Introduction: The S15 season has officially begun, and the majority of players have been paying attention to the recent off-season. The teams competing in the World Championship have assembled, and multiple teams have arrived in the LPL. What’s most upsetting for fans is the fight for the 17th seed, as the two most popular teams were grouped together, making the opening match extremely intense. During this period, neither team showed obvious public training, and their Korean server accounts saw little activity. Just when everyone thought IG was slacking off, Korean fans leaked news that sparked widespread discussion online: IG players were spotted dining with Ruler on the streets of Korea. Could this mean they are actually helping IG train?

Ruler dining with the IG team in Korea

Most players are quite familiar with the IG team. As a veteran powerhouse in the LPL region, their overall popularity and reputation have fluctuated greatly over the past few years. This season, the LPL officials aimed to maximize fan engagement by supporting IG in a major roster overhaul. After acquiring several core players, IG managed to defeat JDG in the play-in matches and secured the LPL’s 4th seed. Logically, their opponent shouldn’t be T1, but due to the unusual LCK schedule, T1 ended up as the 4th seed as well.

As the competition draws closer, LPL fans have been debating what tactics each team might employ, since LPL and LCK styles differ significantly. Both teams’ Korean server accounts have been updated very infrequently lately, leading many to assume they were resting during the off-season. However, IG apparently had other plans. There were previous rumors that GEN and IG communicated frequently behind the scenes, and GEN even intended to assist IG with joint training. When this news first surfaced, many thought it was unlikely because the two teams belong to different regions—why would one help the other beat teams from their own region?

Recently, LPL fans spotted four IG players dining together in Myeongdong, Korea. The fan also claimed that GEN’s AD carry, Ruler, was among them. The top laner, TheShy, was not seen—probably having returned home after a long stint competing in the LPL. This revelation quickly stirred heated discussions online. Everyone knows IG’s coaching staff and players have close ties with the LCK region. Given the timing of their trip to Korea, there’s likely only one reason behind it.

Unexpectedly, GEN is indeed helping IG with training. GEN’s solid defensive playstyle works well against T1, and IG seems well-suited to adopt this strategy. Their main damage dealer is Gala, whose style somewhat resembles GEN’s approach. GEN’s selfless support probably has another motive: T1’s performance on the world stage has been very unstable. Although T1 is the 4th seed, they might grow stronger as the tournament progresses and could even storm all the way to the finals to win the championship. This scenario remains quite possible.

Farewell thoughts

It was initially assumed that IG players were resting and adjusting during this period, but they have actually all traveled to the LCK region. Perhaps they truly want to showcase their skills on this World Championship stage. This epic showdown will decide the first-ever 17th seed honor in League of Legends history. Since it’s a one-time event, it would be fitting to let Faker claim it, making his professional career even more complete.

What do you all think about this situation?