On August 21st, 2022, at the Identity V League (IVL) 2022 Summer finals, two of the top competitive teams in China’s Identity V esports circuit, DOU5 and WBG, faced off in a dramatic final series that shocked the fans from beginning to end. The event took place in HangZhou, China, at the Esports Center during the culmination of the league’s summer season.
The IVL 2022 Summer Season had been one of the most competitive in recent years, with several teams pushing each other throughout the regular season to secure playoff positioning. Both DOU5 and WBG entered the finals after earning their spots through consistent strong plays.
Round One began with DOU5’s survivors’ impeccable survivor coordination, as they efficiently decoded the cipher machines while manning spacing to avoid early Hunter engagement. WBG’s opening hunter choice pressured the survivors aggressively, but DOU5’s patience and rotation denied early eliminations, allowing all four survivors to escape and take the first map.
However, as the matches progressed, momentum shifted drastically in the mid-set maps. With WBG unleashing a surprising Hunter pick— Photographer, aka Joseph— a character known for his precision and map control, however rarely ever played in tournaments, as he’s far from being meta. Playing a high-risk, high reward strategy, WBG’s player Ymm showcased this pick’s potential, executing high-speed chases and incredible mind games that forces the survivors into tough decisions, targeting them with near-perfect timings. In a stunning display, Ymm secured a four kill, eliminating all of DOU5’s survivors.
This play made history as the audience cheered, and demonstrated why Joseph, when expertly handled, can make excellent plays even meta hunters can’t. The 4K highlighted Ymm’s mastery of positioning, ability timing, and pressure application, making it one of the most memorable plays in IVL history!
Despite Ymm’s historic performance, DOU5 remained resilient. Their survivors adapted fast, using loops and coordinated rescues to reduce Joseph’s advantage in subsequent maps. Veteran player Eleven excited clutch decoding pushes and timed rescues that stalled WBG’s momentum. Ensuring that no more 4Ks could swing the series. DOU5’s combination of patience, communication, and risk management ultimately allowed them to remain competitive and mount comebacks.
The final rounds were a showcase of tight decision making, with DOU5 narrowly escaping multiple rounds and forcing WBG to adjust strategies. In the end, DOU5 edged out WBG 3-2 to claim their first IVL Summer Championship! While WBG’s 4K by Ymm became a highlight moment, DOU5’s consistency, team coordination, and clutch escapes earned them the title and cemented their status as a rising powerhouse in Chinese Identity V esports.
