2021 marked a low point for Invictus Gaming. The championship roster from the 2018 World Championship, after the absence of Ning, JackeyLove, and Baolan, has been performing dreadfully. TheShy and Rookie have seen a decline in their form while the replacements have not met expectations. As a result, IG ended up with nothing in the domestic arena, failing to secure a playoff spot to compete for a ticket to the 2021 World Championship.
It is clear that the issue with IG now lies within their roster, particularly with TheShy and Rookie. The duo that once led IG to glory still possesses great skill, but they no longer have the same hunger for victory as before. Not to mention, TheShy has been plagued by injuries after years of relentless effort. Therefore, even though Rookie is younger than Doinb, Faker, and TheShy, and is also younger than Flandre and Khan, the Rookie – TheShy combo can no longer “carry the team” as they did before, at least since 2020 to the present.
Rumors have circulated about both TheShy and Rookie leaving IG after the 2021 season. This speculation gained traction when Rookie began to transition into business by opening a restaurant with Hilda in a bustling area of Shanghai. However, IG fans were shocked by Rookie’s recent “change of heart.”
Accordingly, Rookie stated that he will not retire soon and will continue to compete in the 2022 season. Alongside the recent information that TheShy is only returning to Korea to recover from injuries and relieve stress, it is almost certain that this duo will continue to stand side by side in the new season.
This has genuinely caused concern among IG fans. While Rookie is only 24 and TheShy is just 22, meaning they still have at least 2-3 years of competitive play ahead of them according to the average age of esports players, the crucial point, as mentioned above, is their motivation and attitude towards competition. It is possible that in the new season, TheShy and Rookie will regain their form, but fans are also justified in worrying about the potential scenario where if both cannot perform, IG is likely to continue their streak of poor results.
However, it is important to acknowledge that in the LPL, teams have stable rosters, and no player, including those who have to stay home during the World Championship, has expressed a desire to change their lineup. Therefore, it will not be easy for IG to find suitable names for the new season, especially with the responsibility of inheriting from the veterans, at least at this current moment.