Introduction: The S16 season competition has officially begun, and most players have been closely following the recent offseason developments. The Uzi Cup over the past few days has become a hot topic among netizens. Initially, given Uzi’s influence, it was expected that the tournament would proceed smoothly, but unexpected issues have emerged repeatedly. First, there were instances of players arriving late for matches, followed by situations where signed players could not continue competing. In a recent livestream, Uzi revealed that he had contacted the management of IG, hoping they would allow Breathe to complete the Uzi Cup matches. Meanwhile, Breathe himself officially challenged Bin, aiming to test the legitimacy of his claim as the top lane king.

Uzi Reveals Discussions with IG Management

Most players are paying close attention to the Uzi Cup. This entertainment tournament has become one of the most popular competitions in recent years, even featuring a 100w prize pool, with many active and retired players participating. Over the past few days, several issues have arisen—perhaps due to being the first time organizing such an event, Uzi seems unfamiliar with the procedures. Mark’s tardiness particularly angered Uzi, but Mark appeared indifferent, even joking with teammates afterward: “I’ve already apologized to Uzi for you.” Huang and others were quite upset: “It was your delay that caused the late start, why drag us into it?”

Another surprising news emerged: Breathe, who was expected to rest during the second stage, has reportedly found a team. According to multiple sources, it is likely IG, which has been widely discussed recently. Indeed, other teams aren’t ideal choices; to pursue honors, only top-tier teams are viable, and lower-tier teams wouldn’t offer high salaries. Reports suggest Breathe lowered his asking price to successfully sign with IG. If he insisted on a top salary, IG probably wouldn’t have agreed.

This left Uzi’s team without a top lane player. Breathe even mentioned it would be his “last dance” in the Uzi Cup. Uzi was troubled, as losing Breathe meant the team’s competitiveness would vanish. During a livestream, Uzi disclosed that he negotiated with IG, asking them to let Breathe finish the tournament, but IG also has their own matches, so it’s uncertain if they’ll agree. The request was for Breathe to come daily to play—since they’ve already played half the matches, the prize money is at stake. “They play EWC qualifiers for training, and our tournament is also training.” Communication might be difficult, as this is just an entertainment event while theirs is official.

After confirming his return, Breathe interacted with fans in a livestream, stating: “I’ll help you guys check whether Bin really is the world’s top lane king—I’ll verify if he’s genuine or just bluffing.” Honestly, both Breathe and Bin were outstanding top lane players, arguably on par. Over the years, Bin has accumulated multiple world-class honors: an MSI championship with RNG and now a Pioneer Cup title, leaving only a world championship for a full set. Breathe currently seems to lack any championship trophies.

Final Thoughts

Although Uzi proactively communicated with IG management, achieving this seems unlikely. Clubs invest in players to strengthen their teams’ training, and they participate in official events—they can’t have four starters waiting while their top lane plays an entertainment tournament. Reports indicate that even though Rookie has returned, IG might start with a new mid-laner early in the second stage, with Rookie ready to step in later.

What do you think about this situation?