You have to know that these pro players are competing in front of tens of thousands
or even hundreds of millions of viewers
if you weren't born for this career,
this kind of pressure will destroy you.
[The Weight of the World]
[Invictus Gaming] [2018 World Championships]
The roar of the crowd when I make a play.
The audience, the stage, all these things.
They ignite my competitiveness.
I think the relationship between players and fans in the Chinese league is quite close
because I believe the whole Chinese league had been longing for this title.
2018 was the first time that China felt like they had a little bit more momentum.
There was a sense of hope.
But because Korea had won all of the World Championships since 2013...
it was kind of like a "Well, maybe?"
[From LPL, iG!]
My teammates and the coaches didn't want to face KT,
but I believe we can beat any team.
iG and China found their own style of how to play League of Legends.
It was more aggressive, they took more risks, and individually outplayed the other player.
[Invictus Gaming with the first game!]
It's a best of five and it comes down to one intense moment and frankly
Invictus Gaming have never been able to seal that deal.
[KT Rolster have fallen and Invictus Gaming will do what has not been done since 2014!]
[They will eliminate the Korean first seed and they will move on to the Semifinals!]
It was really meaningful to break the Korean teams' win streak.
I didn't think we were ever going to lose.
If they were to let down the hundred million people that are watching from China
that's millions of haters, so the pressure of failure is so incredibly high.
But also the support is there.
Ladies and gentlemen the time is upon us, the Semifinals of World Championship 2018
and it should be a battle.
[Rookie's able to find himself some damage and first blood goes over to iG.]
I really like to synergize with my teammates.
I do believe teamwork is more important than personal ability.
[Ning and iG get the clean ace, game 1 goes to Invictus Gaming.]
[G2 want to tie this series up let's see how it goes down.]
You'll see certain players that have an ability to take in more information at once.
They can execute faster than other players.
TheShy is the best mechanical top lane player in League of Legends history.
[Oh my god, 26,000 damage.]
[He's almost done more damage than the whole enemy team.]
[TheShy just runs him down.]
[G2 looking to make that last stand but the minions say 'No" and that's 2-0 Invictus Gaming.]
[And G2 will have one more chance.]
[Aatrox will be picked up by iG as well.]
[Here comes TheShy with the slam into the ground, makes it happen.]
[TheShy goes on a killing spree.]
[TheShy continues going forward.]
[G2 looks like they just want to disengage this one now.]
[How do you stop TheShy?]
Some plays might be premeditated.
Others might happen spontaneously, thanks to skill.
For me, 99% of what happens I've worked out beforehand.
Most players would have just backed off but that's not how TheShy plays.
He sees an opportunity and he goes for it.
[Oh! So many people!]
[That's the Aatrox damage!]
That play, in that moment destroyed their opponent's morale
and transformed iG into a team that could finally become the champions.
[iG clean house, another clean sweep, they punch their ticket to the Finals.]
That year LPL was the strongest it's ever been.
We've got a European team vs. a Chinese team in the Final.
Everyone knows the gravity of the situation that stands before them today.
There were thousands of Chinese fans who had made the trip just to see it in person.
I don't usually feel nervous, but I felt nervous that day.
It's pretty incredible that iG was able to step up to the pressure of the massive stage.
[And that's iG taking us to match point!]
Smash them so hard... it was so fun to watch.
[The crown-less are finally king, and Invictus gaming are your 2018 World Champions!]
When iG won the championship the news took over every social media platform.
It produced a massive effect in China going beyond just the competition.
To finally be able to win the World Championship decisively
just gives the whole region... attitude.
It tells them they are the best.
They couldn't say that before they won the World Championship.
And now they can.
Instead of claiming we are the champion, and we are here to defend that title.
I don't think that is the right attitude.
From now on, we have to put aside all this so-called glory.
So I think this year,
we will fight other regions as challengers.