While the qualifiers in major esports hubs were still fiercely battling for the last few spots in the city finals, some smaller city divisions, with fewer registered teams and faster progress, had already welcomed their ultimate showdown — the city finals.
These divisions might not have the grandeur of Shanghai or Guangzhou, with their hidden talents and tens of thousands of teams fighting it out, but precisely because of this, the competition appeared purer and more direct. The two teams that emerged from dozens or even a dozen local teams to meet in the finals often represented the highest level among league of legends players in that city. This final was not just about the sole ticket to the regional competition and prize money, but also about the honor of representing their city.
The officials keenly captured this moment and made arrangements in advance. Although they couldn't invest massive OB resources and multi-channel commentary like the big cities, the operations team still provided basic live stream support for these early city finals and arranged for commentators to provide online commentary. More importantly, the official social media accounts prepared a series of "congratulatory message" templates, ready to send official recognition to these newly crowned "city champions" as soon as the results were out.
In a small city in the Northeast, famous for its ice and snow tourism, the "Aurora Internet Cafe" became the venue for the local finals (an online competition, but teams gathered at designated internet cafes to play). The finalists were the Snowfield Wolf team and the "Icebreakers" team. Both teams were well-known locally and knew each other inside out.
The format was the more challenging BO5 (Best of Five).
In the first game, the Snowfield Wolf team quickly secured victory with their fierce early-game offensive rhythm.
In the second game, the "Icebreakers" team adjusted their strategy, played steadily, and relied on a stronger late-game lineup to even the score.
In the third game, both sides entered a long tug-of-war. In the end, the Snowfield Wolf team narrowly won and took match point with a brilliant Baron steal.
In the fourth game, the "Icebreakers" team, with their backs against the wall, erupted with astonishing energy, dominating across the board and pushing the match to the decisive game.
The crowd watching in the internet cafe was several times larger than usual, and the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. In the decisive game, both sides brought out their trump card champions and tactics. The game time once dragged on for over forty minutes, both high ground towers were destroyed, and the economy was even; any single mistake could ruin the entire game.
Finally, in a decisive Elder Dragon team fight, the Snowfield Wolf team's ADC (Sivir, the Battle Mistress), under the desperate protection of her teammates, unleashed explosive AOE (Area of Effect) damage, achieved a triple kill, and led the team to ace the opponents, pushing down the base in one go!
"We won! We are champions!"
The five members of the Snowfield Wolf team leaped from their seats, excitedly embracing each other, some even crying tears of joy. They had won the right to represent this ice and snow city in the Northeast regional competition!
Almost at the moment the match results were confirmed, the official league of legends Weibo immediately published a congratulatory message for the city:
"Congratulations to the Snowfield Wolf team for their five-game battle, defeating the 'Icebreakers' team 3:2 to successfully claim the [Icewind Valley City] City Championship! Wolves of the North, Sharp Edge revealed! We look forward to your exciting performance in the Northeast Regional Competition! [Congratulatory emoji]"
This Weibo post was frantically retweeted and commented on by local news accounts and players. The Snowfield Wolf team and the name of this small city appeared in the sight of players nationwide for the first time as champions.
In the capital of an ethnic minority autonomous prefecture in the Southwest, a team named "Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language" (Dai language, meaning a magical and beautiful place) became the biggest dark horse. Its members came from different ethnic groups, brought together by their shared love for the game.
Their final opponent was the "Youth Storm" team, composed of local high school students. Before the match, more people favored "Youth Storm" for their sharper mechanics and quicker reactions.
The final was also a BO5.
"Youth Storm" struck first, cleanly taking the first game.
In the second game, the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language team demonstrated their strong resilience and teamwork, slowly grinding down their opponents through close grouping and support.
In the third game, "Youth Storm" once again gained an advantage through individual skill, but a mid-game overextension was seized upon by Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language, resulting in a team wipe and a comeback victory!
In the fourth game, with match point in hand, Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language gave their opponents no further chances, playing steadily and ultimately defeating their strong adversary 3:1 to be crowned City Champions!
As the victory screen froze, these young people from the borderlands cheered in a mix of their native language and Chinese, their smiles simple and radiant. The official congratulatory message followed closely:
"Congratulations to the Magical and Beautiful Place - Dai Language team for their stunning debut, defeating 'Youth Storm' 3:1 to win the [Jinghong City] City Championship! Eagles spread their wings in the colorful clouds of the south! The stage of the National Competition awaits you to bring a different kind of scenery!"
Below this congratulatory message, there were many blessings and curiosities from players across the country, instantly giving this once obscure border town a very high esports recognition.
In an ancient city in the Central Plains with a long history, the final unfolded between the Bronze Wine Goblet team and the "Luoyang Peony" team. The Bronze Wine Goblet team's average age was close to twenty-eight, making them a true "veteran" team, while "Luoyang Peony" was a young force composed of university students.
The BO5 contest became a clash of experience and vitality.
The spirited "Luoyang Peony" took the first two games, pushing the Bronze Wine Goblet into a desperate situation.
However, from the third game onwards, the Bronze Wine Goblet showed their seasoned side. They no longer competed with their opponents on mechanics but, through exquisite minion wave management, resource trading, and vision control, slowly dragged the game into their familiar rhythm. In two consecutive long macro games, they stubbornly tied the score.
In the decisive game, both sides gave their all. Finally, in a crucial small dragon team fight, the veteran support of the Bronze Wine Goblet team made a god-tier Flash engage, CCing the opponent's core C-position, helping his team secure the victory and complete an astonishing reverse sweep from 0-2 down!
When victory came, these "veterans" who had long entered society exchanged smiles, their eyes sparkling with a passion and emotion that transcended age. The official congratulatory message spared no praise:
"A miracle is born! Congratulations to the Bronze Wine Goblet team for completing the feat of a reverse sweep from 0-2 down in a desperate situation, defeating 'Luoyang Peony' 3:2 to claim the [Luoyang City] City Championship! Veterans never die, their spirit lives on! This perseverance and wisdom are worthy of respect from all Summoners!"
Similar scenes were constantly unfolding in dozens of small and medium-sized cities across the country that had finished their matches first. With the birth of each city champion, officials would immediately issue an exclusive congratulatory message, accompanied by team information and location tags. These congratulatory messages converged on the official social media homepage, forming a unique landscape that visually demonstrated the unparalleled coverage and regional characteristics of this national competition.
For these champion teams from smaller cities, the official congratulatory messages and recognition were a tremendous honor and encouragement. They knew that their journey had just begun. Next, they would face champion teams from other cities within the same major region, which would be stronger, more brutal challenges.
But at this moment, they could fully enjoy this glory that belonged to them and to their respective cities. They were the heroes of their city-states, the embodiment of countless players' dreams in this land. The map of the National Competition became clearer and more complete precisely because of the crowning of these scattered city-states.