Against AL

Today's match was scheduled for five in the afternoon, so the players still had a little time to adjust after arriving at the venue.

And today's broadcast team was just as stacked as ever.

Miller and PYL were casting, with Xiran as host and Xia An as the interactive host.

Before the match, Ning gave a pre-match interview that was full of laughs.

Xiran asked, "IG's rebuild around mid and top this year has drawn a lot of attention from fans. King Ning, what do you think of your new roster?"

Ning: "I look at it on the League of Legends mobile app."

Xiran: "...Then what are your expectations for this new roster?"

Ning: "I hope we can keep winning."

Xiran: "Keep winning, all the way to the championship, right? Then, King Ning, how do you feel about your own form and performance since coming out of retirement?"

Ning: "I've been so-so, but I think that's enough to beat Tarzan."

Xiran: "Wow... Have we already reached the trash-talk stage?"

Inside IG's lounge.

"King Ning, you're talking trash this early. Aren't you afraid you'll get called out if we lose?" Rookie asked Ning as he returned from the interview.

"What the hell is there to be afraid of? I'm putting a little pressure on you guys. Step it up today, and if we win, nobody can call me out." Ning casually picked up a bottle of water from the table and took a couple of swigs.

"Tarzan could be called the best jungler in the LPL right now, and you're still talking this big?" Rookie went on.

"Please, that's because I wasn't around. Tarzan's exactly who I'm here to beat. I could beat him back when I was on Ultra Prime, and now that I've got you guys, why would we lose?" Ning waved a hand grandly and sat down in a chair.

"You're showing off this much? Maybe I should put Wei in for the second game?" Danny stepped forward and joked.

"Go ahead. We'll play one game each and take them down. I'll put it straight, Brother Danny: I really know how to play against Tarzan. Just watch whether we win the first game." This time, after coming out of retirement, Ning didn't seem quite so resistant to rotating.

He and Wei did complement each other in certain ways. Both were junglers with strong nerves, and Ning did feel that his own form wasn't always that consistent.

At the commentary desk, Miller and PYL were also discussing today's matchup.

"IG chose first pick, while Anyone's Legend chose blue side.

"Honestly, although IG won fairly easily yesterday, today is definitely going to be a tough fight," Miller said.

"Yes. Anyone's Legend had a very good run last year too, and they've come back with the same roster this year, so they don't really need much time to build synergy," PYL added.

"The most exciting matchup today should be in the top lane. TheShy against Old Flandre—it's like going back in time," Miller said with a laugh.

"Right. Before Brother Bin and 369 made their names, TheShy and Flandre were the classic sharpest spear and sturdiest shield," PYL said with a laugh as well.

"Although Old Flandre once modestly said, 'There's a gap even between champion top laners,' the result of their lane today is definitely not something you can tell at a glance," Miller said.

"Yes, this patch really does put the focus on laning, and both top laners like to experiment. I'm looking forward to seeing what top-lane picks they bring out today," PYL said.

"Speaking of experimenting, we really have to mention this youngster in IG's bot lane. Against Weibo Gaming yesterday, he played Taliyah and Shaco, and both were very effective. I wonder if we'll see some more unusual picks today." Miller suddenly perked up.

"They can't experiment every game, but you can imagine how much a player like that would be in his element in a best-of-five," PYL commented.

"Whether he can become our region's Dr. J depends on how he performs this year. He's done the research and development, anyway. Now it's a question of results," Miller said.

"Right now he's an elementary schooler. If he wins the first split, he's a middle schooler; if he wins First Stand, he's a high schooler; if he wins Mid-Season Invitational, he's a college student; and only if he wins Worlds does he become a doctor, right?" PYL quipped.

As the two chatted and laughed, Xiran announced the players, who soon finished making their entrances, and the Ban and Pick began.

IG opened by banning Sion, Nautilus, and Poppy in the first three slots.

Seeing that IG hadn't banned Varus, Anyone's Legend's coaching staff drew a breath and asked, "Do we ban him?"

"Probably not. Isn't Uzi not very good at playing that champion? We still need to play around bot lane, and Sivir's available too, so there's no need to worry. We just need to watch their support pick, and we should have a good matchup," Hope said.

Sivir was indeed one of the most comfortable picks into Varus in lane.

Anyone's Legend then banned Rumble, Jayce, and Taliyah.

"Oh, Varus is open. I wonder if IG will pick him. From IG and Anyone's Legend's Top Lane bans today, you can see some of their thinking. IG immediately banned Sion, the easiest champion to coast through lane on, while Anyone's Legend targeted TheShy by banning his Jayce and Rumble," Miller said.

"Yes, it looks like IG wants to fight today. They don't want you picking Sion and just holding the lane against them; they want a proper contest in top lane," PYL said.

"As for bot lane, the main point is still Varus. A lot of teams are choosing to play for dragons by securing bot-lane priority, but we don't know whether IG will pick Varus," Miller pointed out.

The live chat was discussing it frantically too.

[Can God even play Varus? Why pick him?]

[The one he can't play is AP Varus. Haven't you seen Uzi play Attack Speed Varus?]

[Who plays attack-speed Varus now? If they pick him in game one, it'll definitely be lethality for the lane. If you want attack speed for late-game teamfights, aren't Yunara and Jinx both way better than Varus?]

[Does God have to be the one playing him?]

[?]

[If the spring breeze has mercy on the flowers, I'll build Blade of the Ruined King and Steel Sigil!]

[That could actually work.]

[Varus, flex him top!]

[Then Master really is going to raise a monster...]

Amid the discussion in the live chat, IG decisively picked Varus first.

Miller shouted excitedly:

"They've picked him! Whether they use him top or at AD, this Varus pick shows IG's attitude today: they want to fight in lane!"

On Anyone's Legend's comms, the coach asked Hope, "Do you want to take Sivir right away?"

Hope replied, "Let's secure picks for mid, jungle, and support first. I'll decide on the third pick."

The coach asked the mid laner and jungler again, "Pantheon? Wukong? Ryze? Azir? Neeko? Or should we get Flandre's champion first?"

Tarzan: "Let's take Neeko first. For me, Pantheon works."

Flandre: "I'll wait and see. I think there's a good chance that Varus gets flexed Top Lane."

Shanks: "Then let's take Neeko and Pantheon first. I'll see in the second round; there are still plenty of champions available."

Anyone's Legend locked in Pantheon and Neeko with their first two picks.

When the draft came back to IG, however, they made a choice most people hadn't expected.

They locked in Sivir with their second pick, then took Xin Zhao jungle for Ning with their third.