Introduction: The S15 season has ended, and most players have been paying attention to the off-season. The most talked-about team this year is IG from the LPL region, who bought several elite pros to build an all-star roster and earned a place at Worlds. Unfortunately, their final results were underwhelming, as they were knocked out in the play-in round by T1. Recently, IG released a year-end documentary addressing many issues, and top laner Theshy openly stated that their equipment malfunctioned in the first game, and if they had beaten T1, they definitely had a chance to reach the finals.

Theshy: Equipment problems during the match against T1

Most players still pay close attention to the IG team, whose popularity and hype have fluctuated greatly in recent years. Due to financial constraints, they even fielded an all-Chinese roster for some time. This season, to boost viewership, the organizers helped IG restructure by acquiring multiple top-tier players, creating a star-studded lineup. Over the year, IG’s form improved quickly, and they secured an LPL spot at Worlds. Unfortunately, their first matchup was against the reigning champions T1, and they sadly exited at the play-in stage without advancing to the Swiss round.

There has been significant roster turnover recently, and IG’s management struggled to acquire suitable players, leading to the possibility that two Korean players may retire from competitive play. To stabilize morale, IG released a year-end documentary showing the hard work of players and staff throughout the year, all striving for a world-class title that ultimately slipped away. Rookie also addressed a heated argument with jungler Jiejie caught on camera after losing to TES, acknowledging that disputes after defeats are a normal part of professional life.

In this interview, Theshy opened up, saying: "I truly believe we could have won Worlds, and my form was good, but luck was not on our side. Our equipment malfunctioned in the first game, preventing me from performing as I wanted. Such bad luck is part of the journey and very unfortunate. Had we won against T1, I feel we could have gone far and reached the finals. Looking at the pace of the matches, among LPL teams facing T1, besides AL, IG was the main contender, while TES was completely outmatched."

Indeed, IG and T1’s first game was paused many times due to equipment issues, which affected player mentality. If IG had faced a different team instead of T1, they might have had a better stage at this Worlds. Everything seems to be fate’s arrangement. The recent roster shuffle has also troubled fans, with IG currently in chaos. Rookie posted his Shanghai location online in response to criticism, and if only Rookie remains, IG’s popularity next season will definitely drop significantly.

Farewell thoughts

IG’s documentary is full of regret, with all five players deeply disappointed by the loss to T1. From that match, IG definitely had a chance to win, but in the end, they fell just short. These days, we hope IG can keep their composure, hold the line for the last stretch, and rebuild the team. As long as Theshy continues playing, IG’s popularity will not decline.

What do you, the viewers, think about this situation?