404

Sicheng Fan, who plays under the name 404, is a Chinese mid laner best known for his time with Zodiac eSports. He has since left active competition and retired. He came up through China, one of the largest and fiercest League of Legends scenes anywhere, and was one of many domestic players trying to earn recognition in a country with an unusually deep bench of pros.

The Heart of the Map

The mid lane occupies the center of the Summoner’s Rift, both geographically and in terms of strategy. From there, a mid laner can reach any other lane quickly, so roaming and syncing up plays with the jungler becomes central to the job. Players in this role usually pick flexible mages or assassins who can set the tempo of team fights, catch out opponents who overextend, and unload heavy damage at the right moment. Controlling mid means threatening the whole map at once, and 404 was positioned in exactly that kind of influential, play-making role.

Competing in China’s Scene

Competition in China is notoriously brutal. Below the headline top-tier league sits a wide web of rosters and academy programs, all funneling players into an intensely crowded pipeline. Representing Zodiac eSports meant facing a constant stream of hungry challengers, every one of them hoping to work their way up the domestic ranks. For a mid laner, rising above that crowd took both precise mechanics and the game sense to turn roaming threats into real advantages.

Closing Chapter

404 is now retired, bringing the active part of his competitive career to a close. In a scene as vast as China’s, a steady stream of players moves through the professional ranks, and each adds to the ecosystem’s impressive depth. Whatever he chooses next, whether coaching, content creation, or something away from the game entirely, his stint as a mid laner for Zodiac eSports is part of the larger story of Chinese League of Legends, a region that keeps setting the standard for competitive play around the world.