Lee Sang-min Shakes Up 'Game of Blood X' with Intense Political Play After 11-Year Return

Lee Sang-min, returning as a survival player after 11 years in the Wavve original variety show 'Game of Blood X,' left a strong impression by seizing control of the early flow through his signature negotiation skills and psychological warfare.

First released on the 3rd, 'Game of Blood X' is a survival program where participants utilize both brains and physical strength to compete for survival amidst unpredictable rules and meticulously designed games. The show features a more complex team battle structure than previous seasons, pitting representative players from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 against a Challenger team from other survival programs and a Rookie team composed of new participants.

Lee Sang-min competed as part of Team P1 alongside Season 1 veterans Jeong Keun-woo, Park Ji-min, and Lee Tae-gyun. In the first gateway mission, 'Chair Restraint Escape,' he succeeded in escaping first through selfless physical play, becoming the first to enter the mansion.

His experience also shone during the subsequent team fund selection process. He analyzed the opponent's strategy, stating, "Hong Jin-ho's team likely chose the highest amount," and drew the participants' attention by revealing his own income from the previous year. Subsequently, P1 secured 270 million won by selecting their own team fund, signaling a stable start.

As the games intensified, Lee Sang-min's characteristic political play continued. He actively utilized information warfare, leaking hints to Team P2 regarding the team with the highest income and proposing a deal to Team P3, saying, "If you give me information, give me at least 5 million won."

He moved constantly to shake the interests of the participants and create a favorable situation for his team, even showing wariness toward Kim Kyung-hoon, a former competitor in survival programs, by telling him, "Don't even come near me."

In the Money Challenge 'Running Mate,' he engaged in seasoned psychological warfare, even attempting a strategy of using false information to confuse opponents. His competitive spirit did not cool even in unfavorable situations. He showed bold behavior, such as climbing over a wall to eavesdrop on the opposing team's conversation, and continued aggressive play by publicly declaring war against Hong Jin-ho and Heo Sung-beom.

However, such proactive strategies drew concentrated scrutiny from other teams. As time passed, P1 became increasingly isolated and faced a crisis, even experiencing consecutive betrayals. Nevertheless, the variables Lee Sang-min introduced from the beginning have become a key element in the subsequent development, significantly impacting the players' strategies and relationships.

Immediately after the broadcast, viewers showed a hot response. Various praises followed, such as "Whenever Lee Sang-min appeared, it felt like watching 'The Genius'," "The 5 million won negotiation scene was the most impressive," "The scene of him climbing the wall was hilarious," "Lee Sang-min was at the center of episodes 1 and 2," and "His unconventional play that shakes up the board was the highlight."

Meanwhile, 'Game of Blood X' is a survival variety show where representative players from Seasons 1, 2, and 3 face off against the Challenger team and the Rookie team in a new team battle format, and it is released every Friday at 11:00 AM via Wavve.

As complex alliances and information warfare form from the early stages, interest is growing that the participants' strategic battles will become even more intense with each passing episode.

Photo credit: Wavve Original 'Game of Blood X'