Chapter 813
This can even be accessed?
The lights of the Accor Arena refocused on the center of the stage. Accompanied by rousing electronic music, the players from EDG and C9 took their seats in their respective booths.
"Alright, welcome back to the 2024 World Championship Group Stage! Next up is the second match of Group A, where our LPL's number one seed EDG will face off against the LCS region's C9 team!" Wawa's voice was still full of passion.
"I'm sure everyone is still savoring the last match where EDG defeated T1. And this time, facing C9, who are known as the 'Pride of North America' and often pull off some 'tricks' at the World Championship, I wonder how Mozi and EDG will deal with them?" Miller pushed up his glasses, his eyes fixed on the BP interface on the broadcast screen.
At this point, the business plan (BP) phase officially begins.
In this match, EDG is on the blue side and has the right to ban/pick first; C9 is on the red side and holds the last counter pick.
"EDG's first three bans are [LeBlanc], [Lee Sin], and [Kalista]," Guan Zeyuan announced rapidly. "Coach Mingkai's strategy is very clear: ban C9's mid laner Blaber's signature LeBlanc to limit their early game tempo, while also blocking bot lane champions like Kalista who can easily snowball in the early game."
The camera pans to C9's battle zone, where head coach Mithy stands behind the players, notebook in hand, brow slightly furrowed. He's pondering how to counter the man who just destroyed T1's formidable defense with Cassiopeia in the previous match.
"We can't let him get sustained magic damage, and we can't let him split push unstoppable light warriors either." Mithy quickly communicated in English over voice chat. "Ban Fiora, Akali, and... Cassiopeia."
With C9's first three bans confirmed, the entire arena erupted in an uproar.
"C9's three picks are all aimed at Mozi!" Wawa exclaimed. "Especially Cassiopeia, who was immediately banned! It seems that Mozi shocked the world too much in the last game, and C9 doesn't want to release him in the first round to test their resilience."
"This is really interesting." Zita stroked his chin in the commentary booth. "Is C9 trying to force Mozi to pick those heavy tanks that are officially 'designated' in this version?"
Entering the first round of the Pick phase.
EDG has the first pick right as the blue side.
"Chen, get the big tree." Mingkai stood behind Su Mo and decisively gave the order.
Without any hesitation, EDG instantly locked in Maokai (the Tree) on the first floor.
"First pick Maokai! This is a very high priority jungler and top laner flex pick in the current version," Miller analyzed. "It can ensure early jungle map control and also provide extremely stable control and tankiness in team fights. EDG's pick is very solid."
The pressure is now on C9 on the red side.
Mithy watched EDG's first-pick Maokai, a confident smile playing on his lips. The fact that they dared to let him pass meant they already had a strategy in place.
"Take Sylas, then take the bottom lane," Mithy commanded.
The icons on the first and second floors of C9 quickly lit up and locked.
【The Liberator – Silas】!
[Niyu—Xia]!
"Sylas! C9's Sylas pick was absolutely brilliant!" Guan Zeyuan's eyes lit up. "Sylas loves to play against ultimate-based champions like Maokai. Stealing Maokai's ultimate in a team fight is devastating. They also picked Xayah, a strong AD champion in the current meta. C9's first two draft picks were very targeted."
Mingkai raised an eyebrow slightly as he looked at the opposing team's picks. He turned to Xiaoyue and said, "They got their mid-lane early, so why don't you pick something safe, like Azir or Orianna?"
Xiao Yue rubbed his hands together, his eyes brimming with confidence: "Coach, give me Azir. Sylas can't push lanes as well as I can; I can control the minion wave in front of the tower."
"Okay, let's go to the bottom lane too."
The second and third floors of EDG then lit up.
【Azir, the Emperor of the Desert】!
【The Explorer - Ezreal】!
“EDG has secured Azir and Ezreal! A very classic double poke and positional warfare strategy.” Wawa nodded. “This lineup has a high margin for error, and Ezreal also has strong self-protection capabilities when facing Sylas’s engage.”
On the third floor of C9, after a brief hesitation, [Phantom Feather - Luo] was locked.
With this, the first round of draft picks and bans has concluded. The basic lineups for both sides are now largely complete.
EDG: Maokai (Swing), Azir, Ezreal.
C9: Sylas, Xayah, Rakan.
"C9 has secured the Phoenix Legend duo! Xayah and Rakan's dominance in the bot lane shouldn't be underestimated." Miller said gravely. "Moreover, Rakan's strong engage combined with Sylas's engage poses a huge threat to EDG's backline. In the second round of bans, EDG must focus on targeting C9's top and jungle."
