The match had been anticipated for a long time, with the venue packed and the official live stream channels already brimming with viewers.
Even many prominent streamers had canceled their own broadcasts that day, opting instead to host commentary on the official stream.
The atmosphere was no less intense than that of a KPL finals.
Lin Jing, unable to attend in person, was already seated at her computer, having tuned into the live broadcast early that day.
When she joined, two other teams from Group S were competing. The viewership and engagement on the stream were already higher than during regular matches, with comments already flooding in asking when the YLS and GDT match would begin.
However, since it was a match between other teams, most viewers remained civil, refraining from disrupting the ongoing game to showcase their own presence, with only a small fraction spamming the chat. kan shu wu . ξà
Lin Jing pulled out a practice test, idly working through the questions while nonchalantly watching the other two teams play.
Around the time she was finishing the test, the match between the two teams finally concluded.
Taking advantage of the post-match interviews, Lin Jing quickly filled in the remaining half of her test. Without checking the answers, she placed her pen on top of the paper, set it aside, pulled her computer closer, hugged a cushion, and focused intently on the screen.
It was clear the commentators had also been eagerly awaiting this match. As they returned to their desks after the break, their voices were noticeably more animated.
Commentator A: "The next match is one that everyone has been extremely anticipating."
Commentator B: "Ah, you're absolutely right. I've been looking forward to this for weeks."
Commentator A: "These two teams are arguably the strongest of this year's Autumn Championship. Neither has lost a single match since the season began. Now, both in Group S, they have identical points. Today's game will determine who continues their winning streak."
Commentator B: "Indeed. Without further ado, the players are already entering the arena. Let's first welcome Team GDT. Leading the charge is their jungler, Yang Sinian. Yang Sinian has an impressive record so far..."
After Commentator B had introduced each member of Team GDT in detail, Commentator A spoke up: "Now entering the stage is Team YLS. This is a new team, but it boasts two veteran players. One of them is their jungler, Miracle, who is entering now..."
Once both commentators had introduced the players from both sides, and everyone had taken their positions, the Ban/Pick phase began.
After both teams had selected their heroes, and while waiting on the ten-hero loading screen to enter the game, the director played the sounds of the audience cheering.
First, the cheers for GDT were broadcast, loud and clear. Then came the cheers for YLS, even more boisterous. Although Lin Jing wasn't there, she could feel the cheers as if they were about to lift the roof off the venue.
Concurrently, the live stream chat exploded.
[GDT GO!]
[YLS GO!] kan shu la
[YLS WILL WIN, Kuang Zai will win!]
[Kuang Zai, charge! Defeat GDT!]
The comments were a dense, overwhelming flood that obscured the entire live stream window.
And they were scrolling at an incredible speed. After watching for a while, Lin Jing could only make out two words: "GDT" and "YLS."
As the two commentators analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of both teams' compositions, the first game commenced.
Both teams had chosen very standard lineups, with flaws and vulnerabilities, but also with strong points.
Before the support reached level four, the pace of the game remained relatively stable. Sheng Kuang and Yang Sinian did not attempt to invade each other's jungles; they were in a phase of peaceful farming.
Both supports reached level four simultaneously. As the two commentators debated which team would initiate the first team fight, Chen Jing made a move.
Sheng Kuang's coordination with him was incredibly seamless. Together in the solo lane, they combined with Jiang Zui to dive and kill GDT's solo laner.
The first kill went to Sheng Kuang.
With the solo lane's support gone, Sheng Kuang unhesitatingly secured the Baron near the solo lane.
At this moment, YLS held the advantage.
Four minutes later, Sheng Kuang and Chen Jing ambushed the solo lane again. After killing the opposing solo laner, they proceeded to destroy the enemy solo lane's first turret.
Following this, YLS had Jiang Zui and Qin Yu swap lanes. Chen Jing began to protect Qin Yu, while He Wang, who had chosen Xi Shi as a utility mage in the mid lane, stayed with Chen Jing, constantly by Qin Yu's side. They ceded the entire mid lane to Sheng Kuang, who, after clearing the mid wave, went to pressure GDT's marksman in Jiang Zui's lane.
When GDT's mid laner rotated to assist the marksman lane, their solo lane was vulnerable to being ganked. If their mid laner rotated to assist the solo lane, their marksman and support would either be forced to retreat with low health or the support would die protecting the marksman.
YLS played with exceptional precision, virtually without any apparent flaws in their execution. With their economic advantage over GDT, they gave GDT no opportunity to react, directly destroying GDT's nexus in the nineteenth minute, before the Storm Dragon King spawned.
YLS won the first game.
The live stream, which had been lively before, became even more so.
[YLS Amazing, YLS Invincible!]
[Hahaha, GDT, is that all you've got?]
[It's only the first game, why are you so excited about winning?]
[Everyone stay calm, believe in GDT. GDT will defeat YLS 3:1.]
amidst the keyboard warfare between the two fan bases, the second game began.
GDT brought out their signature combination of Gongsun Li and Da Qiao. As their fans predicted, GDT played aggressively this game. YLS tried their best to salvage the passive situation, but ultimately, it was in vain, and GDT managed to tie the series.
In the third game, GDT again deployed their strong strategy. YLS had studied these strategies but, lacking practical experience, the game dragged on for 30 minutes. Both teams exhausted their revive shields. Despite both GDT and YLS giving their all, YLS still lost.
The current score was GDT 2:1 ahead of YLS.
The fourth game was the match point. If GDT won, the series would conclude.
GDT's two consecutive wins immediately bolstered the confidence of their fans.
[GDT is still GDT!]
[They lost the first game, GDT did it on purpose, right? To use Sheng Kuang's words, they can't 'shave off someone's head,' they let one game go.]
[Speaking of which, where are YLS's bootlickers? Why aren't they bragging anymore?]
[YLS GO, YLS GO, YLS GO!]
[Kuang Zai, stay steady, Mom believes in you.]
[Hhhhhh, stop cheering, they're completely leaking oil already.]
[Sheng Kuang's solo match against Yang Sinian on stream, what's the point of winning? This is a team game, not an individual show.]
Amidst the chaotic stream of comments, the fourth match point began.
The director's camera focused on Sheng Kuang, who, with his eyes lowered, appeared calm as he communicated with Lan Bowe.
The other members of YLS also seemed to maintain a relatively stable state of mind.
Despite this, Lin Jing still nervously clutched the cushion in her hands.