Foreword: The S16 season has officially kicked off, and the vast majority of fans have been keeping up with the recent action. The second split across all major regions is winding down, with numerous teams having confirmed their advancement to the MSI stage. In the LPL, just two games are left to play. In the past few days, rumors about roster changes for the third split have been increasing, with insiders revealing many behind-the-scenes details. The most surprising news for fans is that mid-laner Rookie is expected to return to the LPL in the third split. Since such rumors have surfaced, it indicates that there is indeed consideration behind this idea—IG really needs him to hold down the fort.

Rookie reportedly returns to the LPL in the third split

I believe most fans are highly attentive to roster adjustments in the LPL. Over the past few years, the overall popularity of the LPL has fluctuated significantly. The departure of many veteran players has caused a sharp decline in the region's performance. In the first split's Global Finals, it was thanks to G2's help eliminating LCK teams BFX and GEN that BLG was able to win the championship relatively easily. As the second split progresses, only three teams remain to compete for the LPL's ultimate title. However, judging by the current pace of matches, BLG still holds a considerable advantage—they have eliminated many strong teams while climbing from the loser's bracket.

During these two days of the break, LPL insiders have been revealing one inside story after another. What surprised fans the most was Rookie's return to the LPL in the third split. Some time ago, his breakup with Xiao Yu caused a huge stir, and he even publicly admitted to being two-faced, with the label of "jerk" practically plastered on his face. To avoid the backlash of public opinion during the second split, he chose to stay in his hometown in Korea instead of coming to the LPL. As a result, IG plummeted all the way down to the Relegation Group, suffering a sharp decline in performance. It seems the team management issued an "ultimatum"—after all, they are paying him a high salary and top-tier signing fees, not for him to be dating back home.

Of course, the whistleblower also noted that this is just a rumor—whether he will actually return remains uncertain. What is more certain is that support player Liu Qingsong will definitely continue playing in the third split, and he will most likely be on the WBG team. It seems that the "ultimate all-Chinese roster" still wants to make a name for itself, especially since third split points are the key—if they can make it to the finals, they can pull off a comeback and likely secure a Worlds spot through accumulated points. However, it feels like WBG has been sending out very talented support players recently—for example, Erha, who joined WE, directly reached the loser's bracket finals in the second split and even has a chance to compete for the championship.

Support player Hang is likely to join LNG, while Missing wants to try out for a top-group team to challenge for higher honors. The LPL has now entered an era of major comebacks, with many veteran pro players gradually returning to competition—it seems Riot has truly sensed the crisis. Earlier, some insiders had revealed the situation at offline matches: weak teams in the Relegation Group barely have any fans in the audience, and the camera shots of the crowd mostly captured staff members. No wonder Riot wants to implement a home-venue rotation system for the third split—holding matches at a different venue each week can maximize the viewing experience for fans across the country. After all, many people don't go to live matches due to geographical restrictions; if the event is held near home, many would still want to feel the atmosphere on-site.

Goodbye's take:

The news of Rookie's return is quite uplifting. Although the incident some time ago left a bad impression, his individual performance is still highly commendable. At least in the third split, he will likely be able to lead IG out of the Relegation Group. The question is, what kind of expression will he have when meeting host Xiao Yu? Will Riot cater to fans' expectations and arrange a post-match interview between the two?

Dear viewers, what are your thoughts on this matter?