Introduction: The S15 season is underway, and most players have been paying attention to the recent clashes. The LPL has reached a highly competitive elimination stage, where the top four teams from the Peak Group have already qualified for the playoffs, and the other eight teams are battling for four remaining spots. Currently, TES team is drawing a lot of discussion; their overall performance this season has been impressive, winning the first split and finishing first in the regular season for both the second and third splits. Recently, AD player AShui’s remarks during a livestream sparked widespread debate online. It seems his professional ailments are quite serious, as if he is preparing for retirement. Could it be that there will be no S16 for him?

JKL Preparing for Retirement

Most players are quite familiar with AD player AShui. As a top domestic player in the LPL, his career has been brilliant—debuting at the peak is no exaggeration. At 17, he won League of Legends’ highest honor: the S8 World Championship. Back then, he might not have been as popular or hyped as his teammates, but his achievements earned him a growing fan base. After leaving IG, he went through some uncertainty and even negotiated with RNG, but ended up abruptly leaving overnight, paying a hefty breach of contract fee. It seems RNG had their reasons.

After joining TOP Esports, he has remained steadfast to this day. Regardless of TES’s roster changes, AShui has always held the AD position firmly. Even when TES performed poorly in the first two splits, many criticized AD AShui heavily. TES used the most control variables because they didn’t want to admit their weaknesses. However, starting from the third split, TES’s overall form improved rapidly and their results stabilized, securing first place in the regular season for the third split. AD player AShui topped the MVP leaderboard with nine MVP awards. Overall, his rhythm in the third split was flawless.

In a recent offseason livestream, AD player AShui’s comments sparked widespread online discussion. He said he hasn’t been wearing headphones much lately because his ears have started hurting. He plans to address all his physical issues after this year. He’s unsure if he will continue playing, but definitely wants to heal his injuries. Doctors have advised him to get up and move after playing a few games due to numerous physical ailments. He also mentioned he’s been a veteran for eight years, uncertain about the future, and even if he continues, it won’t be for many more years. He wants to live longer, recover his health first, enjoy life, and then see what happens next.

This statement seems like a hint toward retirement. Indeed, professional players suffer many injuries; Uzi also left the professional scene because of health issues. Ear ringing is something Xiaohu can relate to, as he was once tormented by wearing headphones, though his condition seems to have improved somewhat. He has also gained significant weight—could it be due to steroids or similar drugs? Many fans hope he can rest for a year like Theshy, recover fully, and then return, which wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Farewell Thoughts

If AShui leaves the competition, the LPL’s popularity would surely take a big hit. It’s unclear whether TES will let him go, as they have invested heavily in him—not just marketing, but also handling many matters behind the scenes. Although they sometimes joke about JKL’s gameplay, if he truly leaves, it will undoubtedly be bittersweet. Veterans never truly die; they just fade away.

What do you, dear viewers, think about this situation?