In the first stage group matches of the LPL, the first round robin is nearly over. On the previous matchday, IG reversed the score to beat TOP, earning their second win this season. TOP, with just one win, currently holds the bottom spot in the summit group due to lower tiebreak scores. IG, though placed fourth for now, matches TOP in strength. The two “family members” streaming on the secondary channel were both left dumbfounded by their teams.

So far in the summit group, BLG is the only team clearly ahead in strength. The other five teams seem quite evenly matched. JDG showed strength during the Demacia Cup but lacks consistency. AL has even more issues, especially in the top and bottom lanes. IG performs decently in lane phase but struggles in teamfights. WE’s five-player rotation has been underwhelming, and Xiaohu continues to underperform. As for TOP, they have fallen to relying on rookies to carry.

KID reveals TheShy’s comeback plans

During the transfer window, TheShy posted that he was entering a new phase in life, leading many to believe he would fade from esports. However, he recently started streaming again and has been casting matches on the secondary channel. It seems the organizers pushed for more attention, as both him and his brother were asked to commentate. On his first stream, TheShy addressed the topic of a comeback, telling fans: “Don’t ask, just wait,” implying a return is possible.

During his stream, KID also shared some insider info. He heard that when TheShy’s brother returns, TheShy might come back too. JKL is very likely to return in the second stage, and if TheShy plays again, it would probably be around the same time. The LPL’s popularity in the first stage this year has been quite low; even high-profile matches like AL vs. BLG only drew about 500,000 views. Without a star like TheShy, breaking a million views per game is tough.

AL refuses to replace Saint’s top laner

AL has kept their original roster, but the new season’s meta changes caused their strength to plummet. Top laner Saint struggles in lane, often “feeding the opponent.” Viewers even nicknamed him “Yu Xiaogang,” implying they only nurture monsters. AL fans, seeing Saint repeatedly broken through, have started suggesting a top laner change. Many loyal fans privately messaged team manager Aixiang asking for a substitution.

Recently, Aixiang appeared on Zhu Kai’s stream and revealed he received over 3,000 messages requesting a top laner change, but he firmly refused. He believes every player has strengths and weaknesses, and as management, it’s his job to help players solve problems. Everyone knows what happened to teams that changed players last year, so AL won’t replace their top laner. Aixiang even publicly stated: making substitutions shows a lack of ability.

DK starts the new season with three consecutive wins

The second week of the LCK’s first stage is underway. On the last matchday, DK faced NS in a fierce three-game series, ultimately winning. XU put up an impressive combined score of 21-9-17 across the games and earned MVP over his opponent Scout. Early in the season, DK looks strong with a perfect 3-0 record, currently topping the Ancient Dragon group standings. However, the teams they faced so far aren’t very strong.

Next, DK will face back-to-back challenges against T1 and GEN, testing XU’s form under pressure. Both groups currently have teams with 6 wins and 6 losses. HLE, expected to perform well, has become the weak link in the Ancient Dragon group, still winless since the season started. They lost to T1 and were swept by NS. Their next match is against the weakest team, DNS, where HLE should have a chance to secure their first victory.

Conclusion:

AL fans’ suggestions to replace the top laner are understandable since Saint’s current form is poor—he’s struggling to win lanes and his best contribution is simply not dying. However, Aixiang’s point is valid too; if they really wanted to replace him, there aren’t many suitable alternatives on the market. They can’t just bring in a substitute like Hushiqian to fill Saint’s role.

So, what do you think? Will TheShy make a comeback?

Feel free to leave your thoughts and join the discussion!