have to switch champions to counter you!"

Zhou Dian continued, "Once I pick this hero, the enemy top laner can't counter me!"

"What hero?" imp asked curiously.

Lucian and Cassiopeia, the two most annoying champions in the top lane, have both been banned. What other champions can achieve the same effect?
"Imp, get me the chrysanthemum letter!"

"Chrysanthemum letter? What's that?" Imp was a little confused.

“Zhao Xin!” PYL quickly said.

"Oh, Zhao Xin! This top laner is interesting!"

As he spoke, Imp found Zhao Xin and then locked the fourth floor of the red building.

Zhao Xin's lock caused an uproar in the arena, with the audience discussing it amongst themselves.

In the live broadcast room, the refresh rate of the bullet comments also skyrocketed.

[Zhao Xin top lane?]

Zhou Shen always manages to come up with something new!

[Wow, Zhou Shen's new round of research and development has begun!]

[QG's top laner must be out of his mind. I already banned Lucian and Cassiopeia, what else could he possibly have up his sleeve?!]

Why does Zhou Shen have so much filth?!

[You think the title of "Top Lane Guru" is just for show? You think you can use anything to play top lane?!]

Do you guys think it's possible—and I mean possible—that LGD might have Xin Zhao jungle and Kha'Zix top lane this game?

[Impossible, absolutely impossible! 】

[What are you thinking? The enemy team is already jungling with Rengar, what are you going to do with Kha'Zix if not jungle?]

【.】

In the commentary box.

"Zhao Xin top lane, it must be Zhao Xin top lane!"

I remember sincerely exclaiming, "What hero can't Zhou Shen play in the top lane?!"

"I'm kind of looking forward to seeing Xin Zhao in the top lane!" Rita added.

The camera pans across the QG players' bench.

You can see that QG's top laner Kabe looks very serious. Xin Zhao top lane is certainly not invincible; he actually has many weaknesses.

Speaking of laning, if you pick a ranged champion and kite well, you can easily beat Xin Zhao in lane.

However, he can't play ranged top lane champions!

It's not that I can't do it at all, but I certainly don't have the level of proficiency required for the competition.

He wouldn't dare practice his hero skills in a competition.

They neither had the guts nor the standing within the team.

"What should I do, Doinb? Which one should I choose?" Kabe turned to look at Doinb.

Anyway, within the QG team, whenever there's a problem, they just ask Doinb.

When faced with in-game issues, QG's players' first reaction wasn't to contact the coach, but to contact Doinb.

"Pick Poppy! Poppy's W can counter Xin Zhao's E skill!" Doinb said.

Doinb reacted quickly, immediately thinking of using Poppy to counter Xin Zhao.

However, Poppy is no match for Xin Zhao in lane.

With the healing efficiency of Zhao Xin's W skill, he is not afraid of any melee hero in the top lane, let alone melee tank heroes.

Poppy has the Steadfast Charm (W), which is mainly effective against Xin Zhao in team fights.

In intense team battles, there is often only one chance to enter the fray.

Besides her W skill guaranteeing 100% protection against Xin Zhao's entry, Poppy's ultimate also has a chance to knock Xin Zhao away.

Of course, this is on the premise that Bobby's reaction time is fast enough.

"I'm not very proficient with Poppy!" Kabe said hesitantly. "Besides, Poppy can't beat Xin Zhao in lane, can she?"

"I know I can't win!" Doinb said, speechless. "But if you pick Poppy, you can survive in lane and won't get solo killed easily!"

Damn, Coin Bro, do you have to be so direct?!
Kabe is a bit numb.

So, QG picked Poppy on the fourth floor.

At this moment, QG's head coach asked, "Tae-sang (Doinb's name), Karma should go play support! What mid laner do you want to play?"

"Why is Karma playing support?" Doinb frowned. "I'm playing Karma mid this game!"

Upon hearing this, QG's head coach knew that Doinb was afraid of being countered by Wei Shen's counter-strategy.

So I decided to pick Karma mid.

Karma mid is one of Doinb's signature champions, and Karma is basically fearless in the mid lane.

It can even suppress most mid laners in the early game.

However, in the later stages of the game, Karma becomes more of a utility player; she can't carry on her own and relies entirely on her teammates.

In QG today, the other players don't have enough carry ability, and many games rely heavily on Doinb to deal damage.

But Doinb's decision to play Karma mid at this point seems a bit timid!

