EDG takes 2015 Mid-Season Invitational - Page 337

On May 11 2015 05:26 Azarkon wrote:


Even though it sounds wrong, SKT crushing EDG and specifically Pawn & Deft is in fact a positive outcome for other regions and the development of LoL.

Why?

Because it shows that there isn't a disparity in raw talent. The disparity is in coaching/preparation/attitude/infrastructure. Korean tier 1 players going to China and regressing to Chinese level after a while shows that it isn't Chinese players who are the problem, but the environment. Such an outcome encourages teams to stick with local talent, limits the amount of imports, and results in concrete strategies for improvement ie fix the environment. It gives hope to both players and viewers that their region is capable of improving and eventually closing the gap.

By contrast, the worst outcome is the 2nd/3rd, because the conclusion from EDG ~ SKT is that the only way for a region to improve to Korea's level is to import the best Korean players with big $$$. Such a conclusion results in the devaluing of local players, the inflation of top Korean players' net worth, and in the long run, it results in a scene where every other region is still irrelevant except insofar as they're able to poach Korean players. That is, the Korean hype train not only survives, but stifles infrastructural improvements in other regions via making them believe it's their players who are the problem.

The first outcome is equally bad, but not in the same way, because EDG crushing SKT simply replaces LCK >>> world with LPL >>> world due to LPL $$$ >>> world. $$$ being the decider introduces all sorts of problems and in a way, cheapens the competition because the richest team is simply able to buy itself to victory. Further, the Chinese billionaires won't be passionate about eSports forever, and when the $$$ dries up, it's going to be back to LCK >>> world, so it doesn't solve jack.

To which end, we ought to hope, not despair, that SKT crushes EDG.