With the final weekend of games upon us, the playoff teams are already locked in. However, where each team will finish the round-robin is yet to be decided. It’s also important to note that either Suning or Victory Five will lock in a top-four bye. Neither of those teams have any points from the Spring Split, and whoever finishes in the top four, is pretty much guaranteed a spot in the Regional Finals.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
As two of the first teams to have been eliminated from the playoff race, this match won’t be worth much more than pride. That said, LNG has won two matches in a row, against both LGD and Rogue Warriors. Although it is too little too late, it will help boost team morale and maybe prove that some players should get another chance in 2021.
Dominus, on the other hand, has continued to look unimpressive. If not for their one victory against EDG, Dominus would have been staring down a 0-16 split themselves, duplicating V5’s spring campaign.
Image Courtesy of Leagupedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
In another match worth little more than pride, eStar will close out their split against EDG. It’s been a fall from grace for eStar, going from playoffs to bottom 4. 2020 has been a wild ride for the young eStar players, who will return next year, hopefully stronger than ever.
While EDG has also been eliminated from the race for playoffs, they seem to have improved in their final weeks. With 3 back-to-back-to-back 2-0 wins, EDG has been on an end of season tear. And while it may be too little too late, it shows the potential that this roster has, and hopefully will continue having in 2021.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
TOP and Team WE will face off for their last fight of the regular season. Unlike the previous match, both teams have things on the line for them. After doing so well, TOP have started to trip up at the end of the season. With IG right on their tails, they can’t afford to lose this final match, less they run the risk of losing a top-two bye.
On the other hand, Team WE is guaranteed to play the first round of the playoffs. It’s a matter of who they want to face. Should they win here, they will lock FPX in eighth place, forcing them to face either Suning or V5. However, should they lose, they will have to face either Suning or V5.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
RNG were the final team participating in the run for playoffs. After ramping up so well in the end of the split, they fell to BLG, eliminating them from the race. Now, all that is left to close the year out against Rogue Warriors.
On the other side of Summoners Rift, Rogue Warriors once again are out of playoffs. After falling short in spring, they fell short again in summer. This team has been consistently a bottom of the table team since last year. Expect quite a few changes in the off-season, to hopefully right those wrongs in 2021.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
In what could possibly be the most important match of the weekend, FPX will face off against Suning. Suning is still trying to secure a top-four bye, but they need to defeat FPX. Should they lose, V5 will secure the spot, while Suning will have to play in the first round of playoffs.
FPX, on the other hand, hold their fate in their own hands. They could, theoretically, not show their hand and lose to Suning. If they do that, they will face V5, a team that they beat earlier on in the split. Should they beat Suning, they will probably face LGD, another team that they defeated. Either way, this match will decide it all.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Vici and IG will face off for the final battle of 2020’s round-robin. Vici have once again failed to cross the finish line. However, considering that this team has spent years as a bottom 4 team, the fact that they were even in contention for playoffs shows improvement. Should he remain, coach kkOma has his work cut out for him in 2021.
On the other hand, Invictus Gaming have returned to the top of the table. Should TOP stumble against Team WE, IG could finish with a top-two bye. After such a rough ending to last split, and a poor start to this one, IG seems to have returned with a vengeance.
And that concludes the final matches of the LPL 2020 Season. It’s been a long season, and for a few of the teams, it’s not over yet. Stay tuned, as playoffs will start next Thursday.
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