TL;DR
- PSG Talon qualified for Worlds 2020 main event using three substitute players due to travel restrictions
- Jungler Kongyue and mid laner Uniboy delivered career-defining performances despite limited practice time
- The team demonstrated exceptional coordination in team fights, particularly against favored opponents like LGD
- Substitute bot laner Dee exceeded expectations by competing evenly with established professional players
- The success provides valuable lessons about team building and adaptability in competitive esports
Against overwhelming odds, PSG Talon secured their spot in the 2020 League of Legends World Championship main event by emerging victorious in their play-in group, culminating in a decisive tiebreaker win against Unicorns of Love.
What made this achievement particularly remarkable was PSG Talon’s circumstances—they entered the tournament fielding three substitute players because travel restrictions and visa complications prevented their starting roster from participating.
With their primary lineup unavailable, analysts and fans alike significantly lowered their expectations for the team’s performance in the play-in stage.
Playing with zero pressure, PSG Talon launched their campaign with an authoritative victory against Rainbow7, setting the foundation for what would become an extraordinary underdog story.
PSG Talon substitutes exceeded all expectations
The team’s improvised roster featured jungler Hsiao “Kongyue” Jen-Tso and mid laner Chen “Uniboy” Chang-Chu, both loaned from ahq eSports Club, while Machi Esports coach Chen “Dee” Chun-Dee filled the bot lane position—an unprecedented situation in major international competition.
Typically, integrating multiple substitute players creates significant communication barriers and coordination issues, particularly during complex team fight scenarios where split-second decisions determine outcomes.
Kongyue and Uniboy immediately demonstrated their individual prowess, with Kongyue delivering what many considered a career-defining performance on Ekko, securing 13 eliminations against Rainbow7 in their opening match.
This explosive start appeared to ignite a sustained confidence that propelled both players through subsequent games, defying conventional wisdom about substitute integration timelines.
PSG Talon’s bot lane similarly impressed observers, with Dee—previously not competing at this competitive level—managing to hold his own against the experienced bot lanes of LGD and Rainbow7.
Dee’s performance was bolstered by the consistent support of Ling “Kaiwing” Wing, who provided stability and leadership throughout the play-in stage.
The coordination has been on point for PSG Talon
PSG Talon’s team fight execution proved equally impressive as their individual performances, despite having minimal preparation time with their substitute players.
The squad consistently outmaneuvered opponents through precise coordination, demonstrating that strategic understanding can sometimes transcend roster familiarity.
Even LGD Gaming, one of the tournament favorites from China’s competitive region, found themselves outmatched by PSG Talon in coordinated engagements.
PSG Talon maintained parity during early and mid-game phases against the Chinese team but established substantial advantages through superior team fighting.
Their decisive engagement at the Baron Nashor pit served as a textbook demonstration of the team’s synergistic coordination and their ability to capitalize on each member’s strengths.
In the critical tiebreaker match against Unicorns of Love, PSG Talon again displayed exceptional teamwork that secured their victory and direct qualification to the main event.
Despite UoL controlling the majority of the game’s tempo, PSG Talon executed a perfectly timed comeback as soon as they reached their optimal power spikes.
Once again, Kongyue and Uniboy orchestrated the pivotal engagements, guiding their temporary teammates to what became their most significant competitive achievement of the year.
PSG Talon now prepares for the Worlds group stage, where they’ll face some of the globe’s most formidable teams.
Kongyue and Uniboy aren’t anticipated to continue competing since Kim “River” Dong-woo and Park “Tank” Dan-won will complete quarantine and become available for selection.
The team will likely enter their group as considerable underdogs, but they’ve conclusively demonstrated that they cannot be discounted—even when fielding substitute players.
This extraordinary performance provides valuable insights for teams facing roster disruptions, demonstrating that with the right mindset and strategic approach, substitute players can not only fill gaps but become genuine competitive assets.
The coordination displayed by PSG Talon’s improvised roster offers compelling evidence that team chemistry can develop rapidly when players share complementary playstyles and communication approaches.
Action Checklist
- Analyze team fight coordination patterns from their Baron engagement against LGD
- Study Kongyue’s early game pathing and objective control strategies
- Review communication strategies for integrating substitute players quickly
- Practice power spike recognition and timing for comeback opportunities
- Implement confidence-building strategies following early game successes
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » PSG Talon’s substitutes advance the team to main Worlds event How PSG Talon's substitute roster defied expectations with exceptional coordination and teamwork at Worlds 2020