Buzz
On the official return day to LPL, Uzi made sure everyone remembered his name.
The 17th of February match day (Vietnam time) might be unforgettable for LPL fans. Not because of drama or epic battles, but simply because in what seemed like a regular match between Invictus Gaming and Bilibili Gaming, the world witnessed the return of the legend Uzi - the 'Super Marksman' revered as a 'deity' in LPL, standing shoulder to shoulder with Faker.
Uzi's return match didn't go as desired despite his utmost effort, as BLG still lost 1-2 to IG. However, the audience still glimpsed the silhouette of a past legend, especially as Uzi, after substituting in for Doggo, helped BLG draw in game 2 and only lost because he couldn't 'carry the team' in the decisive game 3.
Uzi's return immediately caused a sensation across all Chinese media. The keyword 'Uzi' soared to the top 3 searches on Weibo, showcasing the tremendous allure of this LPL icon. What's more, the live stream of the match between IG and BLG reached an astonishing 10 million views. This is an incredible figure considering that the 2021 Worlds finals between EDward Gaming and DWG KIA only reached about 4 million views, and even the semifinal match between T1 and DK, featuring the 'Demon King' Faker, only garnered over 3.5 million views.
Through these figures, it's evident that Uzi remains the most anticipated legend of LPL, despite his long hiatus and lack of recent outstanding achievements. However, this isn't surprising, considering that since Uzi announced his return to professional LoL, fans, experts, and players alike have been buzzing about it, raising questions about the former Royal Never Give Up star's form.
With a stellar performance against IG, many fans are hopeful that Uzi will continue to be utilized in the future. Especially now that the LPL Spring 2022 has entered its peak phase and young, inexperienced players like Doggo are prone to 'choking,' the team will need experienced names like Uzi to carry them through.
