We can hardly imagine an adult living such an ascetic lifestyle. Perhaps only young people, yet to reach 20 years, can endure the bittersweetness, the willingness to give up days and nights. Who can still, after repeated rigid practice, go all out. Only this new age of youth can give up their entire personal life, and throw themselves completely into a team. Only in this way can they ignore the pain, the worry, the pressure and even their personal reputation, in order to strive for victory.

JackeyLove: Dark green jacket (Mattitude), Black short-sleeve T-Shirt (Bottega Veneta), Army green trousers (Bottega Veneta), White sneakers (Bally) // Baolan: Brown suede jacket (Sandro), White knitted short-sleeve polo shirt (Sandro), Black zipper pants (Givenchy), White sneakers (KKtP), Gold rimmed glasses (Ray-Ban) // Rookie: Khaki blazer (Dunhill), White T-shirt (personal item), Black trousers (Givenchy), Patterned sneakers (KKtP), Silver rimmed glasses (Ray-Ban) // Ning: Brown leather jacket (Brunello Cucinelli), White graphic T-shirt (Calvin Luo), Khaki trousers (GARÇON BY GÇOGCN), White/Green patterned sneakers (Bottega Veneta) // TheShy: Black suit jacket (personal item), Blue and white striped shirt (Dunhill), Black leather boots (Dunhill), Black suit pants (Sandro)

On April 21st, at the Foshan International Sports and Cultural Center, the 2019 League of Legends Spring Split Grand finals has already reached its third game. In champion select, IG’s (Invictus Gaming) ADC Yu Wen-Bo (iG.JackeyLove) hovers Draven, and the crowd immediately erupts into a tsunami of cheers. Draven is definitely not strong on the current patch, but this is JackeyLove’s signature champion.

Anyone familiar with this player knows it. Three years ago, JackeyLove was still a young streamer. It was with this champion that he hit rank 1 on the domestic ladder and became the leading figure out of countless League of Legends players.

Although wearing heavy noise cancelling headphones, the cheers from the crowd still flow into the player’s ears. JackeyLove breaks into a smile. But he hesitates for a moment, switching to the role assigned by his coach. The midlaner Song Eui-jin (iG.Rookie) leans over and hits him on the shoulder, laughing as he says: “If you dare to play it, then play it.”

JackeyLove: Green suit jacket (Ermenegildo Zegna), Knitted T-shirt, khaki (Ermenegildo Zegna), Green joggers (Ermenegildo Zegna) // Baolan: Green overcoat (STAFFONLY), Green turtleneck sweater (WAN HUNG), Green trousers (WAN HUNG), Gold rimmed glasses (Ray-Ban)

JackeyLove immediately switches and locks in Draven. It’s the first time he’s used this champion all split. It’s also the third time this champion has been played onstage in all 322 Spring Split games.

Four minutes after the game has begun, JackeyLove gets a double kill and 600 gold in the bag. It means he can buy strong items, be one step ahead of the enemy, and lead the charge in the next team-fight. Everything in this game seems to indicate a similar end like the previous two rounds; a one-sided stomp by IG. At that time, IG would acquire the first domestic championship since the team’s foundation.

But on Summoner’s Rift, victory never comes that easily.

At 25 minutes, IG send three men to collapse on the enemy midlaner, but they end up in a 1 for 3 exchange. Unlike those point-scoring sports, the win condition for League of Legends is to break the opposing team’s Nexus. This means that by the later stage of the game, as long as you finish off more of the opponent’s team in one team-fight, you can take the opportunity and attack their base, locking in victory in one stroke.

JDG doesn’t let go of this opportunity. They take advantage of IG’s death timers, get the Baron, and group together to attack the botlane turrets. IG are pushed back, only able to defend under their turret. In this moment, the casters highlight the chances of victory; IG’s winning rate is only 13%.

And it is in this moment that Vladimir, played by toplaner Kang Seung-lok (iG.TheShy), dashes into the JDG formation, aiming straight for the opponent’s ADC Imp.

TheShy: Black suit jacket (personal item), Blue and white striped shirt (Dunhill), Black suit pants (Sandro) // Rookie: Khaki blazer (Dunhill), White T-shirt (personal item), Black trousers (Givenchy) // Ning: Cream colored overcoat (COS), Silk short-sleeve shirt, khaki (GARÇON BY GÇOGCN), Khaki trousers (GARÇON BY GÇOGCN)

The ADC is usually the role with the highest damage of the team in the mid-to late-stage. It’s not uncommon for the ADC to have 40% of the team’s damage in a game. But it’s also one of the roles with the lowest health. Under an enemy attack, the ADC can easily vanish in the blink of an eye. ADCs always position in the backline during team-fights, receiving heavy protection from their teammates.

However, in the middle of the casters cries of surprise, TheShy swiftly executes Imp. JDG’s four players have no choice but to retreat, and IG immediately follow; JackeyLove picks up two more kills.

From start to finish, only a minute has passed.

The whole world has turned upside down.

9 minutes later, IG crack the JDG base. They’re outnumbered, but they break the Nexus, and win the game.

The five young men, whose average age is less than 20 years, are showered in gold as the golden rain fills the whole stadium. They calmly lift the championship trophy engraved with the LPL symbol. Then, the team’s midlaner — Song Eui-jin (iG.Rookie) — lifts the trophy on his own.

This is the first LPL trophy in the history of Invictus Gaming, and it’s Rookie’s first domestic title in four years. But everyone laughs easily.

Because six months ago, at the 2018 League of Legends World Championship, this team which had long been absent from the Worlds stage, only had second-place in the LPL as their best result. Yet, in the quarterfinals, they first defeated the favorites, the Korean team KT Rolster. And then, with two clean 3:0 sets, they won the championship, becoming the first LPL team to hoist the World Championship trophy.

After the tears, cheers and smiles in that moment, they could face all the future glory with ease.