Photo: LoL Esports
Next September, the Asian Games 2022 will take place in Hangzhou (China). This international competition is certainly less expected than the Worlds at the end of the year, but it still arouses a lot of curiosity. The level should be very high, especially because who says Asia says Korean and Chinese players. The nature of the event is also worth the detour, since on League of Legends it is rare to attend competitions between countries with national teams. Finally, League of Legends fans know only too well the sad fate that awaits Korean players when they get older... They are forced to retire to do their compulsory military service (a little thought for Khan ). But in case of victory at the Asian Games, it is theoretically possible to receive an exemption or a very comfortable accommodation. While every year we are afraid of losing the GOAT Faker , these next Asian Games could serve as a way out.
However, the cart should not be put before the horse. Faker is not yet certain of being selected to represent his country. The kespa has indeed announced a preselection of 10 players . The T1 icon is there, but after a test phase there will only be 6 elements left.
10 preselected players including 5 T1 players
With such a victorious spring, we already knew that T1 would arrive in force in the preselection. Players were crowned LCK champions without losing a single match! The 5 holders were therefore logically invited to this first list. We could also theoretically think that leaving with these players who play and train every day together would be a very good idea for South Korea... The automation and synergies already exist and there would be no need to build . However, the debate still arises on certain positions. Korea really does not lack talent and there are other big individuals who deserve to be studied. In any case, the competition is played at 6 (a substitute) so it will be necessary to leave with at least one player who does not belong to T1.
- Top : Zeus (T1), Kiin (Kwangdong Freecs)
- Jungle : Oner (T1), Canyon (DWG KIA)
- Mid : Faker (T1), Chovy (Gen.G)
- ADC : Gumayusi (T1), Deft (DRX)
- Supp : Keria (T1), BeryL (DRX)
The Asian Games take place every 4 years and two players were already present to wear the colors of their country in 2018: Kiin and Faker . For the rest, it would be a great first!
A public selection process?
For the moment the Kespa has only communicated in Korean and we will have to wait to find out more. But according to the translations made by members of the large Twitter community, the next cut will take place in public. The 10 players will make matches that will be broadcast against qualified teams at MSI (excluding LEC and LPL). The members will therefore be publicly evaluated and 4 players will be sent home... Several Korean fans have expressed their dissatisfaction by judging the process a bit barbaric and above all very humiliating for the non-selected. Afterwards, the world of esports is often a ruthless world and we are talking about a competition that, even attractive, remains secondary compared to the rest of the season.
The bets are off and coach Kim " kkOma " Jeong-gyun will have to make some tough choices. We don't see a world where Faker would be gone, but for the rest, everything is very open... In the jungle, there will be a big match between the rising star Oner and Canyon , a player accompanied throughout the year by the Korean coach.