As per custom, the first week of the LPL will have fewer games than usual, as it starts on Saturday. Today’s article will cover the first four games that make up Week 1, as well as the first five days of action of Week 2.
Week 1: Day 1
Match 1: Top Esports vs Suning
The first match of the split will feature two teams that were on the lips of fans in 2020. Top Esports had their best year yet, making it to two LPL finals, winning one, and making it to Worlds for the first time.
It was also Suning’s first time at Worlds. And what a first time it was, making it all the way to the Grand-finals, knocking out Top Esports on their way. However, with a new bot lane, it seems unlikely that Suning will hold back Top again, at least not for now.
Prediction: Top Esports
Match 2: OMG vs EDG
In a match between two very changed teams, EDG will take on OMG. EDG have brought over Flandre from LNG, while Viper has joined from the LCK. However, the biggest story is the return of Clearlove in the jungle.
On the other hand, OMG have undergone a full reboot. Only Cold, the support remains of their 2020 roster. In light of this massive change, it seems unlikely that this new squad will hold back a team of veterans like EDG.
Prediction: EDG
Week 1: Day 2
Match 1: Team World Elite vs Rogue Warriors
The first match of day two features one of the hottest teams of the LPL off-season. Team WE only brought in one player, former OMG top laner Curse, who renamed to Breathe. Alongside rookie mid-laner Shanks, the team made it to the finals of the Demacia Cup.
Rogue Warriors, on the other hand, made vast changes during the off-season. Ziv joined from Ahq, Forge from Vici, Betty from RNG, and Qiuqiu from Top. With all these new pieces, once again the team with better synergy seems to have the advantage.
Prediction: Team World Elite
Match 2: JD Gaming vs Invictus Gaming
It will only take fans until Day 2 until the first clash of titans. JD Gaming, the team that made it to both the LPL Finals last year will take on IG. It seems likely that Xiye will start for JDG, but Mystic whereabouts are still unknown. He is possibly still on post-travel quarantine lockdown.
On the other side of the rift, Invictus Gaming made a few changes. They picked up Wink, formerly on eStar, and promoted Xun from their academy team. While both teams made changes, both should be competitors for the title, and it should be a great match.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Week 2: Day 1
Match 1: Bilibili Gaming vs eStar
Week 2 starts off with BLG and eStar. Both teams underwent massive changes during the off-season. eStar got bought by the Nenking Group, who also have a successful Overwatch League team, the Guangzhou Charge. They also changed their entire roster, other than ShiauC, who will return for 2021.
BLG have also blown up their 2020 roster and started anew. Biubiu joined from Suning, Zeka from Vici, Aiming from KT Rolster, and Mark from LGD. While these players were from different teams, they have the individual quality needed to start the year off well.
Prediction: Bilibili Gaming
Match 2: TT vs RNG
Dominus rebranded as TT for 2021. The team picked up parts of IG Young, Invictus Gaming’s academy team, and brought over SamD from Suning. While these pieces have potential, they might need some time to prove themselves.
It was a wild off-season for RNG fans. With Xiaohu moving to the top lane and picking up pieces from eStar, fans aren’t quite sure what to think of this new RNG roster. That said, their previous LPL experience should prove enough to best TT.
Prediction: RNG
Week 2: Day 2
Match 1: OMG vs Funplus Phonix
OMG will face FPX in their second match. A lot like their first match, OMG is up against a team of veteran players, plenty of whom have built-in synergy with each other. Once again, it seems like it will be a task and a half to best this opponent.
Funplus Phonix have picked up Nuguri, one of the current world champions. They also brought over Prince, a talented young bot lane carry over from the LCK. While it might take a while for these new pieces to fit in with the rest of the roster, FPX are once again looking like a contender for the title.
Prediction: FPX
Match 2: Rogue Warriors vs Top Esports
In the second match for both of these teams, Rogue Warriors will take on Top Esports. With Qiuqiu going up against his former squad, he will want to prove himself. However, there is no denying that it will be an uphill battle against Top Esports.
On the other side of Summoner’s Rift, Top continue to play their newest addition to their roster. Zhuo had a good showing in the Demacia Cup, and is expected to join JackeyLove in the bot lane.
Prediction: Top Esports
Week 2: Day 3
Match 1: Team World Elite vs Victory Five
In a match that could be very important further down the line when playoff talk begins, Team WE take on V5. As mentioned, Team WE are hot off a Demacia Cup finals. The team looked clean, but still showed room for growth.
Victory Five had an interesting 2020. After the worse split that any team has had in a major region, the team hit the reset button for summer. And it worked, as they made it all the way to fifth place and playoffs. And it is with that core + LangX that V5 will take on 2021.
Prediction: Team World Elite
Match 2: LNG vs Invictus Gaming
In one of the most talked-about and anticipated moves of the off-season, Tarzan joined LNG. Alongside him, the team bought Icon from OMG, forming a solid Mid-Jungle duo. The questions regarding the team revolve around the rookie top laner and the returning bot lane duo.
Another team with unknown quantities in the bot lane, IG currently have three bot lane carries and two supports with them. While Wink and Baolan are the expected starters, this is always subject to change.
Prediction: Invictus Gaming
Week 2: Day 4
Match 1: Bilibili Gaming vs JD Gaming
Wednesday’s action starts off with JDG vs BLG. Fans expect that both of these teams should make playoffs, with JDG having an easier time.
The main story here is synergy vs talent. As mentioned, BLG picked up big names from different teams, each with great individual talent. JDG, on the other hand, have 4 players have been together for quite a long time, and the new player has synergy with the new bot lane carry when he starts to play.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Match 2: RNG vs Suning
Suning and RNG will face off on Thursday. Fans of both teams are unhappy with how the off-season went. Suning lost star support SwordArt, most of their coaching staff, and it is unknown what is Huanfeng’s status.
On the other hand, RNG fans were asking for reinforcements. However, these came in the form of picking up players from eStar, who didn’t have the best performance last summer. While there are still rumors of Natural joining, these are still rumors for now.
Prediction: Suning
Week 2: Day 5
Match 1: Rogue Warriors vs eStar
Two teams that will want to turn around after a rough end of 2020 are Rogue Warriors and eStar. Rogue Warriors picked up players from multiple teams, and formed a good base team, with well-known names and players.
eStar, on the other hand, have picked up players that are unknown to most of the audience, with H4cker being the only LPL veteran. Both of these teams will want to get an early win, and considering the difficulty of their first matches, this seems like a good opportunity for both.
Prediction: Rogue Warriors
Match 2: Top Esports vs Rare Atom
For those that are confused, Rare Atom was formerly known as Vici. With that said, these teams just faced off in the Demacia Cup, where Top Esports had a fairly easy victory.
With both rosters expected to be the same, it hard to imagine any other outcome. However, former Vici fans shouldn’t jump ship due to the rename, as Rare Atom looked really solid in the Demacia Cup. Hopefully, good things are on the horizon for the team.
Prediction: Top Esports
And that concludes the preview of the first week of the LPL, as well as the first 5 days of Week 2. Be sure to come back next Friday, to read about the last matches of Week 2, as well as the first 5 days of Week 3.
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