In the match against DragonX during the LCK Summer 2021, ShowMaker made a bold choice by using Trundle in the mid lane in game 2. This somewhat clunky and slow champion turned out to be a highly effective choice. Not only did it baffle DRX, but this champion also countered some of the current hot picks in the solo lane like Irelia and Renekton…
Partly due to the “unusual” pick and partly because DRX was no longer a competitive name in the LCK, ShowMaker’s Trundle had a perfect debut in the mid lane. With a KDA of 4/1/11 and the champion’s ability to dominate in team fights, ShowMaker and his teammates finished game 2 just after 24 minutes of gameplay.
Speaking about this “strange” choice, ShowMaker candidly shared in an interview with female reporter Ashley Kang:
“It’s just that in a ranked game, I picked Nocturne mid and faced an opponent who chose Trundle. It had been a while since my opponent picked Trundle and completely outplayed me. I thought: Wow, why is this champion so strong? Then I started using Trundle more in ranked and found it surprisingly effective! Playing Trundle is really fun. I told Coach Kkoma that this Trundle isn’t bad, it’s actually very enjoyable to play.”
“After that, we practiced it more. And it turned out to be stronger than I thought. So I just brought it into the match.”
ShowMaker’s revelations surprised fans but also made sense: when you see a champion that is strong and completely defeats you, any player would want to try their hand at that champion, not just ShowMaker. However, daring to choose such an “odd” matchup in a professional match, especially in the decisive playoff stage like ShowMaker did, not many would have the courage.
With boundless creativity, professional League of Legends players, especially in prestigious teams like DK, are showing their good form and resilience. The season is still long, and the fierce competition for the regional championship as well as the World Championship remains intact; those who cannot keep up will face a season of empty-handed results and, moreover, the elimination from the professional scene, which is no less harsh.