The League of Legends community, especially in Vietnam, has likely been aware for some time that Weibo will acquire Suning – the team of SofM. However, recently, images of the SN logo being removed and replaced with the new Weibo logo can be seen as a definitive confirmation of this corporation taking over the “Lions” of the LPL.
Despite leaving many regrets, one cannot deny that Weibo’s acquisition of SN means a massive investment will be poured into this team. New transfer contracts may join the ranks of the 2020 World Championship runners-up, helping this team regain the status it has painstakingly built in the LPL as well as on the international stage. Notably, according to some fans, this investment is necessary as the owner of SN – Mr. Zhang Khangyang (also the owner of Inter Milan) has shown signs of being “overwhelmed” and in the recent 2021 season, SN was one of the few teams that had almost no personnel changes, except for the departure of Support player SwordArt.
Immediately after images of the logo change taken at SN’s headquarters were posted online, many SN fans immediately thought of potential “blockbuster” contracts that may arrive soon. According to Chinese media, one of the names being pointed out is the former AD Carry of Royal Never Give Up – the legend Uzi.
The Outlook for Suning – Weibo
Uzi is mentioned for two main reasons. First, both Uzi and SN need titles on the international stage. With his experience, Uzi can certainly lead SN in major tournaments, and the burst of youth may help Uzi achieve his dream of winning the World Championship. On the other hand, Weibo’s investment will surely be accompanied by massive funding, and a reasonable salary could definitely lure Jian Zihai back to the professional scene.
Furthermore, adding Uzi could elevate SN’s profile. Although they were the 2020 World Championship runners-up, the reality is that the SN roster is still too young and lacks any names considered as icons or at least of high brand value. In this regard, notable teams in the LPL have already achieved such status with Doinb (FunPlus Phoenix), Rookie and TheShy (Invictus Gaming), and the RNG roster with the rule of “no foreign players” (of which Uzi was a legend)… The common characteristic of these players, whether they are Korean or Chinese, is that they have all brought titles to the LPL, elevating LPL on the international stage. Even Uzi himself is a legend, a “star of stars” in the eyes of the League of Legends community in the LPL and worldwide.
If JD Gaming Joins This Deal
However, the Uzi deal, if SN truly has intentions, will face competition that, according to LPL media, comes from JD Gaming. As we know, on October 1st, JDG ended the contracts with their two AD Carries, LokeN and Mystic. While Mystic’s departure is not surprising (he has not played since moving to JDG), LokeN’s departure also means this team loses a quality AD Carry. With most AD Carries already settled, Uzi is the name that JDG fans think of first.
However, this deal is also considered unfeasible. First, JDG has many issues such as player performance, mental fortitude in crucial matches, and the skill level of the players… In the last Summer split, Yagao and Kanavi’s performance was inconsistent while LokeN could not consistently “carry” games. JDG even failed to make it into the top 10, let alone compete for the championship, and with these issues, one AD Carry is not enough to solve everything.
In terms of investment, JDG also finds it hard to compare with Weibo if the latter invests in SN. Therefore, before discussing whether JDG has intentions to recruit Uzi, it remains uncertain if the former RNG AD Carry would want to join a team that may not provide him the opportunity to compete for titles.
Uzi’s Perspective
Since retiring from professional play, Uzi no longer holds the position and appeal he once had. His streaming sessions are not many compared to players like Doinb, TheShy, etc., clearly indicating a significant decline. Additionally, Uzi has to prepare everything for his streaming career without receiving any support or having a dedicated team.
Comparing JDG and SN – Weibo, it is certain that the giant Weibo will be a priority for Uzi. Besides professional issues, Uzi’s streaming income could also increase since Weibo will surely know how to boost this legendary AD Carry’s fame even further, and it can be said briefly that this is a mutually beneficial cooperation. Meanwhile, JDG cannot guarantee Uzi this, both in terms of professional reputation and his streaming career.
At SN, Uzi will face competition from AD Carry Huanfeng. The 2001-born player is still very young but has shown remarkable performance. In the Summer of 2021, he was one of the few bright spots for SN. However, what Huanfeng lacks is Uzi’s strength: frequent international competition experience and domestic championship titles. But it must be said that if Uzi guides him, Huanfeng could have the opportunity to hone his skills, mentality, and be ready for SN’s future, while also inheriting from Uzi.
However, all of this remains at the rumor stage. But it can be assured that with Weibo seemingly having taken over SN, the upcoming LPL transfer market will be full of surprising developments to look forward to.