Modu, Star Sea Cup World Invitational Main Venue.
This is a modern venue specially designed and built for esports, capable of accommodating nearly ten thousand spectators. At this moment, the venue is packed, and the atmosphere is buzzing with excitement. A huge circular screen hangs in the center of the arena, with a technologically advanced stage below it. On either side stand the team flag banners of the eight participating teams. Lights sweep across the audience, illuminating faces filled with excitement and anticipation. They wave cheer items, hold up light boards, and shouts in different languages intertwine, forming a surging wave of sound.
Directly in front of the stage are professionally designed player seats. These are no longer simple tables and chairs, but ergonomically customized gaming chairs and embedded competition machines. Each seat is equipped with a high-performance computer, professional monitor, keyboard, mouse, and completely sound-insulated headphones. There is a certain distance between seats to ensure players are not disturbed by their neighbors. Behind the player seats, there is a coach's area, making it convenient for coaches to provide guidance during the BP (Ban/Pick) phase. The entire area is surrounded by translucent light strips, highlighting its professional and central status.
At the commentary desk, Commentator and Yaoyao were already in position. For this World Championship, they also collaborated with an English-language commentator to ensure that global audiences could feel the excitement of the live event.
"To all Summoners around the world, good morning, good afternoon, good evening!" Commentator's classic opening line, delivered through simultaneous interpretation in multiple languages, resounded throughout the venue. "This is the Star Sea Cup World Invitational Group Stage, the first round of the Swiss Stage matches! I'm commentator Commentator!"
"And I'm commentator Yaoyao! After a long wait, we finally welcome this historic moment! Eight world-class powerhouses gather here to compete for the glory of the first World Champion!"
"That's right!" Commentator's voice was high-pitched. "And today, kicking off this world tournament for us, are the fierce Pythons from Southeast Asia—the Bangkok Pythons! And the classical Knights from Europe—the Royal Knights!"
The large screen displayed the data and player introductions for both teams. The Bangkok Pythons' players had fierce eyes, carrying the aggressive spirit of a newborn calf unafraid of a tiger; while the Royal Knights' members appeared calm and seasoned, like experienced hunters.
"This showdown can be described as the ultimate clash of spear and shield!" Yaoyao analyzed. "The Bangkok Pythons are known for their fierce early-game aggression and strong individual abilities; they excel at winning chaotic fights. The Royal Knights, on the other hand, are renowned for their meticulous macro play, impeccable teamwork, and powerful late-game capabilities."
"Moreover, this is the first BO1 of the Swiss Stage!" Commentator added. "The randomness of BO1 is greater, which might be an opportunity for an aggressive team like the Bangkok Pythons! Let's wait and see as we enter the BP phase!"
As this was the first time global BP was used in a World Championship, both sides' BP was exceptionally cautious. Every ban, every pick, could have far-reaching implications in subsequent series.
The Bangkok Pythons, on the blue side, specifically banned several protective champions favored by the Royal Knights' support and powerful Junglers in the current meta. The Royal Knights, not to be outdone, consecutively banned two extremely aggressive early-game tempo champions from the Bangkok Pythons' mid and Jungle.
In the pick phase, the Bangkok Pythons immediately first-picked the Berserker Jungler, Olaf, who has extremely strong early-game combat power in the current version, clearly intending to open up the game in the Jungle. The Royal Knights responded calmly, picking Xayah for the ADC position and Rakan for the support position, forming a classic strong bottom lane duo.
Subsequently, the Bangkok Pythons bared their fangs, with their mid-laner picking Talon, the Blade's Shadow, who has extremely strong lane pressure, and their top-laner even picking the violent output champion Fiora, the Grand Duelist! An extreme early-game dive composition began to take shape.
Seeing this, the Royal Knights calmly picked ornn for top lane and Sejuani for Jungle, building a solid front line. Their final pick for mid lane was, unexpectedly, Zilean, the Chronokeeper!
"Zilean?!" Commentator exclaimed, "This pick from the Royal Knights… are they trying to counter the Bangkok Pythons' dive and burst system with Zilean's Ultimate Ability resurrection? At the same time, Zilean's speed boost can also help with team repositioning!"
