The “Crisis” Statement from TheShy Regarding League of Legends
With a significant reputation, TheShy has always been one of the most beloved players, as well as facing numerous critics in the LPL region. Particularly, after returning to IG and suffering a defeat in the Demacia Cup 2024, TheShy encountered a barrage of negative comments from these critical fans. This situation peaked on January 6 when TheShy received a lot of criticism for playing ARAM during a live stream. As a result, the superstar of IG faced a series of harsh remarks after that.

“Ranking games are just ranking games; they don’t relate to whether I’ve practiced well or not. If you think ranking games are important, then why is that? It’s just a waste of time. In some cases, I may use them to rank just to play a new strategy like tank Jayce. When playing ARAM, I can at least practice skills compared to ranked games, which have fewer effects. Ranking depends too much on luck, so now it’s just at the end of the current patch, hence it doesn’t hold much significance,” TheShy expressed during the stream.

Looking back at the ranking system of League of Legends, TheShy’s remarks are certainly compelling. However, the current ranking matches have a tendency to be incredibly powerful, and winning or losing (especially at higher ranks) heavily relies on the individual’s role. Coupling this with the current transitional phase at the end of patch 14.24 and the upcoming new version, there are likely many changes, so TheShy might choose not to play ranked matches during live streams. Given TheShy’s compelling statements, the criticism directed at him after that period will completely disappear.
Intense Pressure Facing TheShy in the Upcoming Season
This narrative shows that even during a live stream at the end of the season, TheShy must endure immense pressure from the audience. It is clear that this pressure will only increase when the new season starts and the LPL begins its competition in the near future. It is essential to recognize that in 2025, TheShy is a crucial component of IG’s “star-studded” lineup, so the pressure to perform is something he has to shoulder as a major player.

A notable aspect of IG during the LPL Split 1 2025 is that they are often underestimated in matches against teams with lower rankings. This could be a “double-edged sword” for IG, as there might be excessive criticism if they do not perform well in these matches. Therefore, TheShy and the IG team must gather all their strength in the upcoming season to regain the confidence of the audience, especially in the context of the serious decline of the LPL region in recent years.