With only two more weeks of matches, the end of the 2020 LPL Summer Split is near. Despite being in the final rounds, only one team has secured their playoff spot, TOP Esports. Simultaneously, only one team is already eliminated from the playoff race, Dominus. Without further ado, here is a preview of the next week of matches.
Week 8: Day 6
Match 1: Vici vs OMG
Saturday’s first match will feature both OMG and Vici. Vici are one of the teams trying to get into playoffs. A match behind FPX, Vici need this win to stay within touching distance of the eighth-place team
OMG, on the other hand, are further down the table. While they aren’t mathematically eliminated from playoffs, it seems extremely unlikely. Sitting at 3 match wins, OMG is far behind the other playoff teams.
Prediction: Vici
Match 2: EDG vs FunPlus Phoenix
Speaking of the race for playoffs, FPX is currently sitting in eigth-place. Despite the rocky split, FPX managed to hold on, and with GimGoon returning to the roster, the team looks better. With their spot in playoffs and even Worlds on the line, FPX can’t afford to relax now.
Up against them, EDG can’t faulter just yet. While their road to playoffs isn’t easy, they can still make it. Should EDG not make it into playoffs, this would be the first time in the Org’s history that the team missed playoffs.
Prediction: FPX
Week 8: Day 7
Match 1: Bilibili Gaming vs JD Gaming
JDG and BLG will start Sunday’s action. BLG have once again had a disappointing split. With big names like Fofo, Meteor, and Kingen, this team was expected to at least make playoffs. However, with only 4 match wins to their name, it seems like BLG’s playoff dreams won’t fulfill themselves.
Up against them, JDG are still fighting for a top-two bye. Tied with Invictus Gaming, JDG can’t afford to slip up against the likes of BLG. Should they confirm their top 2 status, they will be a single win away from confirming their spot at Worlds.
Prediction: JDG
Match 2: Invictus Gaming vs TOP Esports
The final match of week 8 is probably the most hyped one. Invictus Gaming is currently sitting in third place, just behind JDG and TOP. While they had a few ups and downs, IG have vastly improved since the start of the split. If they defeat TOP, they will show the fans that they are still in the race for the championship.
On the other side of the rift, TOP have sat in first place all split long. Despite a single loss at the hands of V5, no team managed to fully halt the bullet train that is TOP. Invictus Gaming is the last remaining big-name that TOP still has to face.
Prediction: TOP
Week 9: Day 1
Match 1: OMG vs Suning
OMG and Suning will face off in the first match of week 9. As mentioned above OMG’s playoff race is a distant dream by now. However, that doesn’t mean that they can give up. Upsetting a top team and messing up the table is still a real possibility.
Suning have had a very impressive split so far. After faltering a bit in the second and third weeks, Suning hasn’t lost since. Having just taken down V5, Suning is still in the race for a top-four, even top-two bye. Confirming their favoritism here would bring them one step closer to confirming their playoff spot.
Prediction: Suning
Match 2: Dominus vs Vici
Vici will take on Dominus next Monday. Vici is one of the teams that still has a shot at making playoffs. Currently sitting a match behind FPX, Vici needs to go all out every match. They can’t afford to trip up against the likes of Dominus.
Sadly for Dominus, their playoff run is over. No matter how well they perform in their final matches, they mathematically can’t make it in. Dominus will look to upset the bigger teams in their final weeks, and then they will get ready for the off-season.
Prediction: Vici
Week 9: Day 2
Match 1: Bilibili Gaming vs Rogue Warriors
Bilibili Gaming will take on Rogue Warriors next Tuesday. While both teams have a rough road to playoffs, neither team is officially out yet. This match is BLG’s best shot at proving that despite being behind the other teams, they can still make it.
On the other hand, Rogue Warriors have been on a tear. After going 0:8, they are now 4:8. Tied with BLG, this match is do or die for RW. Should they win here, they will be in touching distance of the playoff teams.
Prediction: Rogue Warriors
Match 2: EDG vs LNG
EDG and LNG will clash for Tuesday’s second match. While EDG haven’t had a good split, they can’t give up yet. While their road is unlikely to lead to playoffs, they have a good schedule ahead of them. Victory Five is the only remaining top team left for them to face.
LNG has once again had a terrible split. Currently on a 9 match losing streak, this match should seal their fate. Despite changing a few things around for summer, LNG has once again missed the mark completely. All that remains is to try to upset a better team and hope for a better 2021.
Prediction: EDG
Week 8: Day 3
Match 1: JD Gaming vs eStar
eStar will take on JDG for Wednesday’s first match. If this match was happening in spring, it would have been hyped. However, this summer, eStar have fallen to the wayside. All but eliminated from the playoff race, eStar can only hope to upset the likes of JDG.
Opposing them, JDG wants to confirm their top-two spot. After a slow start to the split, JDG has ramped up and are looking like their spring selves again. As the current champions, JDG is expected to once again make it to the finals. If they do, they will go to Worlds for the first time.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Match 2: FunPlus Phoenix vs LGD
In what will be probably their most important match so far, LGD and FPX will face off next Wednesday. LGD has managed to bounce back from their mid-season lull. Back on the playoff track, LGD is closer than ever to confirming their spot for the first time in years.
Up against them, FPX needs to pick up this win. While they do currently hold the final playoff spot, Vici are hot on their heels. If they manage to win here, then they will probably manage to safely sail their way into playoffs.
Prediction: FPX
Week 9: Day 4
Match 1: TOP vs Suning
Thursday’s first match should be a good one. TOP has been unchallenged for the most of the split. While not every series has been perfect, they are still looking like the number 1 team in the world. Despite being the favorite in this match, TOP can’t let their guard down.
Up against them, Suning has much to prove. Despite their top-four status, many continue to underestimate Suning. Should Suning manage to take down TOP, then all eyes would turn to them. This means that Suning will remain in the race for a top-two bye.
Prediction: TOP
Match 2: Victory Five vs Team World Elite
The second match of the day should be as hyped as the first. Victory Five have been faltering a bit, losing to both Suning and IG. Due to this, they fell out of the top four, and are now just in front of their opponent for this match.
Up against V5, Team WE will want to pull all the stops. While their dream as a top-four team seems distant, they can still confirm a higher seed in playoffs. With a spot at Worlds on the line, Team WE won’t give in. Expect this match to be very bloody and action-packed.
Prediction: Victory Five
Week 9: Day 5
Match 1: RNG vs Dominus
As the last-placed team, Dominus has nothing to lose in this match. After missing playoffs in both spring and summer, the year hasn’t been kind to Dominus. While they could just throw in the towel, they could still try to upset the like of RNG.
On the other hand, RNG has everything to lose. They are still in the playoff race but are a couple of steps behind FPX and Vici. In a match between a team with nothing to lose and one with everything to lose, RNG can’t let their nerves get the better of them.
Prediction: RNG
Match 2: LGD vs Vici
The final match of today’s article is one of the most important ones. Vici are on the cusp of making it into playoffs, while LGD are close to confirming their playoff spot. Both of these teams have had massive turn arounds compared to their recent years.
Previously both teams were fighting at the very bottom of the LPL table. But now, both teams are fighting to make in into playoffs for the first time in years. As two legacy teams in the LPL, their pride is going to be on the line in this match. The winner takes all.
Prediction: LGD
That concludes the preview of the final two days of Week 8, as well as the first five days of Week 9. Be sure to come back next week, to read about the final two days of Week 9 and the start of the final week.
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