When mentioning LPL throughout its history, audiences immediately think of a fiery playstyle, unafraid of clashes and continuous skirmishes. In contrast to LCK, which prioritizes discipline above all else, LPL has produced unpredictable playstyles, with players willing to make incredibly “quirky” choices even in crucial matches of international tournaments. Notably, LPL has once produced exceptionally talented junglers who contributed significantly to their teams’ successes. Moreover, LPL is not as stringent as LCK, allowing for many foreign players, who have also played a major role in elevating LPL’s current status, including names like Rookie, Doinb, Tarzan, Kanavi, Scout, and Ruler.
However, among these players, one seems to be the exception. He was once a talented star, even expected to claim the LPL throne and conquer international titles. In fact, his teammates from LCK in previous years have all achieved this. But this particular star has been on a steep decline since being annihilated by T1 last year. That player is Tarzan – the former star of Griffin and LNG Esports, who is currently on Weibo Gaming and is continuously… disappointing.
Specifically, in a recent match against Ultra Prime – a team considered to be significantly weaker overall, Tarzan only dealt… 885 damage after 29 minutes of play – a figure that is currently the lowest in LPL Summer 2024. Although he used Lee Sin, 885 damage is equivalent to just one combo of this champion. In fact, audiences were left questioning where Tarzan was throughout the game. For those who are unaware, Lee Sin is known for having area damage capabilities with at least two skills that can deal multi-target damage, namely Sonic Wave/Resonating Strike and Dragon’s Rage. Yet, the damage dealt by Tarzan’s Lee Sin was even lower than that of the two Support champions, Leona from Niket (UP) and Nautilus from Crisp (WBG).
With Tarzan’s performance like this, it’s no surprise that WBG continues to suffer another defeat in this year’s LPL Summer. After three matches played, the 2023 World Championship runner-up has only secured one victory and lost two times. Notably, both losses were against teams considered much weaker.
It’s true that WBG is no longer as strong as they were in 2023 when they reached the finals of the 2023 World Championship. Furthermore, League of Legends is a game that heavily emphasizes teamwork. However, it’s clear that Tarzan is performing poorly since returning from the break in Spring 2024 and is showing signs that WBG’s acquisition is becoming a “bust.”