TL;DR
- Only TheShy made LPL All-Pro team despite IG’s championship status
- Team dropped from 1st in Spring to 6th in Summer regular season
- Must win three consecutive best-of-five series to reach finals
- Players express confidence in playoff format despite regular season struggles
- World Championship qualification hinges on playoff performance and championship points
Within competitive League of Legends circles, a persistent theory suggests that winning the World Championship creates an inevitable downturn the following competitive year. While this concept lacks statistical validation, Invictus Gaming’s 2019 campaign provides compelling anecdotal evidence supporting this narrative. The phenomenon reflects the immense pressure and target status that championship teams face from opponents studying their strategies.
The LPL recently announced their official 2019 Summer Split All-Pro team selections, revealing startling representation gaps for the defending world champions. Only a single Invictus Gaming athlete received recognition across the three All-Pro tiers, signaling a dramatic shift in competitive perception from their dominant 2018 form.
Top lane specialist Kang “TheShy” Seung-lok stands as the solitary IG representative across all All-Pro designations. The selection carries additional irony given his current non-starting status, as the organization confirmed they would utilize Lee “Duke” Ho-seong during the upcoming playoff stage. This roster decision suggests internal concerns about consistency or strategic flexibility heading into high-stakes matches.
League recognition went predominantly to FunPlus Phoenix members Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang (jungler) and Lin “Lwx” Wei-Xiang (bot laner), alongside Top Esports mid laner and Summer MVP Zhuo “Knight9” Ding, plus Royal Never Give Up support specialist Shi “Ming” Sen-Ming. These selections highlight the shifting competitive landscape where emerging teams demonstrated superior regular season form.
Notably, RNG’s legendary bot laner Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao dropped to second-team status, while teammates Hung “Karsa” Hao-Hsuan (jungler) and Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao (mid laner) secured third-team placements. The distribution reflects how individual excellence sometimes fails to translate into team success during different competitive phases.
Invictus Gaming captured the 2019 LPL Spring championship decisively before representing their region at the Mid-Season Invitational. Their MSI performance proved underwhelming, failing to meet expectations set by their world championship pedigree. During the Rift Rivals exhibition tournament, the squad managed two victories across three matches, showing flashes of their capabilities without sustained dominance.
Throughout the Summer regular season, IG consistently struggled maintaining competitive pace against rising organizations. Their erratic performances created significant obstacles for securing favorable playoff seeding. The team ultimately finished in sixth position, necessitating three consecutive best-of-five series victories to advance to the seasonal finals—a challenging path for any team, especially former champions.
Their initial playoff confrontation pits them against LNG Esports, with victory setting up a quarterfinal clash against Royal Never Give Up. Advancing to semifinals would then require overcoming Top Esports, creating one of the most demanding brackets imaginable for a championship-hopeful team. Despite the formidable challenge, players have expressed readiness to confront the difficult trajectory.
Should Invictus Gaming reach the seasonal finals, they automatically qualify for the World Championship through accumulated championship points. This secondary qualification path provides crucial insurance for teams demonstrating excellence across the entire competitive year rather than isolated stretches.
Following recent matches, support player Wang “Baolan” Liu-Yi emphasized the team’s superior performance in extended best-of-five formats compared to regular season best-of-threes. This psychological distinction highlights how some teams thrive under prolonged competitive pressure while struggling with shorter engagements.
Remaining squad members voiced confidence about returning to peak competitive form and navigating the playoff gauntlet successfully. The mindset reflects professional competitors understanding that regular season and playoff environments demand different strategic approaches and mental preparation techniques.
Action Checklist
- Analyze roster changes and strategic implications for playoff preparation
- Evaluate regular season vs playoff format performance patterns
- Study championship point qualification systems for international tournaments
- Compare individual All-Pro recognition with team achievement metrics
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » TheShy is the only Invictus Gaming player in the LPL All-Pro team Analyzing Invictus Gaming's 2019 LPL struggles and playoff path after championship success