With week 5 starting up next Monday, half of the LPL Summer Split will be over. With the halfway point being just around the corner, we still have a team that hasn’t lost, as well as two win-less teams. Top Esports continues with their rampage, while Rogue Warriors and Dominus continue on struggle street. With all that said, here is a preview of the last two days of week 4, and the first five of week 5.
Week 4: Day 6
Match 1: Dominus vs Suning
Suning and Dominus are kicking off day 6 of the fourth week. After several hiccups, Suning was able to get back on track with a victory against Rogue Warriors. After being one of the teams that fell just short of playoffs last split, Suning needs to get back on track if they want to make it this time.
Dominus, on the other hand, are currently sitting at the bottom of the table. They will come into this match winless, and if they repeat their previous performance, they will leave winless. Currently, the team lacks an identity, with top laner Natural wanting to split push, but with a team fighting mid laner and passive carry. With the recent changes, Dominus will hopefully get the team on the same page. But these changes take time, so, until the moment they click, Dominus will continue to struggle.
Prediction: Suning
Match 2: eStar vs FunPlus Phoenix
Two teams that have had an interesting time so far this split are FPX and eStar. Both teams play matches where they show off their brilliance, while in other matches they flounder about. In their last game, FPX failed to take down Invictus Gaming, despite winning game one. After taking down Team WE, FPX seemed to be back on track, but then the falter in the next match.
eStar seem to be in a similar place. After a convincing win versus LNG, eStar fell in defeat versus RNG. Unlike FPX, eStar have yet to show the full potential of this roster. With almost half of the split being done, the time is now to start having good performances, if they want to make playoffs.
Prediction: FPX
Week 4: Day 7
Match 1: LNG vs Vici
Starting off Sunday’s matches are Vici and LNG. Both teams haven’t had the best runs so far. After taking down FPX and RNG, LNG kinda fell apart. In their match against eStar, they returned to their debut game, where they did nothing and lost. And their last match was against OMG, a team that was sitting at the bottom of the table. They lost in a clean 0:2 series.
Vici have also had their fair share of troubles. After a good start against BLG, Vici haven’t been able to find a win since. Sitting at 1/3, Vici need to start finding wins, if they want to have any chance to make it into playoffs.
Prediction: Vici
Match 2: JD Gaming vs Rogue Warriors
JD Gaming and Rogue Warriors will close out week 4. Despite the rough start to the split, JD Gaming had a convincing win against Dominus. While yes, their opponent was one of the winless teams, it was a convincing victory none the less. Now, the will face off against the other winless team. Hopefully, the continue to show their superiority.
Across from them on the rift are Rogue Warriors. Despite the team not changing too many players for summer, the team is yet to find a win in the split. Sitting at 0:4, Rogue Warriors desperately need to start picking up some wins. Sadly for them, 0:5 is looking more likely.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Week 5: Day 1
Match 1: EDG vs Dominus
Kicking off week 5 is the winless Dominus against EDG. It’s important to note that they do play a match on Saturday, so they can win there. That said, it’s unlikely, as there have been multiple struggles for DMO so far this split. Dominus made multiple changes, and while these may come into effect further down the road, it may be too late.
Opposing them on the rift is EDG. EDG has had a fairly quiet split so far, losing to teams that finished in playoffs last split, but beating teams below them. Should this continue, the road to playoffs seems likely for EDG. However, they mustn’t get complacent, as multiple teams are crawling up the table.
Prediction: EDG
Match 2: FunPlus Phoenix vs Victory Five
Victory Five have had an incredible split so far. While many people are meming about worlds and such, playoffs is looking like a real possibility. After such an abysmal split, Victory Five seem to have found their way to success. They are currently nested in second place, with a 5:1 scoreline.
Facing them is FPX. As mentioned above, FPX have been struggling with their consistency this split. While the team is still more than likely going to make it into playoffs, more is expected of the team. After winning last worlds, finishing third in summer and second in the Mid Season Cup, fan’s have grown to expect more from them.
Prediction: FPX
Week 5: Day 2
Match 1: LNG vs Bilibili Gaming
The second day of matches will start off with LNG vs BLG. As mentioned above, LNG is currently facing their mid-season slump. Despite the team having re-branded from Snake Esports, it seems like old habits continue to plague this team. Previously, Snake would have a great start to the split, but would always end up falling to the wayside. After beating FPX and RNG, LNG hasn’t been able to repeat the same success.
