The intense battles on the first day of the finals were like a resounding bugle call, signaling the prelude to the charge for the championship throne. Sixteen BO3 matches, filled with passion, mistakes, tears, and tenacity, concluded, yet the lingering scent of gunpowder in the air grew even stronger. As the lights in the venue gradually dimmed and the big screen finally displayed the list of the Top 16 teams after the first day's battles, a clearer and more brutal competitive landscape was presented to all spectators.
This list was not just a mere enumeration of sixteen team names; it was more like a miniature scroll of the times, outlining the diversity and vibrant vitality of the current Chinese league of legends esports ecosystem.
Remaining Teams from the Eastern Division (4 teams)
Tiangong Team (Magic City): As a veteran powerhouse, Tiangong Team demonstrated convincing strength. They did not encounter too many challenges, easily advancing with two clean 2:0 victories. Their rigorous operations and flawless team fight coordination were like a precisely running machine, suffocating their opponents. They are one of the strongest contenders for the championship, as steady as a mountain.
Lingyun Pavilion (Hangcheng): Defeating the dark horse "Spark" on the first day proved that they were not famous for nothing. The team's overall cohesion is extremely strong, with excellent tactical execution, especially adept at seizing opponents' mistakes and rapidly expanding their advantage. They are like a sharp Jiangnan soft sword, elegant and deadly.
Jiangnan Misty Rain (Sucheng): Also from Jiangnan, but their style is distinctly different from Lingyun Pavilion. They focus more on rhythm control and resource trading, playing with agility and resilience, often quietly accumulating winning momentum in seemingly balanced situations. Just like their name, danger lurks within the misty rain.
East Sea Dragon (Yongcheng): A relatively low-key but formidable team. Their players have balanced individual abilities and a deep champion pool, with no obvious weaknesses. They are like a deep-diving dragon, not showing its true power, but capable of soaring into the sky at any moment, stirring up huge waves.
Remaining Teams from the Southern Division (4 teams)
Pojun Team (Yangcheng): The biggest favorite to win the championship, without a doubt. Their performance on the first day could only be described as "crushing." Whether it was the ultimate display of individual skill or the flawless coordination of the team, they left their opponents in despair. The mid-jungle duo of Han Feng (Sharp Edge) and Wang Hao (Gui Shu) was hailed by commentators as an "unsolvable existence." They are an unstoppable Pojun long spear, sharp and irresistible.
Lingnan Tiger (Yangcheng): Although they lost to Pojun Team in the city finals, their ability to reach the national Top 32 and successfully advance itself proved their formidable strength. Their playstyle is fierce and aggressive, representing a typical Southern style. They are like tigers roaring in the mountains, always ready to pounce on their opponents.
Coconut Breeze and Sea Charm (Qiongzhou): Hailing from the southernmost island, this team brings a unique tactical style. They are extremely skilled at utilizing map resources and minion wave manipulation. Their playstyle is imaginative and often unexpected, making them one of the biggest variables in the Top 16. Like a tropical storm on an island, they are unpredictable.
Light of Pengcheng (Pengcheng): As representatives of an emerging super-first-tier city, this team is full of vitality and creativity. The players are young, bold, and aggressive, with sharp mechanics. They are active experimenters of new techniques and playstyles. They symbolize the impact of the new generation of esports.
Remaining Teams from the Western Division (4 teams)
Shu Road Mountain (Chengdu): The top seed from the Western Division, their playstyle is steady yet carries the unique cunning and agility of the Bashu region. The team has excellent synergy, especially adept at skirmishes and decision-making in the mid-game. Like the treacherous Shu Road Mountain, it is easy to defend but hard to attack.
Changan Prefecture (Xijing): Carrying the profound heritage of the ancient capital, their playstyle is grand and magnificent, focusing on team composition and team fight formations. Their matches often have a grand spectacle, like a symphony of history. In the first round, they defeated strong opponents, showcasing impressive strength.
Snowfield Wolf (Icewind Valley): A grassroots legend who fought their way up from a small northern city! In their first-round match, they once again demonstrated tenacious fighting spirit and close teamwork, dragging a strong opponent into a decisive game and ultimately winning. Their existence itself is synonymous with an esports "miracle," like a resilient pack of wolves on the snowfield.
Kunlun Jue (Xining): Their style is extremely tough, favoring direct confrontation to crush opponents. The players possess powerful individual skills, especially their top-jungle duo, which has extremely strong impact. Their matches are often filled with passionate clashes, like the majestic and fierce Kunlun Mountains.
Remaining Teams from the Northern Division (4 teams)
Forbidden City Peak (Imperial Capital): With the home-field advantage, the team has balanced configurations and extremely high tactical proficiency. Their understanding and adaptability to the game version are outstanding, allowing them to flexibly adjust strategies based on their opponents. Carrying the regal aura of the Imperial Capital, they aim for the summit.
Jimen Tiger (Jin Port): Their style is pragmatic, excelling at defensive counterattacks. They might not initiate flashy offensives in the early game, but they are extremely skilled at seizing opponents' impatience when unable to break through, delivering a decisive blow. Like a steady Jimen swordsman, they strike from behind.
Bronze Wine Goblet (Luoyang): A veteran legend who advanced after a grueling battle on the first day! Their existence is a victory of experience, perseverance, and passion. Their playstyle is seasoned, their mentality stable, and they perform best in crucial games. They proved that esports is not just a game for the young. Like aged fine wine, it becomes more fragrant with time.
Steel City Will (Ancheng): A team from a heavy industrial city, their playstyle is true to its name: tough, tenacious, and full of power. Their team discipline is extremely strong, and their execution is first-rate, like refined steel, difficult to break.
Sixteen teams, sixteen styles, sixteen stories.
Along with the announcement of the list, the official organizers also released the match schedule for the second day. The proportion of strong matchups sharply increased: Tiangong Team against East Sea Dragon, Pojun Team facing Coconut Breeze and Sea Charm, Shu Road Mountain and Kunlun Jue staging a Western derby, and Bronze Wine Goblet challenging the home team Forbidden City Peak... Each match is full of highlights and suspense.
Online discussions reached an unprecedented fever pitch, with players analyzing the matchups, predicting advancement trends, and cheering for their supported teams.
For the advancing teams, joy is fleeting. They know that from the Top 16 onwards, every step will be more difficult, and the opponents they face will be even stronger. In the hotel training rooms, the lights remained bright, and the sound of keyboards tapping was more rapid than usual. Replays, opponent research, tactical adjustments... No one dared to relax in the slightest.
As for the teams that have already left, like "Spark," although their story has temporarily concluded, the brilliant moments and fighting spirit they left behind are already etched into this history of esports.
The night deepened, and the Capital Gymnasium returned to a temporary calm. But everyone knew that tomorrow, when the flames of war reignite, this arena would witness even more brutal eliminations and even more dazzling births. The beacon fires of the Top 16 have already spread across the plains.