After months of meticulous preparation, the league of legends Professional League (LPL) finally ushered in its historic opening day. The Shanghai LPL Esports Center – a modern venue specifically built for esports events – would witness a significant milestone in China's professional esports journey tonight.
As evening approached, the area outside the venue was already packed with people. Fans held up various team merchandise, queuing in long lines to enter. Scalpers weaved through the crowd, with tickets for the opening match already being resold at more than five times their original price.
"Brother, are you selling this ticket? I'll give you three thousand!"
"No, no, this is a historic match, I wouldn't sell it for ten thousand!"
In the main control room inside the venue, Qin Feng watched the enthusiastic scene outside through the monitor and said to Zhao Dong beside him, "It seems our decision was correct; esports truly needs such a professional stage."
Opening Ceremony: A Perfect Fusion of Technology and Art
At exactly seven o'clock in the evening, the lights in the venue gradually dimmed, and thousands of spectators held their breath. Suddenly, a beam of light shone on the center of the stage, and accompanied by exciting music, holographic projection technology constructed the classic scene of league of legends on the stage – Summoners Rift.
"Summoners, welcome to the opening match of the league of legends Professional League!"
The voice of the famous host Ren Dong echoed throughout the venue, triggering the first wave of cheers. Immediately after, the team logos of the twelve teams appeared sequentially in the air above the stage via holographic projection. Each time a team logo appeared, the corresponding fan club below would erupt in enthusiastic shouts.
When the Star Sea Team's logo finally appeared, the entire venue erupted in the most fervent cheers. As the World champions of the first season, they carried the hopes of countless Chinese players.
Player Entrance: A New Look for Professionalism
With the coordination of lights and music, the participating players, dressed in uniform team jerseys, entered one by one with steady steps. Unlike their previous casual attire, all players tonight displayed the demeanor expected of professional athletes.
"Look, this is the change brought by professionalization," Lin Haoming said to Qin Feng in the VIP viewing area, "Uniform team jerseys, standardized procedures – this is what professional sports should look like."
Qin Feng nodded, "But this is just the beginning. We want esports players to receive the same respect as traditional athletes."
When the Star Sea Team members entered, the atmosphere reached its first climax. Captain Forest Wind walked at the forefront, waving to the audience. Su Xiao, following behind him, still had a calm expression, but his eyes gleamed with confidence.
Opening Match: Star Sea Team vs. Royal Team
According to the schedule, the opening match pitted the Star Sea Team against the veteran powerhouse Royal Team. These two teams had an indissoluble bond since the Star Sea Cup, and their reunion on the professional league stage added a touch of fated confrontation.
At the commentary desk, Commentator and Yaoyao were ready.
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is a historic moment!" Commentator's voice trembled slightly with excitement, "The first match of the league of legends Professional League is about to begin!"
Yaoyao chimed in, "This match is not just about points, but also about honor. Who will write the first victory in the annals of the professional league? Let's wait and see!"
BP Phase: The First Test of Professionalization
In the professional competition area, ten players were already in position. Unlike previous matches, tonight's player seats were equipped with the most advanced equipment, with each seat having an independent air conditioning system and an ergonomic chair.
"This is the change brought by a twelve-million-yuan seat," Zhao Dong exclaimed in the control room, "Players can finally compete in the most comfortable environment."
The BP phase began, with both coaches engaging in their first strategic battle on the professional league stage.
The Star Sea Team, on the blue side, first banned several champions that the Royal Team was good at. The Royal Team, in turn, specifically restricted the Star Sea Team's mid-jungle synergy.
"It seems both sides have thoroughly studied each other," Commentator analyzed, "The competitive level of the Professional League is so high right from the first match."
When the Star Sea Team made their final pick, champion, the entire venue erupted in gasps.
"champion! In this version?" Yaoyao found it hard to believe, "Is the Star Sea Team going to show off their skills in the opening match?"
Match Start: The First Moment of the Professional League
With the system prompt, the first match in the history of the Professional League officially began.
"All units deploy!"
At this moment, countless viewers watching the live stream held their breath. Li Rui nervously gripped his controller at home; although he couldn't get a ticket, he could still feel the enthusiastic atmosphere through the 4K live broadcast.
During the early laning phase, both sides played exceptionally cautiously. Every last hit, every trade, was meticulously calculated, demonstrating the professionalism expected of professional players.
"This is the change brought by professionalization," Commentator commented, "Players' laning is more standardized, and the error rate has significantly decreased."
At six minutes, the first team fight erupted in the bot lane. The Star Sea Team's jungler executed a precise gank, cooperating with the bot lane duo to secure a kill, claiming the first kill in the history of the Professional League!
"First Blood!"
"A historic moment! This kill will forever be etched in history!"
Mid-Game: The Value Embodiment of Professionalization
As the match progressed, the effectiveness of the professionalization reform began to show:
Standardized vision control, precise resource trading, timely team coordination... all benefited from the systematic training system after professionalization.
"It's clear that professionalization has made team training more scientific," Yaoyao analyzed, "Players' condition is well-maintained, and team coordination is more seamless."
At twenty-two minutes, a crucial Dragon Soul team fight broke out. The Star Sea Team, relying on their superior team coordination, executed a perfect team fight, establishing a decisive advantage.
"This is the strength of the World champions!" Commentator exclaimed excitedly, "Even on the professional league stage, they still demonstrated a dominant performance!"
Post-Match Interview: The New Image of Professional Players
The moment the Star Sea Team destroyed the Royal Team's base, golden confetti once again fell. However, unlike the Star Sea Cup, this time it was to celebrate the first victory of the Professional League.
In the post-match interview segment, the victorious Star Sea Team members displayed the demeanor expected of professional players.
"This is just the first match in a long season," Captain Forest Wind said calmly to the camera, "We need to stay calm and continue to work hard."
When a reporter asked about the changes brought by professionalization, Su Xiao uncharacteristically spoke a few more words: "Training is now more systematic, life is more regular, and most importantly, we have a clearer plan for our professional careers."
These words were broadcast nationwide, giving hope to countless young people who aspired to become professional players.
Historical Significance: The Dawn of a New Era
Backend data statistics showed that the concurrent online viewership for the opening match exceeded 8 million, setting a new record in esports history.
"This number exceeded our expectations," Chen Ran excitedly reported to Qin Feng, "The attention on the Professional League is much higher than we imagined."
Qin Feng looked at the players being interviewed on stage, a relieved smile on his face: "This is just the beginning. We will use professional events, standardized systems, and a healthy environment to prove the value of esports to the whole world."
Outside the venue, fans who had purchased merchandise were still enthusiastically discussing the recent match. The cheering props in their hands, the team jerseys on their bodies, all spoke of the dawn of a new era.
Tonight, the league of legends Professional League officially set sail.
Tonight, Chinese esports entered a new era of professionalization.
Tonight, the dreams of countless young people found a new stage.
And all of this is just the beginning.