Buzz
To put it mildly, MSI 2022 stands out as the most disastrously organized tournament that Riot Games has ever conducted.
Arguably, among all the MSI editions, the 2022 tournament witnessed the most disastrous organization and numerous dramas by Riot. Controversies erupted even before the event began, as Riot Games allowed RNG to compete remotely, putting other teams at a disadvantage with a 35-ping condition. This seemed unfair compared to the VCS situation, where Vietnamese representatives couldn't participate in international tournaments for an extended period due to similar ping issues with RNG.
Speaking of ping issues, the actual ping experienced by players seemed to be much higher than the announced 35 ping by Riot Games. According to some PSG Talon players interviewed by Kookmin Ilbo, they appeared to be playing at 50-60 ping in the early days of the competition. It wasn't until Riot identified and fixed the issue on the fourth day that the network conditions stabilized, and players were finally able to compete at the promised 35 ping.
Furthermore, the ping problem persisted when it was discovered that T1 players were displayed with only 22-23 ping. Faced with considerable backlash, Riot Games had to publicly explain that the low ping display was a mistake. In reality, the ping level at which T1 players competed was similar to other teams.
Although, at the current moment, the issues with the top lane of MSI 2022 have been temporarily resolved, it still leaves a dissatisfying impression on viewers. Even after Riot Games released a statement regarding the ping, North American League of Legends legend Doublelift openly criticized the MSI 2022 as a 'Mickey Mouse' event, slang in the U.S. suggesting unfairness, low value, and lack of significance.
Fundamentally, the issue of ping discrepancies will significantly impact the outcomes of plays in League of Legends. Especially in a competition gathering top-tier players like MSI 2022, this can sometimes determine the winner or loser. Therefore, Riot Games allowing ping variations at MSI 2022 is a difficult aspect to accept, even when they attempted to address it by requesting RNG to replay.
For the audience, it's evident that we always want to witness matches of the highest quality. Hopefully, in the upcoming Knockout Stage, transmission issues won't arise and spoil a tournament that already has too much drama as it is.
