The launch of the Ranked Play system was like throwing a lighthouse into the already boiling ocean of League of Legends. Countless players, driven by a thirst for glory, plunged headfirst into this climbing ladder known as 'Tiers'. From the silent accumulation in Iron, to the stumbling progress in Bronze, then the initial proof in Silver, and the ecstatic joy in Gold... every promotion to a higher sub-tier was accompanied by the players' heartbeats and sweat.
Discussions about tiers were everywhere, both on forums and in-game. "What tier are you?" became the new greeting among players. The tier border on the loading screen became a silent declaration of skill. Guides and livestreams from high-tier players attracted countless eyes eager for improvement. The entire game ecosystem became more vibrant and competitive because of this clear goal-setting system.
However, everyone's gaze, during the climb, involuntarily looked upwards, towards the most dazzling and unreachable pinnacle of that pyramid—challenger.
That was not just a symbol of strength, but the beginning of a legend. With only 200 slots per server, it meant this was the highest honor, one in a million. Who would be the first to reach the top and be crowned King? This became the biggest suspense since the season began.
Inside Riot Games, this was also a matter of great concern. Qin Feng specifically had the technical team set up a special monitoring panel in the backend to track the top-ranked players' IDs in real-time. He knew that the birth of the first challenger would be a milestone event in the competitive history of League of Legends and must be met with the highest level of response and commemoration.
Three weeks after the Ranked Play began, the competition entered a fierce stage. The 'Grandmaster' tier, at the top of the pyramid, gathered the server's most elite players and teams. Every match among them was a clash of gods, with mechanics, game sense, and team coordination reaching the pinnacle of current player skill. The struggle for LP was exceptionally intense, and rankings subtly changed every minute.
Among these top players, one ID gradually caught everyone's attention—"Ye Yu."
Ye Yu primarily played mid-lane, with an unfathomable champion pool, especially renowned for assassin-type champions. His mechanics were as sharp as a surgeon's knife, his lane pressure was extremely strong, his roaming timings were precise, and in team fights, he always found the most lethal angles to engage and dismantle the enemy's core. His match replays were repeatedly studied by countless players, and his calm judgment and willingness to make plays at critical moments earned him numerous fans.
On the forums, some had already begun to call him "the man closest to being King."
Late that night, some of Riot Games' operations and technical teams were still on duty. Suddenly, the challenger monitoring panel emitted a pre-set alert! Data showed that Ye Yu's LP, after winning an extremely difficult high-elo game, finally broke through the critical threshold. Next to his ID, the tier indicator instantly changed from "Grandmaster" to "Challenger"!
Moreover, his LP temporarily ranked first on the challenger leaderboard!
"Mr. Qin! He's here! The first challenger! It's 'Ye Yu'!" The on-duty staff excitedly contacted Qin Feng, who had been waiting for a long time, via internal communication.
Qin Feng immediately logged into the backend to confirm. Looking at the "challenger" indicator, symbolizing the highest honor, appearing next to Ye Yu's ID, a relieved and excited smile spread across his face. The historic moment had finally arrived.
"Execute the plan!" Qin Feng gave the order.
Minutes later, the official League of Legends website, in-game announcements, and all official social media accounts simultaneously released a golden, dazzling server-wide announcement with an exceptionally eye-catching title:
"Congratulations to Summoner 'Ye Yu' for Reaching Challenger and Being Crowned as the #1 Player in the Chinese Server!"
The announcement content was enthusiastic:
"Dear Summoners,
We are thrilled to announce that the first player to reach the 'challenger' tier since the start of Ranked Play has been born! He is—Ye Yu!
With his unparalleled skill, unyielding will, and profound understanding of the game, he has conquered the pinnacle of Summoners Rift, becoming a legend admired by all players!
Let us extend our warmest congratulations! Ye Yu, you are the King of this moment!
May his glory inspire every Summoner fighting in the Rift to never give up and bravely climb!"
This announcement was like dropping a nuclear bomb into a calm lake, instantly igniting the entire player community!
The forum servers were almost overwhelmed by the flood of posts and replies:
"Holy cow! Ye Yu is amazing!!!"
"It really is him! I knew it!"
"#1 in the Chinese server! So strong!"
"Witnessing history! I'm still struggling in Silver, and someone else has already reached the top..."
"Please, Ye Yu-god, accept my friend request! Please, OB (spectate) view!"
The ID "Ye Yu" became a household name in League of Legends overnight, a goal for countless players to admire and pursue. His in-game friend requests instantly maxed out, and the view counts of his previous highlight videos skyrocketed.
However, the official celebration was far more than just an announcement.
Simultaneously with the congratulatory announcement, a very special skin was launched in the in-game store—"Guardian Statue Ryze."
The tagline for this skin was: "Commemorating the birth of a legend, paying tribute to every climber."
The skin's design itself was not flashy or dazzling but ingeniously crafted. Ryze's model was sculpted into an ancient, metallic, blue-gray appearance, like a newly cast commemorative statue. His ability effects were primarily composed of steady golden and cyan light. When he activated his ultimate ability, [Desperate Power], a special magic circle would expand beneath his feet, and in the center of the circle, Ye Yu's ID signature laser engraving pattern would appear! Furthermore, in the final moment of his recall animation, Ryze would strike a pose holding an arcane energy orb, within which Ye Yu's specific date of becoming the first challenger would briefly display.
More importantly, the official announcement clearly stated:
1. This skin is a limited edition skin.
2. It will only be available for two weeks.
3. After the sale ends, it will be permanently discontinued and will never be directly sold or obtained through lucky draws in any form under any circumstances in the future.
4. A certain percentage of all sales revenue during the selling period will be given as an additional congratulatory gift to player "Ye Yu" himself, to honor the history he created.
This move once again pushed the excitement to a climax!
This was not just commemorating Ye Yu's personal achievement but also creating a shared, exclusive memory for the entire server and all players. Purchasing this skin meant owning a unique souvenir commemorating "witnessing the birth of the first challenger."
Players' purchasing enthusiasm was unprecedented!
"Buy it! Must buy it! This is the commemorative skin for the first challenger in the Chinese server!"
"Ryze is also my main champion; this skin is incredibly meaningful!"
"Limited edition! Brothers, go for it! If you miss it, it's really gone forever!"
"Support Ye Yu! This official move is awesome!"
The golden "Guardian Statue Ryze" skin became one of the most common sights in the game during that period. It silently told the story of the history that had just unfolded, inspiring more players to aim for higher goals.
Ye Yu himself also posted on the forum, expressing his gratitude for the official congratulations and player support, his tone humble yet resolute, stating that this was just a new beginning and he would continue to work hard to face challenges from stronger players.
Qin Feng stood by the office window, looking at the city lights below. He could feel that because of Ye Yu's ascent to the top and the launch of this limited-edition skin, the entire game's competitive atmosphere had been pushed to a new height. Players' desire for stronger skills was completely ignited.
"Someone has already taken the throne," Qin Feng murmured, a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes, "So, the war for the throne, and... the vast expanse of professional players, should also be put on the agenda."
The crowning of the first challenger was not only the pinnacle of one legend but also the prelude to another grander story—the wave of professional esports.