Legendary LPL AD carry Uzi made his official return to professional League of Legends today, but couldn’t lead Bilibili Gaming to victory against Invictus Gaming in the 2022 LPL Spring Split. Bilibili Gaming and IG entered the match with different standings, but with trajectories that made their matchup important. Bilibili Gaming had been on a cold streak, while IG had improved since the Lunar New Year.
In game one, Bilibili Gaming surprised IG with mid laner FoFo’s secret Veigar pick, leading to a closely contested match. However, IG took control at the 22-minute mark by picking off Doggo in the mid lane and securing the Baron. While IG had a gold lead, Bilibili Gaming fought back in teamfights to bring the game to a near-even state. But in one final teamfight, IG emerged victorious and closed out the game.
In game two, Bilibili Gaming brought out their secret weapon, Uzi, who returned to pro play after his 2020 retirement. Playing as Jinx, Uzi contributed to a closely fought battle between the two teams. However, IG managed to find a pick on Uzi and gained an advantage. Just in time, Uzi respawned and secured a crucial triple kill, saving the game and forcing a full three-game series. Uzi ended the game with an 11/4/17 scoreline.
For the final game of the series, Uzi once again played Jinx. Both teams fought closely, and Bilibili Gaming managed to ace IG at the 20-minute mark with Uzi’s teamfighting skills. However, IG made a comeback and killed Bilibili Gaming’s key damage threats, resulting in a Baron grab. With this advantage, IG forced a final teamfight in Bilibili Gaming’s base and emerged victorious. Uzi finished game three with a 5/3/5 scoreline.
This win for IG marks a turnaround for the team, which had struggled earlier in the season. They now have a 3-5 record and are looking to climb the standings. IG will face the reigning world champions, EDG, in their next match. Bilibili Gaming’s loss drops them to 4-3 and they will face Anyone’s Legends in their upcoming match. With Uzi’s return, Bilibili Gaming’s playstyle could become more diverse, and fans are eager to see which ADC the team will field in their next series.