Introduction: The S15 season matches have officially started, and most players have been following the recent confrontations closely. The LPL regular season is nearing its end, with several teams already securing playoff spots. This season, AL's overall condition and performance have been less than ideal, far from their form in the first two splits. They barely secured a top-four spot, and their final match against WE exposed serious problems. The bottom-ranked WE team swept them 2-0, and mid-laner Shanks' pre-match boast ironically backfired—he publicly claimed they would sweep WE 2-0 and that he would earn an MVP.

AL Shanks' pre-match tough talk gets proven wrong.

Most players still pay close attention to AL team. As a rising strong team in the LPL, after roster changes this season, their overall form and results have been fairly stable. Especially in the second split, they won the LPL championship and participated in two World Championships as the number one seed. Although they didn't clinch the ultimate title, fans highly regard them since all their losses were full BO5 series decided in the final game. Many expected their performance to improve in the third split, but upon returning to the LPL, numerous issues surfaced—whether due to overconfidence or internal conflicts remains unclear.

In the final match against WE, most expected AL to win, but WE swept them 2-0 with no resistance. In the first game’s early phase, both sides played cautiously, focusing on farming and looking for opportunities. At 12 minutes, WE leveraged their strategic advantage to secure three nests and the first dragon. The first team fight erupted at 16 minutes; Rumble's damage helped WE seize the initiative and build an increasing lead. After 20 minutes, Poppy’s aggressive engages sealed WE’s dominance, and they won the first game at 39 minutes.

Honestly, the first game’s result didn’t affect many players much, since WE has been the team that often loses after winning the first game this split. Unexpectedly, in the second game, AL’s mid-laner Shanks stepped up. His mid Taliyah completely dominated WE’s Akali, turning her into a fed champion. In mid-game team fights, Akali moved freely, instantly killing AL’s carry with one combo, leaving no room for counterplay. Akali ended with a 12-2-6 score, earned MVP, and had a massive 5139 gold lead.

After the match, Shanks’ pre-game statements resurfaced, making them seem like a joke. When asked by the host about any small goals for this final intra-group match, Shanks boldly declared his aim to sweep WE 2-0 and to personally earn an MVP. While his flags were technically fulfilled, the reality was reversed: WE swept AL 2-0, and WE’s mid-laner Karis took the MVP.

Farewell thoughts

It seems that since the late-night chat incident, Shanks has faced serious issues, with his in-game performance deteriorating significantly. Many fans have been teasing him relentlessly. Sometimes, results are what matter most. The journey to becoming a star is long, but maintaining that status is even more crucial. Winning a regional championship once does not grant immunity from criticism. Honestly, no LPL player has earned that privilege yet. Unless someone defeats Faker and wins the World Championship, the pressure from the LPL community remains intense.

What do all of you viewers think about this matter?