eSports athlete 'Uzi' speaks at China's 70th anniversary event

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Jian Zihao, username "Uzi" in video game League of Legends (LOL) and member of the Chinese eSports team Royal Never Give Up (RNG), was invited to speak at the 70th anniversary event of the People's Republic of China held by Martian Club and China Daily on Saturday.

Uzi shared with the public his feelings when RNG were knocked out by the G2 Esports from Europe in the quarter-finals of the 2018 League of Legends World Championship (S8). "I didn't know how I left the venue or how I went back to the hotel. I was afraid to check my phone and even did not want to believe that we were eliminated," said Uzi.

Photos of members of the Chinese eSports team Royal Never Give Up (RNG) at the League pf Legends (LOL) tournament at the 2018 Asian Games /VCG Photo

Having won many titles including the 2018 LOL Midseason Invitational and the LOL gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games, Uzi and his RNG teammates carried great hopes from Chinese LOL fans and aimed for the championship at S8. However, the upset loss to G2 not only put a painful end to a supposedly successful year for Uzi, but also drew a lot of criticism from fans.

Uzi has been well-known for his passion and confidence in LOL which earned another nickname for him, "the arrogant dog". The loss at S8 seemed to cut down his ego and added a piece of toughness to the 21-year-old young man. "Since I chose to become a professional eSports athlete, I must learn how grow from loss instead of drowning in it."

Uzi also quoted Ernest Hemingway with the great American novelist's classical remarks "A man can be destroyed, but not defeated" in "The Old Man and the Sea", indicating that he will only work harder after loss. Both him and RNG are expected to again chase the championship at the 2019 League of Legends World Championship (S9).