Baolan

Liu-Yi Wang, known in competition as Baolan, is a Chinese support who grew into one of the most recognizable faces in the LPL over the course of his active career. At 26, he has left full-time professional play behind, though he has since taken part in the LPL All-Stars event, a result that suits the standing he earned across China’s premier league. His rise is tied closely to the peak years of Chinese League of Legends, when the region climbed to worldwide prominence.

The Work of a Support

Of all the roles on Summoner’s Rift, support asks the most of a player without always giving credit back. Baolan’s game reflected that: keeping track of the map at all times, placing and clearing wards to control vision, and giving up his own resources so his carries could shine. The best supports anticipate fights before they start, land crowd control at exactly the right instant, and protect teammates when it matters most. Baolan made his name through playmaking and starting fights, favoring champions that let him set the pace of skirmishes instead of responding to whatever the enemy chose.

Signature Champion

Rakan is the champion most closely linked to Baolan’s approach. The Charmer is a go-to choice for aggressive, engage-focused supports, rewarding those who can dive into the enemy backline, string together crowd control, and open the door for the rest of the team to follow up. Playing Rakan requires instant decisions and bold positioning, a good match for a player who wanted to sit in the middle of every fight. Being comfortable on a champion this fast-paced showed how sure Baolan was about shaping teamfights on his own terms.

Legacy and Retirement

Now that he has stepped back from full-time competition, Baolan belongs to the group of Chinese players who helped establish the LPL as a major region. Fans still feel warmly toward veterans who defined an era, which is part of why his All-Stars appearance drew attention. In esports, retirement seldom means vanishing entirely; players like Baolan often stay involved through exhibitions, content, and coaching. Wherever his next steps lead, his career remains a clear example of what the support role can achieve and why fearless engage players stick in people’s memories.