Of course, QG's coach wouldn't dare say such things to Doinb; he could only think them to himself.

Ultimately, QG chose Thresh on the fifth floor of the blue side.

"In that case, QG's lineup will be Poppy top, Thresh support, and Karma mid!"

Remember continued, "LGD still has one mid laner left to pick. I wonder what champion Wei Shen will choose to counter Karma!"

LGD players' bench.

After QG finalized their lineup, Wei Shen said, "Karma mid, I don't have any good champions to play against. This champion is too overpowered in the laning phase!"

"Rogue? Does Xiao Zhou play Lucian solo lane with Rogue?" PYL chuckled.

"Still no!" Wei Shen laughed. "Top lane Lucian, he's really taken being shameless to a whole new level!"

In response to his teammates' complaints, Zhou Dian shrugged and said, "Top lane Lucian isn't the worst. I have an even worse one. He can easily beat Karma. Wei Shen, do you want to play?"

"Forget it, I really can't play this game. I'll just choose something more conventional!"

As he spoke, Wei Shen turned to Dgc and asked, "Coach, what should I pick this game?"

Oh? And my business?
Given the current draft situation, Dgc originally planned to randomly pick mid or top lane.

As a result, Wei Shen actually asked him which mid-lane champion he wanted to choose.

This question has stumped Dgc!
If you, GodV, don't even know what's a good matchup against Karma, how would I know?

"What mid laner should we pick, coach?" PYL urged.

But suddenly, Dgc had an inspiration.

He knows what to choose!

"Ice Maiden, let's get Ice Maiden!"

"You like playing Karma mid, right? GodV, pick Lissandra and coordinate with your teammates to gank him down!" Dgc said.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Dian said, "That's great! Let's do a few more mid-top lane synergies later and crush Karma!"

Therefore, PYL locked down Ice Maiden on the fifth floor of the red team.

"Oh, Lissandra!"

"This hero has been rarely seen in this year's competitions!" Remember said.

At this point, the screen displays Ice Maiden's ban rate, pick rate, and win rate in the Spring Split.

In the nearly 140 games played so far in the entire Spring Split, Ice Maiden has only appeared once before, and lost.

"Uh, Crystal Maiden's stats are a bit terrible!" Rita said. "But Crystal Maiden is still a pretty good fit for LGD's lineup."

As the commentators analyzed the lineups of both teams, the head coaches of both teams had already arrived at the center of the stage.

After shaking hands, they each turned and walked into the players' tunnel.

On the large screen at the venue, the game had reached the loading screen.

Blue side QG: Top lane Poppy, Jungle Rengar, Mid lane Karma, Bot lane Jhin and Thresh.

Red team LGD: Top lane Xin Zhao, Jungle Kha'Zix, Mid lane Lissandra, Bot lane Sivir and Lulu.

"Go LGD!!!"

After QG's fans cheered them on, it was LGD's turn.

The cheers from LGD fans far drowned out those from QG fans.

Due to LGD's strong recent performance, more and more LGD fans are choosing to come to the stadium to support their team.

After both sides' fans finished cheering, Summoner's Rift appeared on the big screen at the venue.

The camera pans over the entire canyon, and when it passes Xiaolongkeng, an orange mark can be seen on the pit wall.

This means that the first dragon in this game is an earth dragon.

There is still some need to contest the Earth Dragon in the early stages.

QG's bot lane duo of Jhin and Thresh undoubtedly gives them a greater advantage in contesting early dragons.

Of course, the outcome depends on more than just hero selection; ultimately, it also depends on the players' skill and performance on the day.

The players on both sides quickly bought their starting items, and ten heroes rushed out of the fountains at both ends of Summoner's Rift, heading straight for the fountain.

LGD lined up along the river, a defensive starting position.

On the other hand, QG did not diligently defend their own jungle at the start of the game.

Jhin and Thresh are in a defensive position, standing at the intersection behind the blue team's red buff.

However, the other three players, mid, top, and jungle, grouped up and headed straight for LGD's top lane tri-bush.

The intention was obvious: to arrest someone.

Doinb studied a lot of LGD's recent matches and found that when LGD was on the red side, their top laner liked to start by standing in the top lane's tri-bush.

Therefore, Doinb plans to do something unexpected.

If we could catch Zhao Xin and kill him, that would be great.

If you can't kill them, it's best to use Flash to escape.

However, QG's top, mid, and jungle players came up empty-handed.

(End of this chapter)