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Top Laner 369 Temporarily Steps Down from Top Esports

Top Laner 369 Temporarily Steps Down from Top Esports

League of Legends
Martin Arévalo-ÖstbergMartin Arévalo-Östberg

1 Apr, 2026, 13:24

Top Esports just can't seem to catch a break. Just days before the start of the 2026 LPL Split 2, Top Laner Bai "369" Jiahao has announced through a post on Weibo that he will be temporarily stepping down from the team's starting lineup due to performance related issues.

369 Looks to Get His Groove Back

To put matters into perspective, it's worth remembering that 369 is nothing short of a titan of the LPL. Over his seven years competing at the top level, 369 has managed to lift the LPL trophy a total of five times, as well as coming away with an MSI title to boot back in 2023. 

369 with the MSI 2023 trophy

When it comes to both Chinese and international League of Legends competition, 369 is simply a staple of the Top Lane. So, why exactly is he stepping down?

As per the player himself, this decision comes down to "performance issues" as 369 looks to take a step back and use that time to come back stronger as he aims to reclaim his spot among the top players in the league. In his place, Top Esports will promote their academy Top Laner Cheng "ZUIAN" Zi-Hao to their main team for the start of the Regular Season of the 2026 LPL Split 2.

Here's a look at 369's official statement:

"I've been having some issues with my performance lately and feel I need some time to adjust. After discussing it with the team, they decided to rotate players to give me some time to recover. Zuian is a very strong player, and I will help him with his experience. Once I've adjusted in all aspects, we can work together to help the team achieve better results."

The Top Esports Shuffle Continues

This announcement comes less than a week after Top Esports' Jungler Yang "naiyou" Zi-Jian received a lifetime ban from competing in League of Legends events due to match-fixing. Following the ban, Top Esports brought back veteran LPL Jungler Gao "Tian" Tian-Liang to take naiyou's place on the roster.

Over on the AD carry position, meanwhile, Top Esports also announced the return of Yu "JackeyLove" Wen-Bo, who temporarily stepped down at the end of last year to take care of his health. The former World Champion will come in to replace Zi "JiaQi" Jiaqi in the Bot Lane.

With ZUIAN taking over from 369 in the Top Lane, this marks the third Top Esports roster move in less than a week. But, will these moves manage to take TES back to the top?

The new Top Esports roster is set to make their debut against Invictus Gaming on April 4 to kick off their run through Split 2 of the LPL.

Follow Strafe Esports for the latest League of Legends news and our X account for the latest content and coverage. Also, stay tuned to Strafe's channel on YouTube for exclusive interviews, press conferences, and more.

Featured image credit: Yicun Liu/Riot Games

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