Chapter 12: Predictions. But Reversed.
All the Autumn Split playoff matches were held in Haishi. After eight BO5 matches, the 16 teams would be narrowed down to the top eight.
Today was the opening match of the playoffs. The two competing teams were highly popular, and tickets had sold out the moment they went on sale. They had asked the league organizers for a few internal tickets and arrived at the venue an hour early.
The stadium was almost full. The two teams had a similar number of fans, and looking out, it was a sea of multi-colored lights.
Fortunately, it was already dark, and since they were in casual clothes and masks, no spectators recognized them. They reached their seats smoothly. Zuo Chi noticed quite a few other teams had also come to watch; the two rows of seats next to them were filled with several familiar players.
From the commentators introducing the teams’ group stage results to the players’ entrance, at exactly 8:00 PM, the first playoff match officially began.
“Welcome everyone to the Arena Professional League Autumn Split Playoffs, the Round of 16. Tonight’s match is ZAP vs. BLUE—a clash of titans!”
“The fans on-site are already shouting their team slogans to cheer for the players. We can see many players from other teams have also come to watch the match.”
Zuo Chi pulled down his mask to take a few sips of water, focusing intently on the coaches on stage during the BP.
Suddenly, he saw his own face on the giant electronic screen. The director was panning the camera across the audience.
“In this row, we see VEX’s manager and Land… Wall and Beyond from ZAP’s second team are also here. The players from Team RUN and SKY are waving to the camera…”
In the official live stream, question marks immediately flooded the bullet chat.
[???]
[Why are Wall and Beyond sitting with VEX players?]
[Yeah, ZAP is playing today. Shouldn’t they be backstage with ZAP’s coaching staff as substitutes?]
[I have a bold theory. You don’t think Wall and Beyond were desperate enough to try out for VEX, do you?]
[What’s the difference between trying out for VEX and digging your own grave? Wall hasn’t played for a long time, but he was a champion once. Going to VEX is just ruining his legacy.]
[Can someone tell me who that person sitting between Land and the VEX manager is? A new VEX player?]
[Don’t know him, never seen him, but he’s actually quite handsome.]
[What’s the use of being handsome in pro play? Just don’t be like Land—ranking high in looks but having nothing but looks.]
On stage, both sides had finished the BP and were in the final thirty-second countdown before entering the game.
According to tradition, the commentator would pick two fans of the competing teams from the audience to predict the result and offer a short blessing to their players.
Commentator: “We’re about to enter the game. Now we’ll pick two lucky audience members—let me see who the bullet chat is shouting for. Let’s pick this viewer sitting next to Land. Yes, the one in the white sweater!”
Zuo Chi watched as the camera, which had just moved away, returned to his face.
The young man’s almond eyes showed a hint of helplessness as he stood up from his seat.
Commentator: “This viewer, which team do you support, and who do you think will win this round?”
“From a draft perspective, I favor ZAP.”
[It’s been minutes. Has anyone found out who he is yet?]
[I searched. He’s definitely not a pro player.]
[Big scoop! My friend is an insider. Weren’t there rumors about VEX getting a new coach? That’s him, Zuo Chi.]
[A coach? He looks like a college student. (Stunned.jpg)]
[Where did VEX find this coach? At his age… can he even handle being a coach?]
[As an old VEX fan, I’m crying inside. No wonder he started with ‘From a draft perspective.’ He better actually know how to read a draft. (Gritting teeth.jpg)]
[Commentator, if you understand how to get views, make this Coach Zuo predict the winner before every round.]
In the first round, ZAP picked a lineup suitable for early aggression. They secured four kills in under ten minutes, but a positioning error during a dragon fight allowed BLUE to strike back and win the first round.
Among the players, only Ning Luzhao didn’t check social media. The others were all “5G internet surfers” who didn’t miss a single meme.
Fugui said in a low voice, “Coach! You’re on the trending search! VEX is trending!”
Zuo Chi glanced over. #VEXNewCoachPredictsZAPvsBLUE# was in the middle of the trending list, mixed in with #BLUEWinsFirstRound# and #ArenaAutumnPlayoffsOpeningNight#.
Opening the comments, most were from skeptical or curious bystanders.
Some thought a young coach with no experience couldn’t lead a team well.
Others thought predicting wins based only on the draft was too arbitrary and lacked professionalism, relying entirely on luck.
There were even those asserting that VEX’s results would be even worse next year under this coach, predicting they would be clean-swept in all three Spring Split group matches and continue their “one-round trip” tradition.
Zuo Chi browsed for a while before turning off his phone, seemingly unbothered. “Netizens’ emojis are actually quite interesting. I’m stealing some.”
Essentially, predicting based only on a draft had great uncertainty. After all, the charm of esports lay in the weak defeating the strong, hero plays, and comebacks. A draft was only one aspect; it mostly depended on the players’ decisions and performance in-game.
However, he couldn’t exactly do a detailed review right there in the stadium. When the commentator asked him before the match, he made his prediction based on what he could see.
As for those bad-mouthing VEX’s future results, the truth would be seen on the field. There was no point in arguing now.
Zuo Chi finished and didn’t forget to remind the players: “It’s fine to look at the trending searches now. But once the roster is finalized and formal training starts, uninstall social media. Don’t let it affect your mindset.”
Before the second round began, the commentator indeed asked for his prediction again.
“Coach Zuo didn’t get it right last round, and BLUE took the first point. So, for this round, do you think the teams will tie at 1:1, or will BLUE lead 2:0?”
“Both drafts are 50/50, but BLUE has a higher proficiency with this lineup. I favor BLUE.”
This round was exceptionally close.
The two teams battled for forty minutes. ZAP won the final teamfight and tied the score.
[This coach is a jinx, isn’t he? Whichever team he predicts to win, loses.]
[I found the VEX coach’s streaming account. He’s actually a small streamer! He plays support and got over ten thousand fans in just three months.]
[I watched the coach’s stream replays. Honestly, being in the national top one thousand for support is quite impressive.]
[He’s a coach, not a player. If a high rank was all it took to be a good coach, wouldn’t all pro players be coaches?]
Round 3.
“ZAP’s lineup has great flexibility. If they watch their positioning, teamfights will be easy. I favor ZAP.”
BLUE won.
Round 4.
“…I favor BLUE.”
ZAP won.
Round 5.
Zuo Chi sighed. His luck today was truly poor. Or rather, the way the two teams played was completely different from what he imagined when seeing the drafts. They failed to bring out the intended effects of the lineups.
These matches would make for great review material.
“For the sake of the fans’ heart health, I won’t make a prediction for the final round.”
The young man’s voice echoed through the speakers, causing a burst of laughter in the stadium.
The commentator was satisfied with the buzz generated and didn’t press him further. “Alright, then let’s enter the game and see which team secures the first spot in the top eight!”
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