The Magic City E-Sports Arena, 7:00 PM.
The arena, which could hold ten thousand people, was packed, and the tidal wave of sound almost blew the roof off. When the host shouted the names of "Star Sea Team" and "White Tiger Team" in Chinese, English, and Korean, the atmosphere reached a boiling point!
The livestream's popularity immediately broke historical records, and the speed of the scrolling comments was too fast for the naked eye to track.
"They're here! Finally!"
"Star Sea, go for it!"
"White Tiger must win!"
"I'm shaking with excitement just watching this through the screen!"
At the commentary desk, Commentator and Yaoyao were ready.
"Welcome, everyone, to the semifinals of the Star Sea Cup World Invitational!" Commentator's voice trembled slightly with excitement. "I am your commentator, Commentator!"
"I'm Yaoyao! After a long wait, this highly anticipated battle between China and Korea is finally set to begin tonight!"
The pre-match promotional video began playing on the big screen, alternating between images of the five members of Star Sea Team standing shoulder-to-shoulder and the stern faces of White Tiger Team. Accompanied by stirring music, everyone's adrenaline was surging.
At the player booths, the ten competitors were seated. On the Star Sea Team side, the five members looked serious, conducting their final equipment checks. On the White Tiger Team side, they were expressionless as usual, as if the upcoming match were not a world-class competition but a regular training scrimmage.
"Game one of the BO5 is officially starting! Blue side is Star Sea Team, red side is White Tiger Team!" Commentator announced loudly. "Please note, this is a global BP format BO5, meaning any champions used by either side will automatically be banned for the subsequent games!"
The drafting phase began, and the strategic battle was intense from the very first second!
Star Sea Team, on the blue side, immediately used their first bans on White Tiger's signature jungler, Lee Sin, and their mid laner's orianna.
White Tiger Team did not hesitate, immediately banning Star Track's LeBlanc and Lüeyǐng's nidalee.
"Both sides are targeting the opponent's key tempo setters!" Yaoyao quickly analyzed.
In the first pick phase, Star Sea Team immediately secured aphelios!
"Oh? Star Sea Team directly snatched one of the strongest ADCs in the current meta!" Commentator sounded surprised. "This isn't quite their usual style."
White Tiger Team immediately retaliated, picking up the bottom lane duo of Varus and Tahm Kench.
"Varus plus Tahm Kench, a classic defensive and protective combination!" Yaoyao nodded. "White Tiger Team is aiming for a defensive counter-attack strategy."
Following this, Star Sea Team revealed their next two picks—ornn and Jarvan IV!
"The top and jungle are confirmed! ornn and Jarvan IV, a very strong initiation combination!" Commentator's spirits lifted. "Star Sea Team is sticking to the strong initiation system they are best at!"
White Tiger Team refused to be outdone, locking in Sejuani and Zoe.
"Sejuani and Zoe in the mid-jungle! This White Tiger Team composition has a strong early game tempo!" Yaoyao warned.
In the final ban phase, both sides specifically banned several counter champions.
Then, Star Sea Team's fourth and fifth picks caused the entire venue to gasp!
Fourth pick, locked in Karma!
Fifth pick, locked in Ashe!
"What?!" Commentator immediately stood up. "Ashe?! Then who is playing aphelios? Could it be... Mid lane aphelios?!"
The entire venue erupted in an uproar!
In the White Tiger Team player booths, the previously expressionless members showed looks of surprise. Coach Jin frowned deeply, quickly writing something on his tactical board.
"Mid lane aphelios! My goodness! Star Sea Team pulled out their trump card Ultimate Ability in the very first game!" Yaoyao's voice was shaking with excitement.
After a moment of brief panic, White Tiger Team used their final pick on Gnar to counter ornn.
The final compositions were confirmed: Blue Side - Star Sea Team: ornn, Jarvan IV, aphelios (Mid Lane), Ashe, Karma; Red Side - White Tiger Team: Gnar, Sejuani, Zoe, Varus, Tahm Kench.
"This Star Sea Team composition..." Commentator took a deep breath. "They have strong early initiation from Ashe and Jarvan IV, explosive mid-game damage from aphelios, late-game team control from ornn, and group shield and speed buffs from Karma! This is a nearly perfect composition!"
