The LPL playoffs are underway, as the third round approaches for the teams. LNG and Team World Elite have both come up from round one, taking down two teams to get here. Team World Elite found little adversity, crushing both OMG and BLG to get to round three. With Elk returning to top shape and Shanks shaping up to be one of the marquee mid laners in the LPL, Team WE have momentum on their side. On the other side of the bracket, LNG have fought their way through two rough battles, taking down Suning 3:2 and Top Esports 3:1. Tarzan is showing why he was on the First All-Pro team for the LPL, and Icon continues to drown his adversaries in his champion ocean. Both series should be amazing ones.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
After an amazing run towards the half end of the split, RNG lost in their final match against BLG. While this may not mean much, it leads to some uncertainty coming into this match. While RNG are locked in the regional finals, a loss here would all but lock FPX and EDG into Worlds, should either of them win the entire split, the other would auto-qualify via championship points. RNG hold their fate in their own hands, and all they have to do is beat LNG.
Meanwhile, LNG are starting to look really scary. Their series against Suning could have been cleaner, especially considering that they had multiple advantages in game 3. But, nonetheless, LNG had too much in store for Suning and took them down. It was their Top Esports series that they truly looked amazing. While LNG usually won while ahead and lost when behind, their series against Top Esports shown that they know how to get back into a series. Icon held his own against Knight, while Ale and Tarzan ran rings round 369 and Karsa. RNG have to be careful, less the same happen to them.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Rare Atom are a single best of five series away from making into the double-round robin. After starting spring so well, Rare Atom had a poor end to their spring playoffs. Summer painted a similar picture. Rare Atom once again beat the teams below them but failed to punch upward and take on better teams. Rare Atom will want their revenge and return to the top four, where they will get a clear shot at Worlds.
Looking to ruin all that fun are Team World Elite. While everyone predicted they would best OMG, and many predicted that they would beat BLG, no one gave them credit for a double 2:0 series. Beishang and Breathe got away with murder in the top side, with Breathe putting on beautiful performances on carry top laners like Jax, Irelia, and Riven. Shanks went up against Creme, the rookie of the split, and Zeka, the most improved player of the split, and yet he out-performed both. Elk and Missing, despite not being the focus of WE’s attention, always showed up when it matters the most, with Elk putting on a masterclass on how to play in the bot lane. Team WE are looking mighty scary, and should be feared going into playoffs.
LNG or RNG
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Regardless of who comes out victorious in the previous match, they will have a monumental task ahead of them. FPX looked way too clean towards the end of the split, going on an eight-game winning streak. As the number one seed, FPX have jumped into the best of four, a place they had to fight to get last time around.
That said, FPX should understand better than no one how momentum-based the LPL playoffs can be. Just like they ran a gauntlet in Spring to reach the top four, LNG are on a similar run. Should LNG pass RNG, then FPX should be well aware of how big a momentum swing that they are on. Despite being the favourites in the match, FPX shouldn’t lower their guard, less they find themselves knocked to the lower braket.
Team WE or Rare Atom
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
The second match of the round should be a more complicated one. While EDG are the number two seed, they stumbled a bit towards the end of the split. While they are a good enough team to best either one of the teams from the previous round, one of the teams is looking one fire. Should Team WE power through Rare Atom in a clean 3:0 sweep, EDG could be in some trouble.
Just like in spring, EDG stay in control of their own fate for the entire split. From the very begging of the split, EDG was fighting for a top-two spot, first with LNG and then with FPX. And while they did manage to take down LNG, in a series that many fans said was too close for comfort, they lost to FPX in the final series of the split. While EDG are the favourites and should be able to confirm their favouritism and fight FPX for the number one spot in the LPL, they need to have a clean performance here to prove that their loss to FPX was a fluke.
And that concludes the preview of the second week of matches, featuring rounds 3 and 4. In the next article, the final matches of the split will be dissected, with nothing short of the LPL title being on the line for all the teams involved. You won’t want to miss it.
You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers.
Follow JJ on Twitter: @NeonColouredJay
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
