Is there truly honor in defeat in esports? After RNG’s narrow loss to AG, comments from coach JiuZhe sparked widespread online discussion.

Undeniably, the 16-to-8 match between AG Super Play and RNG stands out as the most exciting game in this cup so far. It’s normal for WB and AG to fight through a full BO7, but it’s remarkable that RNG, a team that has been the leader in Group B for a long time, forced AG Super Play into a decisive final battle!

After the game, RNG’s coach JiuZhe remarked in an interview that in esports, there is no honor in losing. So, what do you think — is there really honor in defeat in esports?

Personally, I think we need to consider two perspectives: the audience’s view and JiuZhe’s view on this idea of honor in defeat. From the audience’s perspective: pushing AG to a 1-3 brink, controlling the ban-pick phase, strong in-game performance — all these surprised the entire community. Plus, a restructured Group B team challenging a six-time consecutive champion who hadn’t lost in over two years — this performance is already at its limit. Both the journey and the outcome definitely embody honor in defeat.

From JiuZhe’s perspective: issues like decision-making in the fifth game, players not being brave enough, inadequate in-game setup in the sixth and peak showdown, unstable mentality, and the peak showdown lineup could have been better (anyone who watched and understood the match knows what I mean). For the coaching staff, these are definitely unsatisfactory.

For most coaching teams, there might be feelings of “we tried our best” and acceptance. But this is JiuZhe, a KPL legendary coach with strict demands and a single-minded focus on winning the championship. Last year, they already faced a 1-3 comeback by AG, and now history repeated itself. Anyone stepping into his shoes would surely feel uneasy.

Therefore, the audience’s belief in honor in defeat and JiuZhe’s denial of it are not contradictory at all. We focus more on the result, while JiuZhe concentrates on in-game details, the match process, and ultimately the final goal — the championship.

As the season ends, players who haven’t reached King rank yet, stop using these two heroes to climb! Huang Zhong is a hero with a big skill gap between high and low tiers. Once targeted by heroes like Lu Bu or Nezha, his ultimate becomes a sitting duck, easily wiped out instantly. Huang Zhong’s survival heavily depends on teammate protection and precise positioning predictions. Yet at low ranks, his ultimate dangerously attracts players.

Players love the thrill of setting up the cannon and unleashing a torrent of shells. They enjoy the straightforward power of destroying towers in seconds. A skilled Huang Zhong can indeed apply enormous pressure for the team’s push. But most of the time, low-rank players are just mesmerized by the explosive visual and sound effects, unable to save themselves.

Another hero is Bai Li Shou Yue. He’s a classic case of a hero feared by experts but beloved by novices. At the top level, his weaknesses are obvious. His second skill is unreliable; missing shots makes him as ineffective as a super minion. In team fights, he lacks sustained damage and struggles against frontliners. Being fragile and having little mobility makes him an easy target.

However, in mid to low ranks, he’s known as the sniper god. Countless players are addicted to the thrill of landing long-range one-shot kills. Often camping at the back, obsessed with aiming, they neglect pushing towers, joining fights, and basic attacks. While teammates struggle in 4v5 situations, he stays on the sidelines. Even if he occasionally lands a lucky shot, he feels like he’s performed perfectly. This reliance on unstable sniping and mistaking it for individual brilliance makes Shou Yue one of the most dreaded marksmen teammates can face.