"But it relies heavily on synergy!" Yaoyao added. "Any mistake in coordination could lead to a complete loss!"
The match began! Star Sea's perfect tempo!
At level one, Star Sea Team displayed astonishing aggression. All five members grouped up and invaded the bottom side of White Tiger Team's jungle, placing deep wards.
"That ward placement is tricky!" Commentator exclaimed. "They have completely scouted Sejuani's jungle pathing!"
At three minutes, Lüeyǐng's Jarvan IV came directly to the bottom lane. Ashe's Volley (W) slowed them, and Karma's Focused Resolve (W) chained them. Although Tahm Kench swallowed Varus, Jarvan IV used his EQ combo plus Flash to knock up Tahm Kench, securing First Blood!
"First Blood!"
"Beautiful! Star Sea Team takes First Blood!"
At six minutes, Star Track's mid lane aphelios completely dominated Zoe in lane. Although Zoe was more mobile, aphelios's constant poke from his five weapons kept her health bar dangerously low.
At eight minutes, the first Rift Herald spawned. Star Sea Team positioned themselves early, with ornn drawing attention from the front while Jarvan IV Flashed in from the side, using Cataclysm (R) to trap three enemies!
"Jarvan IV initiates! A perfect Ultimate Ability!"
Ashe's Enchanted Crystal Arrow (R) followed immediately, accurately striking the trapped Zoe! aphelios, sped up by Karma's shield, used Moonlight Vigil (R) followed by his Crescendum weapon to root and instantly melt Zoe!
"Zoe is instantly killed! Star Sea Team is going to win this team fight!"
A 0-for-2 exchange, and Star Sea Team secured the Rift Herald, instantly widening their gold lead to two thousand!
"My heavens, Star Sea Team's tempo today is incredible!" Yaoyao said in disbelief. "They are completely dominating White Tiger Team, who are known for their macro play!"
The rest of the game completely fell into Star Sea Team's rhythm.
At thirteen minutes, they used the Rift Herald to take down the top lane Tier 1 turret.
At sixteen minutes, they secured the second Dragon.
At twenty minutes, they forced a fight at the Baron pit. ornn's Call of the Forge God knocked up three enemies, Ashe's arrows covered the area, and aphelios's Infernum weapon sprayed fire, resulting in a 1-for-4 exchange, allowing them to take Baron!
"A stomp! A complete stomp!" Commentator was too excited for coherent speech. "Star Sea Team used a brand new composition to deliver a suffocating tempo in this first game against the powerful White Tiger Team!"
Carrying the Baron Buff, Star Sea Team gave them no opportunities. Pòxiǎo's ornn stood at the very front, like an insurmountable mountain; Lüeyǐng's Jarvan IV was ready for the next initiation at any moment; Su Xiao's Ashe never missed a shot; Star Track's aphelios delivered explosive damage; and "Bulwark"'s Karma shielded and accelerated the entire team, making them move like a Phantom.
At twenty-five minutes, Star Sea Team destroyed White Tiger Team's Nexus!
"Victory!"
When the victory sign appeared on the big screen, the entire arena went wild!
"They won! Star Sea Team won!" Commentator shouted with all his might. "In the first game, they used a meticulously prepared Mid Lane aphelios system to completely crush the formidable White Tiger Team!"
"1-0! Star Sea Team takes the first game!" Yaoyao's voice was tearful. "They have proven to the world that Chinese e-sports will never fear any opponent!"
In the player booths, the members of Star Sea Team high-fived each other, smiles appearing on their faces. This composition, which they had secretly trained for a long time, had finally shone brightly on the world stage.
Meanwhile, on the White Tiger Team side, the players wore solemn expressions for the first time. Coach Jin quickly walked onto the stage, clearly intending to make emergency tactical adjustments.
(Star Sea Team Champions Used: ornn, Jarvan IV, aphelios, Ashe, Karma)
(White Tiger Team Champions Used: Gnar, Sejuani, Zoe, Varus, Tahm Kench)
Backstage, Qin Feng looked at the match data, a slight smile curving his lips.
This was the Star Sea Team he wanted to see.
However, he knew the match had just begun.
Given White Tiger Team's ability to adapt, the next game was bound to be a tough fight.
The real competition was only just beginning!