With the first-time inclusion of Esports in general and League of Legends in particular being held as an official medal sport at ASIAD, numerous reports have surfaced that raise concerns within the Esports community at large and League of Legends specifically. For instance, the absence of specific jargon during matches or the requirement for commentators to use players’ real names has sparked significant chatter. Recently, information regarding the League of Legends version to be used at ASIAD has sent the community into a frenzy.
According to some information circulating within the LPL community, the version to be used will be 13.12 – equivalent to the early stages of the Summer 2023 season. However, what worries fans is that this version is already quite outdated (currently, version 13.18 is available). Therefore, the organizing committee must ensure that no incidents occur. Historically, older versions before Riot’s updates often contained numerous significant bugs. These bugs could directly affect the match results.
Additionally, some opinions are concerned from another angle. Specifically, while version 13.12 is familiar to everyone, the early conclusion of the LPL Summer 2023 could be seen as a distinct advantage. The League of Legends players from China had at least two weeks more than their Korean or other international counterparts to regroup and familiarize themselves with the version.
Moreover, the Vietnamese team might face difficulties not having participated in the Road to ASIAN Games last June and having to compete from the group stage. However, many viewers remain optimistic, believing that if they start from here, Vietnam might avoid facing South Korea – their strongest opponent. As for Taiwan, they may be the toughest opponent for Vietnam to dodge. Nevertheless, if the Vietnamese players maintain focus, they can certainly aim for an upset.
The group draw ceremony is expected to begin on September 22. As of now, SofM may have already started preparing lesson plans for his students to strive for the best results at the upcoming ASIAD.