Entering the second round of the ban phase.
EDG banned Vi and Xin Zhao first.
"EDG has banned two very strong early-game junglers in a row. This is to protect Azir and Ezreal during their development period and prevent C9's jungler from having too much of a chance to create opportunities," Guan Zeyuan analyzed.
C9's fourth and fifth bans seemed somewhat complicated.
Mithy frowned as he looked at the remaining data in his hand. EDG's Maokai was still undecided; he could play either jungle or top lane. If Maokai was jungle, what top laner would Mo choose? If Maokai was top lane, what jungler would he build?
“They might use Maokai in the top lane to withstand pressure. We’ll ban supports that can protect our lane and strong junglers,” Mithy finally decided.
C9 has banned [Lena] and [Lee Sin].
The second round of picking begins.
C9's fourth floor needs to select a jungler.
Amidst a rapid countdown, the fourth floor of C9 locked down [Sejuani, the Wrath of the North].
"Sejuani! A very solid front-line jungler who can work with Sylas to create a very strong mid-jungle synergy and control chain in the early game," Wawa said loudly.
Now, it's EDG's turn to pick the fourth and fifth picks in a row.
Because of the tree's swaying properties, EDG now needs to select a support and a top laner (or jungler).
Mingkai glanced at the already formed lineup: "Vamp, pick a support that can provide protection. Karma or Lulu."
"Karma, she'll have an easier time in the early game and has good crowd control," Vamp replied.
EDG locked up Karma on the fourth floor.
At this moment, all eyes in the arena, and even the eyes of countless viewers around the world watching the live stream, were focused on EDG's fifth-floor champion selection box!
At this point, EDG's lineup was finalized: Maokai, Azir, Ezreal, and Karma. Only one top laner position remained for that man!
"The opposing jungler is Sejuani, and the top laner is a counter pick that hasn't been released yet. What will Mozi pick?" On the commentary booth, Zz1tai rubbed his hands together, looking unusually excited. "Maoye will most likely go jungle, so if the top lane is a standard tank matchup, that would be too boring, wouldn't it?"
In EDG's battle zone.
Mingkai leaned down, placing his hands on the back of Su Mo's gaming chair, and asked gently, "Mozi, their top laner hasn't finished yet. If Maokai goes jungle, what are you planning to pick for top lane? Should I save you an Ornn? Or Quesant?" Su Mo didn't answer immediately. He picked up his signature black thermos and slowly took a sip of warm water.
His deep gaze swept over the four confirmed heroes of C9 through the thin blue light blocking glasses: Sylas, Sejuani, Xayah, and Rakan.
"Their lineup has strong offensive capabilities, but their reach is insufficient." Su Mo's voice was calm, as if stating a common physical law.
He put down his thermos and his slender fingers glide lightly across the keyboard.
"Coach, let's send Maokai to jungle."
A faint, yet deadly smile appeared on Su Mo's lips.
"Give me one with fur on it."
Mingkai was stunned for a moment, not reacting immediately: "A hairy one? Nar? Or a monkey?"
"No." Su Mo's gaze fell on the corner of the hero selection screen, on the hero portrait that had almost disappeared from professional matches.
He tapped the mouse lightly.
A Yordle head, covered in white fur, wearing goggles, and holding a giant blowgun, suddenly lit up in EDG's fifth-floor pick box!
"Captain! Teemo is on standby!"
[Swift Scout - Teemo]!!!
locking!
"boom--!!!"
After a brief moment of deathly silence, the entire Accor Arena erupted in the loudest, even wildest, gasps of the day!
"Teemo?!"
Wawa jumped up on the commentary stage, clutching his head with both hands, his voice cracking: "My God! Mozi locked in Teemo on the fifth floor during the World Championship group stage?! Top lane Teemo?!"
Miller was also incredulous. He rubbed his eyes hard to make sure he wasn't seeing things: "It really is Teemo! Are you kidding me? In a meta dominated by heavy tanks, against a strong dive composition like C9, he pulled out Teemo?!"
Guan Zeyuan's voice trembled: "This...this is outrageous! Teemo is an extremely squishy champion with no hard crowd control, and his margin for error in team fights is almost zero! Although he can blind physical damage dealers, if he gets even a slight touch from Sylas and Sejuani's chain crowd control, he might be sent back to base!"
The live stream chat was instantly flooded with "???" and "Holy crap!", as if the server couldn't handle the massive influx of traffic.
Am I seeing things? A seven-time world champion playing Teemo?!
