Introduction: The S15 season has officially started, and most players have been paying close attention to the recent matches. Following a brief off-season, numerous intriguing news items have emerged in the LPL scene. The Swiss draw groupings are always popular to watch, and the guests for these draws have sparked widespread discussion online. Xiaoming, Jiejie, and Liu Qingsong have already finished their appearances. According to previous leaks, Xiaohu and Zitao were expected to be guests for this round of group draws, with Zitao scheduled as the final guest for the crucial last round. However, recently insiders revealed that Xiaohu refused the official invitation to be a draw guest, stating he had more important matters to attend to.

WBG Xiaohu refuses S15 draw guest invitation

Most players are quite familiar with mid-laner Xiaohu. As a domestic player in the LPL, his popularity and fame are undeniable. Over many years competing on the professional stage, he has achieved remarkable results, winning the LPL championship and even the world-class MSI title. He is also the only player in League of Legends history to have won the MSI twice, once as a top laner and once as a mid laner. After leaving RNG, he has been competing for WBG, which seems like a good choice given the strong backing from sponsors, ensuring his salary is paid reliably. It’s said he gave up a lot of owed payments when he left RNG.

In the past two years, Xiaohu’s overall performance has remained fairly consistent, ranking in the upper-middle tier of the LPL— not top-tier, but still showing impressive skills. At the Worlds, WBG became the only LPL team to reach the semifinals. Although they finished fourth, fans witnessed the team’s resilience, with mid-laner Xiaohu standing out as a symbol of the LPL region. After S15 began, Zitao mentioned the draw guests during a livestream with Liu Qingsong, who publicly stated that Xiaohu would also participate as a draw guest. Zitao even confirmed he would appear as the last guest for the final round of draws.

However, recently insiders shared surprising news: Xiaohu directly declined the official invitation to be a draw guest for S15, citing more important commitments. It was also mentioned that stories from Worlds could be shared later. Ultimately, Xiye replaced Xiaohu as the draw guest for S15. This sparked much discussion among fans wondering what Xiaohu is up to. Honestly, it’s likely Xiaohu has joined the practice squad, an official shadow team, which shows his dedication.

Previously, some insiders revealed that WBG’s top, mid, and jungle players seemed to have joined the shadow team, and Xiaohu’s refusal now basically confirms this. The shadow team’s overall strength is quite low, mostly composed of lower-tier LPL players who keep getting worse over time. The addition of WBG players should improve the squad’s capability. Of course, some fans question the significance of the draw event, saying it barely affects players and is mostly just an on-site activity. There might be other reasons behind this.

Farewell thoughts

Logically, Xiaohu could have taken part in the official event. Even if he joined the practice squad, it would likely take him just half a day or so to complete the activity, considering the high exposure of official draw guests. Such selflessness is rare among pro players. Xiaohu truly dedicates himself to the LPL. It would have been great if the IG team had joined the practice squad back then, but perhaps they wanted a break.

What do all the viewers think about this situation?