Speaking of going through hard times, BLG are also sitting at the bottom of the table. With only a single series win to their name, the team seems to have no clue on how to operate with their new jungler. While their new carry is having ok performances, it seems like the rest of the team aren’t on the same page.
Prediction: LNG
Match 2: RNG vs Team World Elite
After a clash at the bottom of the table, two middle of the table teams collide as LNG take on WE. Team WE took down Rogue Warriors in their last match. After a good game one, the team faltered and found themselves having difficulties in game 2. None the less, the team managed to emerge victorious and continue to have an impressive Summer Split.
On the other hand, RNG suffered defeat in their last match. Up against Victory Five, RNG could do little other than watch as the rookie-filled team took over the match. After doing so well in previous matches, RNG continues to show signs of instability, which is understandable due to losing Uzi and LangX.
Prediction: Team World Elite
Week 5: Day 3
Match 1: Dominus vs Invictus Gaming
To start off Wednesday’s matches, Dominus and IG face off in a battle of the opposites. Dominus hasn’t had an impressive split so far. In fact, the polar opposite is true. After changing their bot lane and mid lane, the team hasn’t clicked so far in Summer. With every loss, the playoff dream seems less and less likely.
On the other end, Invictus Gaming have been enjoying the good life. While their matches haven’t been clean, they are looking much better. Ning seems to be back in form, and with their jungler now back up and running, they look like they could contest with the top teams once again.
Prediction: Invictus Gaming
Match 2: Suning vs LGD
Speaking of top teams, LGD will play in the second series of the night. After their loss to TOP, LGD have since returned to form. They managed to halt IG in an exciting series that resulted in a 2:1 victory for LGD. It is looking like a matter of time before LGD punch their ticket into playoffs.
Suning has been an interesting team to follow so far this split. They had little to no difficulty besting teams below them but struggled against higher placed teams. While gatekeeper teams have always existed in the LPL, it’s a dangerous game to play.
Prediction: LGD
Week 5: Day 4
Match 1: Rogue Warriors vs OMG
Rogue Warriors and OMG will start off day four. While they have the chance to pick up wins prior to this match, it’s probable that RW will come into this match winless. While OMG have been looking better, they are by no means a top tier team. If Rogue Warriors manage to pull out a win over OMG, they just might find the extra motivation needed to slide into playoffs later down the road.
Speaking of motivation, OMG have been looking much better. After having a rough start to the split, going 0:4, OMG have since won both of their matches. While their opponents weren’t top tier teams, the improvement brings hope that they can make it into playoffs.
Prediction: OMG
Match 2: Team World Elite vs JD Gaming
In what has the potential to be the bloodiest match of the week, JDG will take on WE. After facing two bottom-tier teams in a row, this will be the first upper-middle table team they face since Suning. And in that series, JD showed signs of weakness, but still managed to bring home the win. A convincing win would help boost team morale, as well as remind everyone that JD Gaming are the current LPL champions.
WE also come into this match with a lot to prove. After falling to both FPX and Suning, Team WE want to show that they are a force to be reckoned with. With playoffs and potentially Worlds still being in the cards, now isn’t the time for WE to roll over. A win against JDG will help cement them as a candidate for Worlds.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Week 5: Day 5
Match 1: TOP Esports vs LNG
TOP and LNG will start off Friday’s matches. The only team left undefeated in the LPL, TOP still looks like the best team in the world. While yes, cracks in the armor do exist, they still manage to pull it together and come out on top. While the team is yet to face FPX or IG, fans are already talking about a potential perfect split.
On the other hand, LNG will want to continue with their king-slaying. The team managed to bring down RNG and FPX. And while TOP is a whole other beast, LNG will be telling themselves that they’ve done it before, and they can do it again.
Prediction: TOP
Match 2: eStar vs Vici
eStar will take on Vici in the final series of today’s article. While the loss of Cryin has affected the team, they still seem like a middle of the pack team. As mentioned with Suning, gatekeepers have always existed, but it is a dangerous game. eStar will want to get back on track and push Vici even further down the table.
Vici, on the other hand, need to get back up. While teams have made incredible runs to make it into playoffs before, you don’t want to rely on a miracle run. Leyan has been reunited with Forge, but the team is yet to find success. Hopefully, for Vici fans, the team will find their way into playoffs, after falling just short last split.
Prediction: eStar
And that concludes the preview of the final two days of action of week 4, as well as the first five days of week 5. Be sure to come back next week, to read about the final two days off week 5 and the start of week 6.
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Follow JJ on Twitter: @NeonColouredJay.