During the post-World Championship 2023 transfer window, TheShy was perhaps the most talked-about name in the LPL as he and WBG encountered quite a bit of controversy during negotiations. As a result, TheShy and WBG have “gone their separate ways,” and this player even announced a temporary retirement from competing in the LPL Spring 2024. The absence of TheShy is one of the reasons why viewership for this tournament has dropped significantly in recent times.
With only temporary retirement announced, many fans still hold onto the hope that the former “Top God” will return in the LPL Summer 2024. This belief was further strengthened when WBG’s management publicly expressed their intention to roll out the red carpet for TheShy’s return. However, the latest news regarding this player brings unfortunate updates for LPL fans.
Specifically, in a recent livestream, Uzi confirmed that a friendly tournament called the “Veterans Cup” would continue to be held. Just hours later, the list of “veterans” who would participate in this tournament was announced. Notably, alongside big names like Doinb, Uzi, and Letme, TheShy was also featured in this list.
It should be noted that the “Veterans Cup” is a tournament exclusively for players who have retired or no longer intend to compete professionally. Furthermore, this tournament also gathers many renowned streamers from the LPL region. With TheShy’s inclusion in this list, the likelihood of the “Top God” retiring and not returning in the LPL Summer 2024 is very high.
Moreover, in recent days, information about WBG acquiring a new Top Lane and Jungle duo has also surfaced. LPL insiders reveal that Breathe and Tarzan will join WBG in the upcoming season. Additionally, other strong teams in the LPL have all secured personnel for the Top Lane position. Therefore, the chances of TheShy making a return are nearly nonexistent at this point. Not to mention, as previously mentioned, to acquire TheShy, LPL teams would also have to buy his livestream contract at an extremely high price. Therefore, the chances of TheShy returning are almost out of the question at this time.
It is important to note that TheShy is an extremely famous player in the LPL region. His return to compete in the LPL could attract a massive viewership. However, the aforementioned information indicates that the LPL can no longer rely on this player to “pull views” in the future. For the media in the LPL, this is extremely bad news for the tournament.
Fairly speaking, TheShy has had a successful career, having won the World Championship, the LPL, and is extremely well-known. This player has suffered serious injuries and is no longer very young, so retirement in the future is understandable. Of course, this will have negative impacts on the LPL currently, especially in terms of viewership. However, this is also an opportunity for teams to scout and develop new stars instead of being overly reliant on TheShy’s fame.