IG Shows the Difference Between TheShy and the Rest
With the 2018 World Champion restructuring to compete in the 2025 season, many LPL fans are excited. After all, Invictus Gaming is the team that ushered in the glorious era of LPL on the international stage. Moreover, IG returns this time with a very strong lineup, featuring the core duo of TheShy and Rookie, alongside three other members: JieJie, GALA, and Meiko. Among the five, only GALA has never won a World Championship.
However, right on the day of the “super team’s” debut, IG made it clear that they placed TheShy in a higher position compared to the other four members. Notably, only TheShy had bodyguards surrounding him as he prepared to make his entrance on the main stage, while all four teammates moved alone.
Of course, this small detail but significant highlight did not escape the audience’s notice. Some argue that it’s simply because TheShy remains the most attractive name with the largest fanbase among the four. Furthermore, in 2023, TheShy was the runner-up at the World Championship with a stellar performance alongside Weibo Gaming.
But TheShy and IG May Not Succeed
The reality is that, aside from GALA and to some extent Meiko performing well, both TheShy, JieJie, and Rookie have all somewhat dropped in form. In fact, “Shy” spent the entire 2024 without competing. Expecting TheShy to quickly adapt in Spring will be quite a heavy demand.
Besides TheShy, both JieJie and Rookie have also been inconsistent. Meanwhile, IG’s direct competitors have very strong Jungle-Mid pairs, such as Xun-Scout (JDG) or Wei-Knight in the LPL. On the international stage, there are Oner-Faker or Canyon-Chovy.
The potential for IG’s success will be heavily questioned. Not to mention competing for titles, after many years of “eco”, IG may currently just aim for participation in tournaments like MSI or the World Championship in the upcoming season.