As we know, right after the 2021 season concluded, Victory Five – the team that had an incredibly poor performance in the Summer Split with a record of 0 wins and 16 losses – has disappeared from the League of Legends map. They have officially rebranded to Ninjas in Pyjamas after the Swedish esports organization merged with ESV5. On the other hand, this merger has inadvertently opened up a significant opportunity for Western players to join the largest League of Legends tournament in China, and one of the biggest in the world – the LPL. Throughout its history, League of Legends in China has never witnessed any players from the European and American regions, as they are only accustomed to domestic or Korean players.
One of the first names that has surprisingly fallen into the realm of speculation that could open a new chapter for both Chinese League of Legends and European and American players is Rekkles – the ADC currently playing for G2 Esports, who is rumored to be leaving soon. According to some sources, NIP may very well recruit Rekkles and several other names, completely overhauling the old roster of V5. The organization has also continuously mentioned Rekkles in recent times.
Looking back at Rekkles’ past statements, it becomes evident that NIP’s tweet has a basis as Rekkles previously revealed his strong interest in possibly joining a team in the LPL in the future.
If Rekkles truly comes to join a team in the LPL, this would be one of the most historic transfer deals, potentially changing the landscape of League of Legends in both China and the European and American regions, paving the way for a multitude of other names to access the highest-rated League of Legends scene today.
However, many fans also point out that even if Rekkles does join NIP in the LPL, it is likely that he (and future European and American players) will struggle to adapt. Besides language barriers, lifestyle habits, and cultural differences, the LPL environment is notoriously fiercely competitive. Even the most talented players can be eliminated if they do not bring home titles for their teams. Cases like Ning (Invictus Gaming) and Gimgoon (FunPlus Phoenix), who once reached the top of the world but have since dropped in performance, can be cited. Even Khan, the “Great Khan,” faced difficulties when joining FPX, while players like Doinb, Rookie, and TheShy also struggled in their journeys to regain glory despite being legendary pillars. In fact, Doinb even tried so hard that he sacrificed his resting time, often leading to complaints from his wife, Umi.
For Chinese fans, the majority express skepticism about the authenticity of the information. The first reason is that the news comes from what seems to be a fake account of esports reporter Jacob Wolf. Secondly, there has never been a European or American player in the LPL, and the reasons have already been mentioned: the LPL environment is too harsh.
However, there is also a segment of fans hopeful that this could become a reality and would contribute to elevating the LPL to an even higher level.
Additionally, many LPL fans also believe Rekkles has another “hidden” reason for joining the LPL. Specifically, the handsome ADC was once openly praised by the “Goddess of LPL” for his looks, and Rekkles himself has flirted with Candice on several occasions in the past. Some even believe this will be a significant factor influencing Rekkles’ upcoming decision.
Although Rekkles has yet to provide any information, and everything remains speculative, it can be said that if this “blockbuster” is activated in the 2022 season, it will undoubtedly mark a memorable new chapter for the League of Legends scene in China and the world.