In a dramatic conclusion to the highly popular talent competition, King Maker VI, Wang Wai-jun, known by his stage name Teller, unexpectedly clinched the championship title last night in Macau. Teller, who was eliminated earlier in the season before securing an unprecedented viewer-voted return, led a victorious trio, with Chan Tsz-hei (Ian Hannz) securing second place and Fan Cheuk-yin (Jacky Fan) taking third. Following an evening of high-stakes performances, the newly crowned stars reflected on their “rollercoaster” journey, acknowledging the crucial role public support played in their success.
Teller’s victory represents a major upset. Originally a trainee in Korea, he was defeated before the top 10 phase. His reinstatement by public ballot—dubbed the “11th contestant”—transformed his outlook on the competition. Speaking after the win, Teller confessed he felt the champion title was an unexpected bonus, viewing his return as the true reward. He described the experience as an “absolute life rollercoaster,” noting that the outpouring of public support empowered his stage presence. “When I returned, I finally realized people genuinely supported me, and I channeled that energy into my performance,” he stated.
Stars Reflect on Pressure and Milestones
For third-place winner Jacky Fan, the pressure to succeed was intense, driven by the expectations of friends and family. Remarkably, Jacky narrowly escaped elimination during the race for the top 20. He felt immense relief upon making the top three. He addressed high praise from judge Gigi Leung, who suggested he was ready for immediate debut, calling the compliment “insane.” Jacky also clarified that his independent distribution of past songs via email to platforms and broadcasters was not an official debut. “If ‘debut’ means starting, for me, it begins now, from this stage,” he asserted, adding he was “overwhelmed” by comments praising one of his near-perfect performances.
Runner-up Ian Hannz, whose brother ANSONBEAN placed third in King Maker III, took the outcome in stride, emphasizing that anyone in the top 11 deserved a spot in the final three. While friends hoped for a win, Ian viewed the second-place finish as a moving and meaningful “milestone” in his artistic development. When playfully contrasted with his brother’s earlier result, Ian simply laughed, stating that rankings are fleeting.
The three winners have yet to solidify their future career paths or make a definite decision regarding signing with ViuTV, but they promised that updates would be released soon and confirmed an upcoming celebratory “thank you” dinner, with Teller promising to cover the bill.
Hyoyeon Offers Advice for the Road Ahead
Judging the grand finale was K-pop icon Hyoyeon of Girls’ Generation, who highlighted the deep emotional investment shown by all participants. Hyoyeon expressed particular admiration for Teller’s solo performance, noting the strength of his storytelling ability within the three-minute limit.
Offering veteran advice to the aspiring artists, Hyoyeon stressed that the competition’s end marks a new beginning. “You must keep practicing. If you want to continue your future development, you must seize time and opportunity,” she advised.
Hyoyeon shared that while judging required maintaining a neutral and calm demeanor, it was challenging to balance professional assessment with the impulse to support the contestants. Her criteria focused on technical skills—singing and dancing—as well as the intangible qualities of stage presence. She specifically looked for eye contact, movement, and the ability to project “charm or sex appeal,” critical ingredients for engaging an audience. Balancing her multifaceted career, which includes performing, hosting, and DJing, Hyoyeon noted that she currently finds the most joy in DJing, cherishing the communal experience of dancing and enjoying music with the crowd.
The success of King Maker VI, underscored by the public’s ability to resurrect a defeated contestant to champion status, highlights the increasing influence of fan engagement in shaping the entertainment landscape and signals the emergence of a promising new generation of Chinese-language performers.
