The score reached 2:1, and the situation of the entire series instantly became unpredictable.
Weibo's hot searches exploded again:
#WhiteTigerFightsBack#
#StarSeaNeedsAdjustment#
#TheRealBO5StartsNow#
#HowDeepIsTheirChampionPool#
Discussions on major forums reached new heights:
"Sure enough, White Tiger is still White Tiger!"
"Star Sea was crushed in this game!"
"Now the pressure is on Star Sea!"
"I said it was impossible to go 3:0!"
The live stream bullet comments were fiercely debated:
"Go Star Sea! Fight back next game!"
"White Tiger will reverse sweep! LCK is invincible!"
"Now it depends on whose champion pool is deeper!"
During the intermission, a battle of mentalities.
In the Star Sea Team's lounge, the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.
"My fault," Po Xiao said first. "After being targeted in the top lane, I couldn't recover the whole game."
"It's not your fault," the Coach shook his head. "Their engage composition is indeed powerful; we were unprepared."
Forest Wind took a deep breath: "Next game we're on blue side, so the Ban/Pick will be much easier."
"But our champion pool..." Su Xiao hesitated.
A Le suddenly stood up: "What's there to be afraid of! We've practiced so many champions, are we still worried about not having any to use?"
Just then, Qin Feng pushed the door open.
"Well played," to everyone's surprise, Qin Feng had a smile on his face. "Losing one game is normal; what's important is how we play the next one."
He looked at the players: "Remember, you've already forced out White Tiger's trump card. Now, it's our turn to show our true strength."
At the same time, the White Tiger Team's lounge presented a different scene.
"Did you see that?" Coach Jin said coldly. "This is our true strength. Next game, keep this rhythm and directly tie the score!"
The mid laner, Machine, said faintly: "They're out of champions."
The jungler confidently said: "Next game I'll continue to live in the top lane."
Game 4 Ban/Pick: The Ultimate Champion Pool
When the players re-entered the stage, the entire audience held their breath.
"The Battle of Tianwang Mountain!" Commentator's voice trembled. "Whoever wins this game will get the match point!"
On the big screen, all thirty champions used in the first three games were grayed out.
Star Sea Team, on blue side, immediately picked Varus as their first choice!
"Varus! Star Sea first picks Varus!" Yao Yao analyzed. "This is a pick-to-ban strategy!"
White Tiger Team countered by picking Renekton and Lee Sin!
"Renekton and Lee Sin! A classic strong top-jungle combination!" Commentator exclaimed. "White Tiger wants to continue playing around the top side!"
Star Sea Team then picked Sejuani and Syndra!
"Sejuani and Syndra! A very solid mid-jungle combination!" Yao Yao nodded.
White Tiger Team locked in Zeri in the third slot.
In the second Ban/Pick phase, both sides banned several key champions.
Then, Star Sea Team's fourth and fifth picks made the entire audience gasp—
Fourth pick, Kennen!
Fifth pick, Bard!
"Kennen and Bard!" Commentator stood up directly. "Star Sea Team has brought out their ultimate teamfight composition!"
White Tiger Team's last two picks were Orianna and leona.
Final Lineup:
Blue Side - Star Sea Team: Kennen, Sejuani, Syndra, Varus, Bard
Red Side - White Tiger Team: Renekton, Lee Sin, Orianna, Zeri, leona
"Perfect!" Yao Yao excitedly analyzed. "Star Sea Team's lineup is invincible in teamfights! The combination of Kennen's and Bard's Ultimate Abilities, plus Syndra's and Varus's backline damage, this is a perfect teamfight system!"
Commentator nodded: "But it greatly tests Kennen's initiation timing!"
The match begins! A battle of wits.
In the level one teamfight, Star Sea Team displayed exquisite design. Five players grouped up to invade, but upon seeing White Tiger Team's defense, they immediately retreated and instead stole the opponent's blue buff.
"A very smart start!" Commentator praised. "Star Sea Team is playing very patiently today."
At three minutes, Lee Sin came to the top lane. But Kennen's pre-placed ward spotted the movement, allowing him to easily retreat.
"Excellent vision control!" Yao Yao complimented.
At six minutes, Sejuani came to the bottom lane. Bard's precise Tempered Fate stunned leona, and Varus followed up with damage to secure First Blood!
"First Blood!"
"Beautiful! The bottom lane is opened up!"
However, at the same time, a solo kill erupted in the mid lane. Orianna's perfect ball placement and combo of abilities solo killed Syndra!
"1 for 1! Both sides can accept that!"
The rest of the game became an intense chess match of vision and minion waves.
Star Sea Team utilized Bard's roaming to continuously place wards, and Kennen's Teleport always arrived at critical moments. White Tiger Team, on the other hand, relied on Lee Sin's mobility to find opportunities.
At twenty minutes, a crucial Baron teamfight erupted.
Kennen teleported behind, but was spotted by Orianna's control ward! leona countered with Solar Flare to stun Kennen, and Lee Sin kicked him back!
"Kennen is about to be instantly killed!" Commentator exclaimed.
Just at this critical moment, Bard's Magical Journey opened a hole in the wall, and Kennen instantly escaped through it! At the same time, Sejuani's Glacial Prison hit three people, and Syndra's Unleashed Power instantly melted the front line!
"They're fighting back! Star Sea Team is fighting back!"
Varus furiously dealt damage from the backline, Piercing Arrow like the Grim Reaper's scythe, continuously reaping kills!
"ACE!"
"Team wipe! Star Sea Team won!"
The economy reversed by three thousand!
"This is the beautiful teamfighting of Star Sea Team!" Yao Yao's voice trembled with excitement.
The rest of the game completely entered Star Sea Team's rhythm. Bard's omnipresent roaming, Kennen's perfect initiation timing, Syndra's consistent damage, Varus's precise arrows... At thirty-two minutes, an Elder Dragon teamfight. Kennen's Flash Slicing Maelstrom enveloped four people, Bard's Ultimate Ability stunned the backline, and Syndra and Varus completed the clean-up!
"ACE!"
"Another team wipe! Star Sea Team is going to win!"
The moment Star Sea Team destroyed White Tiger Team's base, the entire stadium went wild!
"They won! Star Sea Team won!" Commentator screamed hoarsely. "3:1! Star Sea Team defeated the formidable White Tiger Team and advanced to the finals!"
"We witnessed history!" Yao Yao's eyes were filled with tears. "Star Sea Team used four completely different lineups to prove that their champion pool is unfathomably deep!"
At the player's bench, the members of Star Sea Team hugged tightly, some even shedding tears of excitement.
On White Tiger Team's side, the players looked dejected, silently packing up their equipment.
(Star Sea Team's newly used champions: Kennen, Sejuani, Syndra, Varus, Bard)
(White Tiger Team's newly used champions: Renekton, Lee Sin, Orianna, Zeri, leona)
Backstage, Qin Feng looked at the celebrating players on stage, a relieved smile on his face.
This was the Star Sea Team he wanted to see.
However, he knew that the biggest challenge was still ahead.
Siberian Bear was waiting for them in the finals.