[This is completely treating C9 like bots, isn't it? That's incredibly arrogant!]
[Teemo is feeding! EDG's top lane is going to be a cash cow this game.]
[While everyone else is enduring pressure, Mozi is just growing mushrooms? Is this hero even suitable for competitive play?]
In C9's battle zone, when he saw the furry avatar locked on, C9's top laner Fudge, who was originally nervously thinking about how to counter it, was stunned for a few seconds, and then couldn't help but laugh out loud in the voice chat.
"Is he crazy? Picking Teemo to annoy me?" Fudge felt this was a huge insult. "Coach, since he dared to pick such a toy hero, I'll show him what cruelty is!"
Coach Mithy's expression was somewhat gloomy. Although he thought Teemo's choice was absurd, he still felt something was off about the man who had created countless miracles.
“Don’t be careless. He must have his reasons for daring to pick this hero. This hero has a long range, and blind counters auto-attacks.” Mithy analyzed calmly. “Fudge, you pick a fighter with mobility, burst damage, and the ability to withstand pressure. Pick Renekton!”
The checkpoint on the fifth floor of C9 quickly lit up and locked.
Renekton, the Desert Butcher (Crocodile)!
"Crocodile! Fudge picked Renekton to counter Teemo!" Zz1tai shouted from the commentary booth. "This top lane matchup is so exciting! Although Teemo has long range and can poke in the early game, once Renekton reaches level three, he has two dashes with his E skill, and with the stun from his empowered W, Teemo's fragile body simply can't withstand a burst of damage!"
“That’s right.” Miller then analyzed the hero counter-relationships, “And don’t forget, C9’s jungler is Sejuani. Sejuani paired with Renekton is the most classic top-jungle zoo combination, with a full control chain. If a hero like Teemo, who has no mobility, dares to push the lane in the early game, Sejuani can just flank him from behind, and he might not even have a chance to use Flash.”
Guan Zeyuan concluded with a solemn expression: "Not only that. In the mid-to-late game team fights, Renekton activates his ultimate to enter the fray, Sylas steals Maokai and uses his ultimate to disrupt the formation, and Rakan and Sejuani follow up with crowd control. What role can Teemo play in such team fights? Can he only place a few mushrooms on the edge? EDG's draft pick is really too unconventional."
However, Su Mo, who was at the center of the storm, remained seated in his gaming chair, his expression as calm as a still, deep pool.
He slowly unscrewed the black thermos and took a sip of the warm goji berry water.
"Brother Mo, your Teemo pick made my heart leap into my throat." Ah Chen swallowed hard. Although he blindly admired Su Mo, Teemo was such an unpopular champion.
"Don't be nervous." Su Mo put down the thermos and gently placed his slender fingers on the keyboard.
He stared intently at the crocodile head wielding a crescent blade on the screen, a faint, gentle smile playing on his lips, yet exuding absolute control.
"The crocodile's dash distance is 450 yards. Teemo's blinding dart has a range of 680 yards."
Su Mo's voice was calm, as if he were explaining a very basic math problem.
"As long as the distance is kept between 450 and 680, that ferocious crocodile will only be a toothless gecko."
Accompanied by the rousing sound effects of the countdown ending, the scene on the big screen officially switched to Summoner's Rift.
"Welcome to Summoner's Rift!" The system's ethereal female voice rang out.
The audience's attention was instantly drawn to the bouncy little guy in the top lane. The director was also very considerate, immediately giving a close-up of Su Mo's equipment bar.
"Doran's Ring, plus two health potions, and Flash and Ignite as summoner spells!" Miller pushed up his glasses and raised his voice, "And the runes are Press the Attack! Mozi is determined to maximize his dominance in the laning phase!"
In contrast, C9's top laner Fudge's Renekton appeared unusually docile, starting with Doran's Shield and taking Second Wind and Bone Plating as his secondary runes, completely determined to withstand the pressure.
The game lasted 0 minutes and 30 seconds.
The ten contestants quickly rushed out of the spring and lined up in a long, serpentine formation along the river, each guarding the other.
"Ah Chen, you start with the blue buff and farm downhill. Don't worry about the top lane." Su Mo's gentle voice rang out in the EDG team voice chat. He was controlling Teemo and didn't go to the river to stand guard. Instead, he went straight to the bush closest to C9's turret in the top lane.
"Huh? Brother Mo, the enemy top and jungle are a 'zoo' duo, their level 3 burst damage is incredibly high, should I really not go counter-gank?" Ah Chen marked the top lane with some concern. (End of Chapter)