Doinb – Tian: “Scapegoats” at the 2021 World Championship
When mentioning the defeat of FunPlus Phoenix, two names are specifically pointed out by the fans of this team as the main reasons: Doinb and Tian. Tian had numerous plays that were “out of the world”, even in matches where FPX was ahead. And in the confrontations against Canyon (DWG KIA), Blaber (Cloud9), or even Inspired from Rogue, Tian did not show any significant improvement, especially in the four matches during the second round and the tie-break.
As for Doinb, he was the name expected to “carry the team” alongside Tian and Nuguri in the top lane gameplay, just as he frequently did during the 2021 LPL Summer. However, in response to those expectations, Doinb was not himself. He struggled to keep up with the meta, still using outdated matchups like Galio against LeBlanc or Irelia tank… and was completely outplayed. Despite being given resources, what Doinb managed to achieve was far too little compared to the expectations.
One Comforted, the Other Criticized for Being Fake
Since returning from the 2021 World Championship, both Tian and Doinb have streamed to discuss their failure at this year’s tournament. Notably, Tian did not offer any apologies but only posted an open letter sharing about his performance, clearly stating that he understands how he performed and requesting fans not to mention his future. Meanwhile, Doinb, throughout the stream, apologized to fans and teammates multiple times, admitting that he did not practice diligently with Zoe and LeBlanc – two very strong champions at this year’s Worlds. He also sent his best wishes to EDward Gaming for the upcoming finals against DK.
However, the fans’ reactions to these two are completely opposite. While Tian is viewed as realistic and is being comforted and encouraged, or at least some people are requesting the online community not to continue attacking Tian, Doinb is criticized for being fake, not acknowledging his decline, with some even suggesting he should retire.
Is There Bias from a Portion of LPL Fans?
No true fan wants the players to face criticism for their performances after a grueling season. After a defeat, the players are the ones who feel the most heartbroken and regretful, especially when they have tried their best.
However, the reality is that a portion of LPL fans are inconsistent in their treatment of players, in this case, Doinb and Tian. According to some arguments, Tian is quiet, reserved, and somewhat humble, while Doinb previously boldly declared after the first round of the 2021 World Championship group stage that he would not lose any more matches. The outcome is well-known.
But it must be acknowledged that Doinb’s confidence at that time was necessary. If one cannot be confident, then they have already lost before the game even starts. Not to mention, the FPX players carry immense pressure on their shoulders as they were even rated higher than EDG – the number one seed from LPL. Without Doinb’s motivational speeches, they could have been in an even worse situation.
Another argument is that Doinb is “nailed” to the image of a player eager for victory, always carrying the team. But at the 2021 World Championship, he performed poorly. As the saying goes, “the more expectations, the more disappointments.” The criticism directed at Doinb more than Tian is due to LPL and FPX fans having high expectations for him. Some even argue that LPL fans are biased, as Tian is a domestic player, while Doinb, after all, is Korean.
But in every match, there must be a winner and a loser. Surely, none of Doinb, Tian, or Nuguri want to be the loser, but the results cannot be changed. After these defeats, the only thing that can help the players return in the future is the support of the fans. Criticism is inevitable, but it certainly only adds weight and pressure to the players and can even be the “knife” that ends their careers.