Introduction: The S16 season matches have officially begun, and most players have been following the recent competitions. The matches across various regions are fiercely contested. In the past couple of days, the LCK region has seen consecutive upset results, sparking widespread discussion among players online. After DK team swept Gen.G with a 2-0 victory, mid-laner Showmaker became a trending topic. His 22nd northern expedition finally succeeded, after more than 1700 days, defeating Gen.G once again. In the post-match interview, he openly stated that winning this match brought him more joy than when he won the World Championship back then. Meanwhile, South Korea's military service policy was revised due to Ruler's tax evasion issues, affecting a group of players. They are no longer allowed to serve in the military while continuing their professional careers; they must retire, effectively cutting off their career paths.

Showmaker's 22nd Northern Expedition Succeeded

Most players are quite familiar with Showmaker. As a former top-tier professional player, his overall performance has fluctuated significantly over the past few years. Although he has remained loyal to DK team, his results have indeed declined year by year. The most discussed topic is likely Showmaker's encounters with Gen.G. Prior to this, they had faced each many times, with Chovy consistently winning, even leading to nicknames like "Samsung Meng Huo." Unexpectedly, in this second stage matchup, DK team broke their curse. The 22nd northern expedition finally succeeded, and Showmaker's joy was evident.

In the early stages of the first game, Gen.G's overall condition was quite stable, and they secured many dragons. However, during crucial team fights, Bard's ultimate combined with Caitlyn's traps repeatedly eliminated AD player Ruler twice. It seemed that by the late game, Gen.G was playing chaotically. DK claimed victory in the first game at 28 minutes. Similarly, in the second game, AD player Ruler was again the issue; during the decisive team fight, he was caught by a Renekton without flash. Gen.G, who still had a chance to fight back, collapsed in a team fight at 35 minutes, and DK pushed through their base at 37 minutes, sweeping Gen.G 2-0. Showmaker ended his 21-game losing streak.

DK team's last victory over Gen.G in the LCK league dates back to August 8, 2021, over 1700 days ago. During the post-match interview, Showmaker was visibly emotional. He said, "Of course, I'm genuinely happier, even more than when I won the world championship back then. At the moment the match ended, I almost cried, and my hands were shaking. I thought I didn't care about these things, but actually, I do. Through hard work, I finally defeated an opponent I thought I couldn't beat." Indeed, this victory was exceptionally precious for him; it feels like Chovy had become his nightmare.

It seems that Gen.G's players are currently facing issues, especially AD player Ruler. Recently, Korean netizens exposed Ruler's military service problems. Due to Ruler's tax evasion, a certain esports player was forced to temporarily retire. According to Korean online reports, previously, some professional players were allowed to serve in public service roles while playing matches on weekends and evenings without salary. However, after Ruler's issue was exposed, South Korea's Military Manpower Administration revoked this special privilege. These players must now retire and serve full-time, unable to continue their professional careers. Honestly, this impact is significant, and it's likely that Ruler himself is troubled by these matters now.

Goodbye thinks

Who would have thought that DK team's 22nd northern expedition could actually win, and win so convincingly. From the post-match footage, Showmaker was extremely excited; at the moment of victory, he even jumped up from his chair. His small frame, about 1 meter tall, momentarily leaped out of the camera frame. It seemed he was holding back tears, as the nightmare lasting over 1700 days was finally broken.

What do all the viewers think about this matter?