Uzi rumored to join IG.

After news broke that IG would not renew GALA’s contract for the new season, many IG fans have been speculating about who will be the team’s next AD carry. An LPL insider revealed that Uzi is very likely to join IG next season. This same insider was the first to break the news about Uzi’s comeback to EDG. A top fan of Uzi even posted a video confirming that Uzi has signed with IG. Many LPL viewers were shocked by IG management’s bold move in the transfer market upon hearing this news.

Many viewers openly say that if IG successfully signs Uzi, the team will truly become the “LPL all-star lineup” next season. After all, the dual carry combination of TheShy and Uzi will definitely boost discussions around IG and the LPL. Rumors about IG’s roster for the upcoming season have already surfaced online: top lane TheShy, mid lane ROOKIE, jungle WEI, AD carry Uzi, and support Ming. (What do you think about this lineup? Can IG qualify for the World Championship with this roster?)

Uzi’s training intensity exceeds that of current pros.

Following the news of Uzi’s comeback to IG, many LOL insiders did not immediately deny it. Instead, they dug up Uzi’s recent Korean server ranked records. Many viewers noticed that Uzi plays ranked games on the Korean server daily, with a remarkable 15 matches played consecutively yesterday until 5 a.m. Many fans commented that Uzi’s ranked practice volume surpasses that of some professional players. Previously, BLG players were criticized by LPL fans for not practicing enough during the World Championship because they were too focused on the fighting spirit mode instead of ranked games.

Besides the high number of ranked games on the Korean server, Uzi has been diligently practicing champions he’s less comfortable with, such as the bot lane bomb specialist and armor-piercing Varus. It’s well known that Uzi once admitted on stream that he dislikes playing the bomb specialist. His rare practice of this champion now has many LPL fans speculating that Uzi is expanding his champion pool. After all, in global best-of-pick (BP) formats, Uzi does need to train on meta-strong champions. (Do you think Uzi’s champion pool has weaknesses or gaps?)

DOINB advises Uzi not to make a comeback.

As discussions about Uzi’s potential return heat up, DOINB addressed the topic during a livestream. He said that Uzi is extremely popular in the LPL, and if Uzi wants to compete, many LPL teams would rush to sign him. However, the current environment in the LPL isn’t ideal. If Uzi returns but fails to win a championship, he would face harsh criticism from many fans, and even his past glory might be overshadowed. Therefore, DOINB advised Uzi during the stream not to come back to competition.

Besides DOINB’s advice, LPL champion coach Zhu Kai also poured cold water during a livestream. Zhu Kai revealed that he has not received any news about Uzi signing with IG. Currently, Uzi is a free agent who can join any team during the transfer window. Zhu Kai also mentioned that the pressure on Uzi to return is enormous, so he hopes fans won’t force Uzi to join IG. Uzi’s comeback goal is definitely to win a world championship, so he needs to find a team that fits him best. (Although Zhu Kai’s comments were quite neutral, many fans speculate that AL might also be competing for Uzi, since AL’s manager Aixiang is close with Zhu Kai, and tabe even called out to Uzi during a stream to return next year.)

Conclusion

After rumors of Uzi’s possible comeback emerged, many LOL insiders did not deny it. The only one to dismiss the claim was Zhu Kai, who denied Uzi signing with IG. Thus, many fans speculate that Uzi will likely return next season, though his final team destination remains undecided. What do you think — is it more likely that Uzi will join IG or AL?