IG’s “defector” backstabs IG, igniting widespread controversy!

Since IG terminated their contract with jungler JIEJIE, many IG fans praised the management for being humane and not blocking JIEJIE’s contract. However, something unexpected happened: during the crucial bubble match between IG and TES, former IG jungler JIEJIE surprisingly did not support his old team. Instead, he continuously cheered for TES during his livestream, and after seeing IG get thoroughly beaten by TES, he kept praising TES players’ strength and even said many memorable lines during the stream.

For example, during his livestream, JIEJIE joked that he bought a new headset which was very cheap, but after using it for a while, he realized it was not as good as the expensive one he had before. Now he can only miss the pricey headset, but that expensive headset is no longer available. Many viewers interpreted this as JIEJIE mocking IG’s management, especially since insiders revealed that jungler WEI secured a starting spot on IG mainly because of his very low cost, almost free.

Ning reveals the reason behind JIEJIE’s break with IG

Because JIEJIE openly supported TES, IG veteran player Ning felt displeased. During his livestream, Ning criticized JIEJIE, saying he shouldn’t take advantage of IG’s poor performance to “bite the hand that fed him.” Ning also disclosed that JIEJIE’s departure from IG was due to a fallout with management: IG wanted JIEJIE to take a pay cut because WEI was very cheap, but JIEJIE refused and even sued IG. Eventually, JIEJIE left IG to join FPX, and Ning mocked JIEJIE as an IG “defector.”

Although Ning publicly called JIEJIE an IG “defector,” jungler WEI’s performance has indeed been disappointing. During game reviews, Ning expressed he missed JIEJIE, believing that if JIEJIE hadn’t fallen out with IG management, IG could have employed a dual-jungler strategy like BLG. This would have allowed JIEJIE to carry the team with jungle carry champions when ROOKIE was underperforming. Currently, ROOKIE can’t carry, and WEI doesn’t play carry junglers well, which leaves IG poorly adapted to the meta.

Is TheShy being held back by the coach?

Besides jungler WEI’s issues, Ning also criticized IG coach Dan Shen. Ning believes Dan Shen’s draft picks lack any unique LPL or IG style and merely imitate LCK drafts. This has caused IG to “catch the LCK illness without the LCK luck.” Especially in the do-or-die match against TES, mid laner LULU was widely questioned by fans who found Dan Shen’s drafts baffling. Honestly, if LULU had been swapped for Anivia, IG might have had a chance to beat TES.

Many TheShy fans think he’s been held back by ROOKIE and IG’s coaching staff. Had TheShy joined BLG or TES, he would have easily made it to Worlds. But in this meta, where mid and jungle dominate, it’s hard for IG to rely on TheShy alone to win. TheShy’s performance on the Excavator champion in game three was commendable, but in other games it’s clear the current meta doesn’t favor top lane carries. TheShy often faces tough lanes while his own mid and jungle get crushed by TES.

Conclusion

Personally, I think Ning’s harsh criticism of WEI and coach Dan Shen is pointless because the gap between IG and TES is just too wide. In the current mid-jungle meta, IG’s mid laner ROOKIE and jungler WEI are both outmatched by TES. IG winning even a minor game is already a success. Still, I hope IG can keep fighting in upcoming matches. Do you think IG has a chance to secure the fourth seed in the LPL?