DoinB claims LPL won’t attend MSI if teams can’t play remotely

Professional esports competitor Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang, who previously secured a World Championship title, created waves throughout the gaming community during a recent broadcast when he disclosed that LPL organizations might withdraw from the upcoming Mid-Season Invitational tournament. This potential absence stems from complex calendar conflicts that threaten to disrupt China’s competitive participation.

The scheduling predicament emerges from two significant factors: ongoing public health quarantine protocols in China and the upcoming Asian Games scheduled for September. These continental athletic competitions are positioned chronologically between the LPL Summer split and the global World Championship event in 2022. This timing necessitates an accelerated conclusion to the LPL playoff schedule, providing China’s national team adequate training duration before the international tournament commences.

Asian Games competition officially starts on September 10. For contextual comparison, the previous year’s LPL Summer playoffs extended until September 2, highlighting the compressed timeframe teams now confront.

While the condensed Summer schedule already presented logistical hurdles, the additional complication of traveling to Busan, South Korea for MSI participation creates further obstacles. While Korean entry currently doesn’t mandate isolation periods, returning to China requires a 21-day quarantine protocol. During this mandatory isolation, competitors would need to participate from hotel facilities unless organizations opted for substitute or developmental roster replacements—a decision that would significantly disadvantage the still-undetermined Spring split champions in the subsequent Summer competition.

LPL considers competing at MSI remotely

The alternative approach, as articulated by Doinb, involves LPL’s MSI representative competing through remote connectivity instead of physical travel to Korea. This technological solution would prove unfeasible for more distant tournament locations, but the geographical proximity between China and South Korea enables this potential resolution.

The most plausible implementation scenario would feature matches including LPL squads operating on standardized latency levels, with artificially implemented ping rates guaranteeing equitable competitive conditions between teams in Busan and their remote Chinese counterparts.

Historical precedent exists for this approach. The 2020 Mid-Season Cup, among several tournaments organized to substitute for that season’s cancelled MSI, involved Chinese and Korean teams all competing remotely with artificially stabilized 30ms latency to maintain connection parity across all participants.

Although this option represents the optimal scenario for maintaining LPL involvement in this year’s MSI, legitimate concerns regarding competitive fairness emerge when most teams endure travel demands and unfamiliar competitive settings while Chinese representatives operate from their customary training environments.

The remote competition proposal introduces several strategic considerations for LPL organizations. Teams must evaluate how familiar training facilities versus international tournament environments affect player performance. The psychological impact of competing without live audience interaction and cross-regional cultural exchange could influence team dynamics and individual player motivation.

From a technical perspective, organizations must ensure robust internet infrastructure capable of maintaining stable connections throughout tournament matches. Practice regimens may require adjustment to simulate the artificial ping conditions expected during official competition.

The condensed Summer split schedule creates additional pressure on player recovery and strategic preparation. Organizations must balance MSI participation with long-term competitive goals, including World Championship qualification and national team commitments for the Asian Games.

Competitive integrity remains the primary concern tournament organizers must address. Establishing standardized equipment checks, uniform monitoring systems, and consistent rule enforcement across both physical and remote venues becomes crucial for maintaining tournament legitimacy and fan confidence in competitive outcomes.

No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » DoinB claims LPL won’t attend MSI if teams can’t play remotely LPL teams face MSI scheduling crisis with remote play solution amid Asia Games and quarantine challenges