Introduction: The S16 season has officially begun. I believe most players have been following the recent matches, and the competitions across all major regions have been very intense. In the past few days, many LPL teams have finished their third stage journey. The one that disappointed fans the most is probably NIP. In the third stage, they performed exceptionally well, winning all games in the Nirvana Group. However, in the playoffs, after losing just one BO5, they were completely eliminated from all subsequent events, including the Demacia Cup and other minor tournaments. Recently, their top laner HOYA posted a long message announcing that he will leave the LPL next season and will no longer be able to compete with the team.

Another player officially announces departure from LPL.

I believe most players are quite familiar with the NIP team. As the only team with its own home stadium, their investment has been very significant. Over the past few years, they have acquired many excellent players, including Rookie and Doinb – both world champion mid laners have played for this team. This season, NIP's overall performance was not particularly outstanding, especially in the second stage when they encountered serious team coordination problems. In the Knight's Path tournament, they unfortunately fell into the Nirvana Group. However, in the third stage, they achieved a perfect record in intra-group matches, continuously crushing the IG team, and advanced to the Knight's Path as the first place in their group.

In the playoffs, NIP also performed very well, successively overwhelming several strong teams. However, when facing LGD, they made some coordination mistakes, which ultimately led to LGD defeating NIP 3-2. In theory, other teams eliminated early still have chances to compete for World Championship spots, but unfortunately NIP's year-round points total was too low. They only lost one BO5 in the third stage, yet they couldn't even qualify for the Demacia Cup. We thought the team would continue for another year, but unexpectedly, top laner Hoya released news that saddened all fans.

Last night, top laner Hoya suddenly posted:

I can't believe I've been in the LPL for exactly four years. Time really flies! Since I might not be able to continue playing in a foreign region next year, I want to say goodbye to everyone in advance. Considering this might be my last chance, I really hoped to make it to an international tournament, but my performance in yesterday's match was terrible. I'm truly sorry. No matter where life takes me in the future, I will carry these precious memories and continue to live hard. Thank you all again.

Fans might still be confused, so let me explain: Hoya is already 27 years old, and he has used up all three deferments for mandatory military service. There is no policy that exempts him from service now, so he must return to South Korea to serve. As a player who debuted with Griffin, he once trained alongside Tarzan, Viper, Chovy, and Kanavi in the academy. Judging from this year's performances, he is definitely a fierce fighter whose skill outweighs his fame. He was just starting to make a name for himself, and fans had just begun to know him, when he was forced to leave the pro scene due to age. So, LPL pro players should cherish their time. Since they are able to fight on the front lines for a long time, they should give it their all.

Zai Jian (Goodbye) thinks

Who would have thought that NIP, just starting to rise, would disintegrate next season. Hoya has been playing in the LPL for four years, but it's really only this season that fans have become familiar with him. There is no way around the military service issue, unless you can be like Doinb or reach the level of Faker (a godlike figure). Ordinary people cannot escape this problem – even Peanut and Deft had to go.

What do you all think about this?