Invictus Gaming looks formidable with Rookie and TheShy ahead of LPL Split 1

Invictus Gaming made the biggest moves this past offseason after announcing two major investors: Huya and Young Sports. The least I can say is that they didn’t disappoint their LPL fans.

IG’s LPL Split 1 Roster is formidable:

• Zhao “Jiejie” Lijie
• Chen “GALA” Wei
• Tian “Meiko” Ye
• Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok
• Song “Rookie” Eui-jin.

The last two built IG’s past glory by winning Worlds in 2018 and lifting an LPL trophy in the Spring of 2019. After a defeat at Worlds semis that same year, the team went through tougher times.

Invictus Gaming tried to rebuild around them for two years straight (in 2020 and 2021), but never achieved lifting another trophy or even getting close. They finished 13th domestically to cap a disastrous 2021 and have never shined since.

Rookie and TheShy with another opportunity to reach the top together

Both players have since built their own paths…

Rookie, one of the best to ever touch the game in the midlane – in my opinion – has had disappointing results given his standards. Always reached LPL’s Regional Finals with V5, TES, and this year, NiP but never made it through, even though he was always the best player on his team.

TheShy, on the other hand, had even worse results but somehow got through Regional Finals in 2023 with Weibo Gaming, and even accomplished one of the biggest upsets ever by going all the way to Worlds’ Grand Final – where he and his team got crushed 3-0 by T1. He took a step back from competitive League of Legends in 2024, but everyone is now aware that TheShy should never be counted out, especially because of his great showing on the international stage after 3 years without tasting it.

After both got the occasion to grow on their own, they will now be granted the opportunity to reunite on the Rift, and pursue what they started in 2018 with IG. What better narrative could an LPL fan ask for?

iG Rookie: “Let me start with this first.
Hi everyone, I am iG Rookie. This feels rights. It just feels right.
It’s very fortunate to have such teammates and such opportunity next year. Actually…I feel the same way as everyone…next year (looking down at his jersey)…this star… pic.twitter.com/AYOBITcmZ1

— Yuuu (@tttttyuc) December 8, 2024

My thoughts ahead of LPL Split 1 and Fearless Draft

I feel IG’s roster building has been very smart. Not only do they have two World Champions, but they will have four with Jiejie and Meiko.

That is another ready-made synergy between jungler and support. They won Worlds together with EDG, in 2021, and on top of that, IG got GALA, who’s been the worthy successor to Jian “Uzi” Zihao’s and one of the very best Chinese ADCs since the 2020s. 

GALA is still trying to break the curse that systematically befalls him at Worlds’ quarter-finals. His pairing with the experienced Meiko should definitely reveal one of the best botlane duo to look out for in 2025. If such a roster is not at least aiming for the podium of its league and a great run at Worlds, it will be a failure. But while the emperor of 2024 BLG will pretty much look the same, things are moving fast in the LPL for next year, and many rosters full of superstars are forming. The task is proving more and more arduous.