The third phase of the LPL group stage is nearing its end, with the first round of the round-robin matches almost complete. After changing their support, LNG in the Nirvana group secured their first victory but then lost again in their match against UP. With only three matches remaining and a record of 1-6, LNG can only earn a maximum of 4 points. Although there is still a theoretical chance of advancing, they can essentially be considered eliminated. On the same day, another match saw AL from the Summit group face off against FPX.

The two teams played all three games, with AL narrowly winning. Thankfully they won this match; had they lost, Shanks would have faced severe backlash from viewers and fans. This was due to his controversial comments made the day before the match, where he criticized random players during a live stream, which was seen as outrageous. The incident involving LPL players ruining their reputation has likely reached everyone's ears, stemming from a live debate titled "Is it embarrassing to accompany someone while drinking at night?".

Icon stayed up late to participate in the debate because he disagreed with the opposing viewpoint, leading to a heated argument. Cold couldn't keep up in the debate and resorted to using profanity, escalating to personal attacks. A-Le, Sima Lao Ze, Xiao Dong Bei, and Shanks also joined in to support, taking turns to mock the opposing side, but ultimately, they couldn't hold their ground. During the debate, one player even stated, "We are esports players representing our country."

Unable to win the debate verbally, the players began steering the conversation towards looking down on gamers, but the opposing side wasn't buying it. Frustrated, the comments from the group became increasingly vulgar, causing the situation to escalate and trend on social media. Cold has always behaved this way, so his actions were not surprising at all. However, it was unexpected for SMLZ to join in as well.

The most outrageous part is that Shanks, who is currently playing professionally and has to work the next day, also joined in the attack. After getting off the mic, he even typed in the chat: "I’m skipping work tomorrow to watch you; I can’t afford to eat. Can you buy me a meal?" When AL was struggling, Shanks mentioned in an interview that he hadn’t rested well. It seems he wasn't lying; staying up late for debates surely made it hard for him to rest properly.

After trending on social media, Shanks' reputation completely collapsed. Even AL fans are calling for a substitute for the mid-lane position because Shanks has become arrogant after achieving some success, acting like a big star. Under public pressure, AL had no choice but to penalize Shanks by deducting three months' salary. However, viewers and fans are still not satisfied because their behavior is damaging the league's integrity.

Everyone feels that the official should impose a suspension as a form of punishment, but as of now, no action has been taken against Shanks. Nevertheless, this incident has had a significant impact, and the officials are unlikely to ignore it. In recent years, the LPL has been on a downward trend, and with this incident, it seems like it's time to address some "pests" and clean up the competitive environment; otherwise, players will continue to get carried away after achieving some success.

Icon and Xiao Dong Bei have already retired and are selling pancakes. Honestly, nobody cares about their private activities, but associating them with esports players and LOL gamers seems inappropriate. As for Shanks and A-Le, one is an active player, and the other still has a chance for future employment. Their involvement in this situation is truly absurd; these two brothers are clearly not considering their future careers at all.

In conclusion:

Using the banner of League of Legends players and LPL esports athletes representing the country to attack a random player is, to be honest, a bit embarrassing. The opposing statement: "Have you made a name for yourself in the gaming world, or are you still fundamentally just a DS?" is quite accurate. As fellow LOL players, it feels a bit shameful. However, the opposing side is not entirely blameless either, as they edited the footage to favor themselves.

So what do you think? Should Shanks be suspended?

Feel free to leave comments and discuss!