The LPL’s Week 7 is just around the corner, and teams can see the finish line. As the league gears up for the seventh week of action, TOP Esports and Rogue Warriors still find themselves at opposite extremes of the table. With playoffs on the player’s minds, teams will begin their final push to make into the top 8.
Week 6: Day 6
Match 1: Dominus vs Rogue Warriors
The two teams currently sitting at the bottom of the table will kick-off the sixth day of action. Dominus has been looking better, and while they still only have one win to their name, they are managing to pick up games. While playoffs is unlikely, they can look to distance themselves from the Warriors, and tie up with LNG and eStar.
On the other hand, Rogue Warriors need this win. While their elimination from playoffs is all but mathematical, they don’t want to finish the split 0-16. And a matchup against the other bottom-tier team will probably be their best shot at avoiding that.
Prediction: Dominus
Match 2: TOP vs FunPlus Phoenix
Saturday’s second match will feature FPX and TOP Esports, in a rematch of the Mid-Season Cup finals. TOP are yet to lose a match, and FPX are one of the two remaining big names to take down. While they may only be halfway done with the split, it may be time to start talking about a perfect split.
Their adversaries are FPX, a team that have been very inconsistent this split. Despite only having three losses, two of those were against teams that theoretically they should have the advantage against. That said, FPX are one of the few teams left that can pose a threat to TOP’s split.
Prediction: TOP
Week 6: Day 7
Match 1: LGD vs OMG
LGD and OMG will face off for Sunday’s first match. LGD are starting to look a bit shaky, suffering two losses in a row. However, one of these was to JDG, so it was somewhat to be expected. Should they defeat OMG here, they should be back on track to make it into playoffs.
OMG are also coming off a loss, and theirs was to BLG. While OMG had started a climb into playoffs, their loss puts them in a complicated position. Their schedule only gets harder from here, so they will need to start beating teams above them in the standings. Problem is, they’ve always had difficulty doing that.
Prediction: LGD
Match 2: EDG vs RNG
Closing out Week 6 is one of the biggest rivalry matches in all the LPL. EDG need this win to remain relevant in the race for playoffs. In the past, EDG has been the thorn in RNG’s side, especially when it came to Grand Finals.
However, RNG cannot rely on past results here. After being eliminated by EDG last playoffs, they have a chance to make EDG’s playoff run much harder. Whichever team losses this match will find themselves distant from the playoff pack, and could potentially not make it into the top 8.
Prediction: RNG
Week 7: Day 1
Match 1: TOP vs Victory Five
A clash between the first-placed team and the second-placed team will kick off Week 7. Should TOP confirm their favoritism against FPX, they will continue their undefeated run towards playoffs. TOP will want to take down V5, and completely isolate themselves in first.
While Victory Five are looking like a top team, they are yet to take down another top team. With 8 wins being the mark necessary to make it into playoffs, V5 are a match win away from that. If they manage to pull an upset here, then it will cement them as a candidate for the title.
Prediction: TOP
Match 2: Suning vs Bilibili
The second match of the day will feature Suning versus BLG. BLG won their last match, and still have a shot to make it to playoffs. Their problem is their schedule. A lot of the teams that they need to face are also looking to confirm their playoff spot, so they will be just as hungry as BLG, who themselves need a win here to gain momentum to face the other mid-table teams.
On the other side of the rift, Suning have had an interesting split so far. After starting well, they slumped. However, they now are back on a four match win-streak and are looking ready for playoffs.
Prediction: Suning
Week 7: Day 2
Match 1: Team World Elite vs LNG
LNG will take on Team WE next Tuesday. LNG are on a 6 game losing streak and are watching their playoff dreams pass by. Despite changing the roster for Summer, the same past problems remain. LNG starts the split off well, only to lose steam and finish at the bottom of the table.
On the other hand, Team WE are looking to confirm their playoff spot. Sitting at 6-3, they are two match wins away from reaching the same eight wins that granted them their playoff spot last split. With the new point system, Team WE are one of the teams that can look to make it to Worlds. But first, they must make it to playoffs, and a win here puts them well on their way.
