After Anyone’s Legend secured a crucial 3:1 win over CTBC Flying Oyster in the lower bracket of MSI 2025, mid laner Cui "Shanks" Xiao-Jun reflected on his long-awaited international debut. Speaking openly in the post-match interview, he shared how he overcame self-doubt, why this moment matters to him personally, and what fans can expect from AL moving forward.

This interview stands out not just because of Shanks' thoughtful answers, but because it captures the turning point in a career full of setbacks. It's the moment a player who questioned whether he belonged finally embraces the spotlight — not with bravado, but with calm confidence.

Shanks long road to first international tournament

Once regarded as a rising star in the LPL, Shanks struggled to find stable footing across several teams and splits. Despite flashes of potential, his journey was marked by inconsistency, roster shuffles, and a lack of international presence. That changed in Spring 2025, when Anyone’s Legend made an great run through the LPL and earned their spot at MSI.

AL stay alive at MSI!

On July 8, Anyone’s Legend defeated CTBC Flying Oyster 3:1 in a do-or-die lower bracket match. The victory kept their MSI dream alive and put Shanks back in the spotlight — literally, as he stepped onto the stage wearing sunglasses, a signature touch that fans quickly noticed.

Asked about the look, Shanks gave a simple answer:

I believe wearing sunglasses, or just glasses, makes me feel cool. It feels amazing.

  

That quiet confidence carried into his thoughts on performing at an international level:

Previously, I was always questioning whether this stage belonged to me or not… But now, I don’t care about that. I’m just standing here, enjoying the stage — and that’s enough for me.

  

A year ago, Shanks posted on Weibo: "How many defeats do I have to suffer to finally be the protagonist in my own story?" Now, he has his answer:

I faced a lot of difficulties, but now that I’m here, I feel it’s deserved. Everyone will go through tough times. But if you give 100% and keep an optimistic mindset, everything will be OK.

  

When asked about the team behind the scenes, Shanks praised AL’s head coach, Tabe, for creating the right environment:

Tabe is a great coach. He’s always full of passion and enthusiasm. He helps the team maintain a positive mentality and a good atmosphere.

  

As for what’s next, Shanks kept it short — and confident:

Easy peasy. I feel like for all of AL, we’re going to go back to the final stage.

  

MSI 2025 is Shanks' first taste of international competition — and it’s already become a personal milestone. With Anyone’s Legend continuing their lower bracket run, and with Shanks finding both his voice and form, this could be the tournament where he not only proves himself to the world but redefines the narrative of his career.

The Mid-Season Invitational 2025 will continue from June 27 to July 12 in Canada, with a prize pool of $2,000,000. You can follow the news, schedule, and tournament results through this link.