Chapter 383: Facing

The night the first day of the knockout stage ended.

An entertainment program titled "S13 Night" on the official LCK broadcast channel aired as scheduled.

As the host region for the World Championship, the Korean officials, already adept at producing various entertainment programs, naturally wouldn't let such traffic go to waste. Starting from the quarterfinals, they began hosting this type of pre-match preview show, similar to the LPL's "Rice Canteen."

"Alright, everyone! Today, our guests for 'S13 Night' are the S10 World Champion top laner Nuguri and last year's S12 World Runner-up jungler Pyosik, here to bring you a pre-match outlook for tomorrow's games!"

Nuguri, who retired this year, and Pyosik, who just crashed out in the Round of 16, appeared on screen.

Actually, the organizers had originally wanted to invite ShowMaker as well.

Unfortunately, after ShowMaker crashed out in the Round of 16, he really felt too embarrassed to appear offline—whereas Pyosik, being on an overseas team, and with TL not even being North America's first seed, the Round of 16 exit didn't have as much of an impact~

Moreover, Pyosik had spent a year earning US dollars and discovered that the money wasn't as easy to make as he thought; he was very eager to return to the LCK next season.

"So, among the two sides facing off tomorrow, many are your former teammates, and both of you have played against some of them last year. Who are you two more optimistic about?"

The microphone was first handed to Pyosik.

Pyosik said almost without hesitation: "I think V5 will beat HLE 3-1!"

"The way we lost with DRX last year is how HLE will lose this year—after all, Deft and BeryL are no less capable than Viper and Meiko, and while Canyon is definitely stronger than me, the key mid and top lanes are the exact same matchups as last year."

"Especially the mid laner!"

"In case you've forgotten, in last year's finals, Ye solo-killed the mid laner six times in three games. Six times!!!"

"So, factoring in that Canyon is stronger than me, I think 3-1 is the most they can get!"

Hearing the other party not even minding belittling himself to secretly remind everyone who the "culprit" of last year's Worlds was, the host struggled to hold back a smile.

However, he wasn't too surprised by Pyosik's answer.

After all, everyone knew about the DRX "Palace Intrigue" incident after S12 ended; even Deft had heard from Doinb across the ocean that his own mid and top laners looked down on their jungler and insisted on forcing the management to replace him.

It could be said that if not for that incident, V5 might not necessarily have its current roster, and Pyosik, a dignified Worlds runner-up jungler, wouldn't have been reduced to having no job and being forced to go to North America to work.

The microphone was then handed to Nuguri.

HLE had Canyon, who left DK this year, and V5 had BeryL; both were his long-time former teammates, so it was like choosing between his own palms.

"Actually, anyone who has followed HLE's games this year knows that since Canyon joined HLE, his help to them has indeed been significant."

"Zeka and Kingen are both players known for their laning, and Canyon's addition allowed them to form the LCK's most iconic offensive team, also known as 'the team least like the LCK,' displaying strong chemistry."

"And this 'all-offensive top-mid-jungle' configuration, which is very rare in history, is unique among all teams at this year's Worlds; even V5 and Gen. G don't possess it, as their top laners aren't the type who specialize in laning."

Nuguri's analysis sounded like he was optimistic about HLE.

But under the host's hopeful gaze.

He immediately changed his tone.

"But I think they will likely be swept 3-0."

"..." The host was clearly very surprised by his answer, his smile stiffening: "But HLE hasn't played against V5 even once this year, and the matchup situation between the two sides is completely unknown. Is there a possibility?"

Nuguri shook his head.

His voice and emotions seemed to recall that final Worlds match before his retirement.

"Last year, I also met EDG in the quarterfinals. At that time, their entire team had tested positive, and only one Ye stood on stage."

"You haven't stood in the same Summoner's Rift as him, so you won't know the terror of this person, and you won't know the feeling of having your entire tactical plan pierced through by one person."

"Unless HLE has some new way to limit Ye, but DK, T1, and G2 in the Swiss stage have already tried 1-on-1 marking, lane swapping, and target-banning heroes, yet none succeeded."

"And if they can't do it, then the result should be 3-0."

The host couldn't quite hold it together.

Although they were an entertainment program and mainly focused on creating content—but having both guests from the host region be so pessimistic about their own team still had a slightly negative impact!

Fortunately, the witty organizers had a backup plan.

"Then, besides the two of you, our S13 Night has also invited a mysterious guest to join via online connection... Please welcome the S10 World Champion mid laner, ShowMaker!"

ShowMaker's face appeared on the broadcast screen.

Although he declined to come to the venue, it was hard to refuse an online appearance, and he looked somewhat embarrassed at the moment.

"ShowMaker, you should have just heard the evaluations from the two players. Regarding your old teammates and old rivals on both teams, which side do you support more?"

Fortunately, the awkward-looking ShowMaker had already recovered his composure thanks to his thick skin and gave a silly laugh.

"Then I definitely support HLE, after all, V5 just sent us packing... especially that guy BeryL, who even mocked me after it ended! Canyon, you must avenge me!"

"As for the score, I won't predict it."

"I hope both sides bring everyone a wonderful match, that's the most important thing!"

ShowMaker's support finally saved some face for the program.

The host also went along with it: "That's right, just as our local commentators said, since Gen. G didn't have their touch after resting for so many days and performed averagely, V5 will likely be the same."

This program was quickly relayed in real-time to the domestic forums, sparking quite a bit of discussion.

【No prediction? No need to predict!】

【You should learn from ShowMaker's emotional intelligence, but he's right to be optimistic about Zeka; like attracts like, this is 'the recognition between zones'!】

【Heh, those who look down on HLE, just wait for me. Do you really think my {BLG's Second Team} is playing around with you!】

【Don't even say it, HLE really is BLG's second team! Kingen, Zeka, Aiming are all BLG veterans. Turns out HLE is also Hua!】

【This is great, if HLE really makes the quarterfinals tomorrow, give half the honor to the main team BLG. It wouldn't be too much to count BLG as a Round of 16 finisher, right? —Even without going to Worlds, they can still get a Round of 16 finish! This is the strength of our BLG, win!!】

【Brothers, did anyone manage to grab tickets for tomorrow's quarterfinals? I'm damn, even at ten times the price, I can't find a scalper! I feel like the LCK officials have exerted their influence!】

November 3rd, the second day of the quarterfinals.

However, the ticket checkpoints today looked the same as yesterday, still filled entirely with Koreans—a considerable number of domestic and Western fans who didn't grab tickets could only look for the must-spawn NPC scalpers near the entrance.

Yet, the scalpers on site seemed to have received some "death order" from above that they dared not disobey.

As soon as they heard a non-Korean accent, they would turn around and run immediately!

The angry domestic fans could only watch anxiously as Korean students approached the scalpers, verified their identities with authentic standard Korean, and bought tickets.

"Oppa, oppa, can you sell all these tickets to us? Our university's esports club didn't grab any tickets..."

"You guys are Korean, right?"

"Aniyo, of course! We are all LCK fans! This is my student ID—HLE! Fight!"

"OK, then I'll sell them to you for 20,000 won more per ticket. Scan the code to add me as a friend and I'll send you the ticket codes. Hey, which period drama is this avatar from? How come I haven't seen it?"

The scene had already begun to warm up.

And the fans who had traveled from China could only helplessly hold their phones at the entrance, watching the upcoming scene through the fence.

But just then, someone wearing a peaked cap and black sunglasses sneaked toward them.

"Friends, friends, do you want tickets? Do you want tickets?" ===== CHAPTER 384 =====