As the first round of the LPL's first split nears its end, the leading teams in the peak group—apart from BLG—are very evenly matched. JDG, AL, and IG each hold 2 wins, WBG and TES only 1, with TBQ at the bottom as expected because their star player is missing and their jungle and support are not top-level. Still, Weibo ranking last is unexpected since, on paper, Weibo is stronger than JDG.

Recent matches show that teams ranked 2nd to 6th all have some issues. AL, last year's rising star, has suffered a sharp decline due to meta changes. Without lane swaps, Saint’s position is frequently exploited, and Hope often struggles in lane. With no player substitutions allowed and no quick meta adjustments, AL’s dominance is expected to keep declining, especially since the coach hasn’t developed any new strategies.

If they can’t win lanes, AL’s previous strategy of snowballing through team fights becomes less effective. Now, all hopes rest on Saint and Hope; if they can step up, there’s still a chance for AL to reclaim the title of the split’s rising star. Currently, AL is struggling both on and off the stage. The team manager, Ai Xiao, has recently had his personal forum account exposed, with various vague comments damaging his reputation.

The issue began when a user on Hupu JR discovered an account in the fan community that had been posting for years, leaking information, belittling other teams or managers, and praising Ai Xiao. The earliest post dates back to 2022, initially mocking BLG: “A team spending over 100 million and still losing? A 100 million roster can’t beat LGD’s 1 million lineup,” even calling for Bin to be demoted to the secondary league.

These complaints were largely ignored since fans often criticize BLG when they underperform. But posts and replies from last year started to feel different. This account repeatedly praised Ai Xiao’s abilities while mocking teams like TBQ, BLG, and JDG. Most controversially, it even pushed for Guo Hao’s resignation. At first, many suspected this small account might be Ai Xiao himself.

If Ai Xiao didn’t respond, no one could confirm the suspicion. However, less than 20 minutes after the exposure, the account was deleted. Then netizens found a second account linked to Ai Xiao, and the controversy escalated. Fans left comments under Ai Xiao’s Weibo asking if the account was his. Ai Xiao responded by showing his official account and saying: “Not me, don’t spread rumors. My account is still active, and I won’t respond further.”

The account Ai Xiao showed is the same one netizens uncovered. This incident severely damaged his reputation. Although the small account posted little, its likes included many mocking comments targeting “Brother,” “Little Cream,” and ELK. Objectively, a bit of self-praise is understandable since Ai Xiao’s roster has achieved results over the years.

The problem is that he felt the need to belittle others while praising himself, which crosses a line. Before joining AL, Ai Xiao was with JDG. Shortly after leaving, he posted mocking comments about them, which is petty behavior. The funniest part is that he praised himself in an interview and then shared it in fan groups, acting out: “Can someone ask him if I still need to take credit, brothers?”

Conclusion:

Ai Xiao’s leadership skills are undeniable; AL achieved great results last year with low investment. But his various actions are truly questionable. Praising oneself is fine, but degrading other teams and managers to highlight one’s own strength is excessive. Self-directed drama should have limits; this kind of behavior really damages one’s reputation.

What are your thoughts on Ai Xiao’s behavior?

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