The final lineups were locked:
Blue Side - Bangkok Pythons: Fiora, Olaf, Talon, Lucian, leona
Red Side - Royal Knights: ornn, Sejuani, Zilean, Xayah, Rakan
The Bangkok Pythons had an extreme five-spear lineup, aiming for an early-game stomp! The Royal Knights, on the other hand, had a standard four-protect-one counter-engage lineup, with their sights set on the late game!
The match began! A bloody start!
Accompanied by the audience's countdown shouts, the match officially began!
As predicted before the match, the Bangkok Pythons invaded the Jungle from level one. Olaf, like a mad dog, charged directly towards the Royal Knights' blue buff area. The Royal Knights were clearly prepared, and a level one team fight broke out in the Jungle. The Bangkok Pythons' leona initiated with crowd control, Olaf and Talon poured in damage, and Talon ultimately secured First Blood!
"First Blood!"
"First Blood! The Bangkok Pythons got it! Their level one strategy succeeded!"
With the advantage, the Bangkok Pythons attacked like a surging tide. Olaf camped the top lane, with two consecutive ganks, he worked with Fiora to kill ornn! In the mid lane, Talon also used his level advantage to constantly suppress Zilean's farming.
"The Bangkok Pythons' rhythm has picked up! The Royal Knights are having a bit of trouble dealing with it!" Yaoyao's tone carried a hint of worry.
However, the Royal Knights showed their strong resilience. They decisively gave up all early-game resources, focusing on defense, using Zilean's bombs to clear waves and ornn's tankiness to stubbornly drag the game into the later stages. Although the gold difference widened to three thousand, the core C-carry Xayah's development was not significantly affected.
Mid-game Chess Match, Zilean's Crucial Role
Twenty minutes into the game, the Bangkok Pythons, eager to extend their lead, forced a fight for the second Rift Herald. The Royal Knights decisively engaged.
The moment the team fight erupted, the Bangkok Pythons' Talon and Fiora were like two sharp daggers, piercing directly into the Royal Knights' backline Xayah! But just as Xayah's health bottomed out, Zilean's Ultimate Ability, Chronoshift, was cast on her in time! Simultaneously, Rakan activated his Ultimate Ability, The Quickness, to counter-engage and CC the diving Talon and Fiora! ornn summoned his Ram, knocking them up a second time!
"Xayah has been revived! Zilean's crucial Ultimate Ability! The Royal Knights' counter-attack is here!"
The revived Xayah, under the dual protection of Rakan and Zilean, activated her W, Deadly Plumage, and unleashed furious damage! The Bangkok Pythons' front line, Olaf and leona, appeared incredibly fragile before Xayah's feathers! And Talon and Fiora, who had dived into the backline, found themselves in trouble after losing their initial burst.
"ACE!"
"Team wipe! The Royal Knights pulled off a perfect 1-for-5 team wipe! They held their ground! And they can now take Baron!"
The entire venue erupted in deafening cheers from European fans and local audiences! This team fight, Zilean's resurrection and the Royal Knights' perfect counter-engage, completely turned the tide!
Carrying the Baron Buff, the Royal Knights began their most adept macro push. Their economy quickly surpassed their opponents. The Bangkok Pythons' lineup disadvantage began to show; lacking a front line, they found defending incredibly difficult.
Finally, at thirty-one minutes, the Royal Knights, relying on their massive economic advantage and perfect team fight kiting, once again aced the Bangkok Pythons and destroyed their nexus!
"Victory!"
The blue victory emblem reflected on the calm and confident faces of the Royal Knights' players. Meanwhile, in the Bangkok Pythons' player seats, the five young players wore expressions of regret and unwillingness.
"Congratulations to the Royal Knights!" Commentator summarized loudly. "In this opening match, they withstood the fierce early-game offensive of the Bangkok Pythons, and with Zilean's surprise pick and perfect teamwork, they completed a classic comeback! Securing a victorious start to their Star Sea Cup journey!"
"Yes," Yaoyao interjected, "At the same time, let's give our applause to the Bangkok Pythons. They showed extremely strong individual ability and aggressiveness, leaving a deep impression on everyone. This is the World Championship; no team can be underestimated!"
The first match of the Star Sea Cup World Invitational concluded in such a spectacular and suspenseful manner. The enthusiasm of global audiences was completely ignited, filled with infinite anticipation for the upcoming matches. And this victory also announced to all teams that on this new world stage, having only Sharp Edge is not enough; resilience and wisdom are equally crucial.