Prediction: Team WE
Match 2: LGD vs Rogue Warriors
The second match of the day is between LGD and Rogue Warriors. The Warriors are all but eliminated from playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they can’t ruin other’s run. With how close the race for playoffs will be, an upset against LGD could eliminate them further down the road.
To avoid those complications, LGD will want to confirm their favoritism this match. Every win brings them a step closer to playoffs, and with the number of teams looking to make it, they can not afford to trip up against the likes of Rogue Warriors.
Prediction: LGD
Week 7: Day 3
Match 1: eStar vs OMG
OMG and eStar will start off the day next Wednesday. eStar are currently at the bottom of the table and are struggling to find wins. On a six-game losing streak, playoffs seems like a distant dream for them. However, a win here just might give them a boost to make a final push.
On the other side of the rift, OMG aren’t doing much better. Also sitting at the bottom of the table, their playoff race isn’t looking much better. The loser of this match will be all but eliminated from the race.
Prediction: OMG
Match 2: JD Gaming vs Vici
Wednesday’s second match should be an interesting one. The current champions, JD Gaming, seem to be back in form. Winning six matches in a row, JDG are back in the race for the top two spots. With Loken stepping up his game, JDG are once again looking like a top tier team.
However, up against them are Vici gaming, who are on a winning streak of their own. After taking down FPX, Vici seem ready to take on the other top teams. After falling just short of playoffs last split, Vici will want to redeem themselves this split.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Week 7: Day 4
Match 1: LNG vs Invictus Gaming
In a tale of two cities, LNG will take on Invictus Gaming. As mentioned above, LNG aren’t doing well. With playoffs feeling like a distant dream, it seems like LNG will relegated to trying to ruin other teams playoffs run. Luckily for them, IG are one of the more inconsistent teams, so they could upset the match.
On the other hand, Invictus Gaming are currently sitting in fourth. With their players back in form, IG are once again looking like a threatening team. While they didn’t have enough to take on JDG, the match was competitive. With four seeds to Worlds, IG still has a horse in that race.
Prediction: Invictus Gaming
Match 2: RNG vs Suning
On the other hand, the second match of the day should be a more competitive one. RNG are currently out of the top 8, but are still close behind. Should they take down EDG, they will officially remain in the race to make it into playoffs.
Suning are in a better spot, but they aren’t safe either. Sitting at 6-3, they still need a few wins if they want to confirm their spot. After falling just short in spring, fans are hoping that the team goes the distance this time. And a win in this match versus RNG could all but confirm their playoff spot.
Prediction: Suning
Week 7: Day 5
Match 1: Rogue Warriors vs FunPlus Phoenix
FPX and Rogue Warriors will face off for Friday’s first match. The Warriors have had a rough split so far. Looking down the barrel of a potential 0-16 split, Rogue Warriors can really only hope to upset one of the top teams. FPX have stumbled before, and the Warriors will be trying their luck against them.
On the other hand, FPX wants to start having a more consistent performance. If they want to prove that they are still a top tier team and book their ticket to Worlds this year, then victory isn’t an option, especially against the likes of Rogue Warriors.
Prediction: FPX
Match 2: EDG vs LGD
EDG and LGD will face off for the last match of today’s article. Should LGD win their previous two matches in today’s article, they would all but confirm their spot in playoffs. After multiple splits at the bottom of the table, this would be the first time since 2016 that the team makes playoffs.
Opposing them are EDG. With playoffs ever slipping away from them, they need to find solid ground. Sitting at 3-5, EDG need to get back in shape, if they want a shot at playoffs and consequentially Worlds.
Prediction: LGD
That concludes the preview of the final two days of Week 6, as well as the first five days of Week 7. Be sure to come back next week, to read about the final two days off Week 7 and the start of Week 8.
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Follow JJ on Twitter: @NeonColouredJay.