Week 8, the second-to-last week of play of the LPL’s Summer Split is nearly upon us. Two teams have already dropped out of the race for playoffs and Worlds. Victory Five and ThunderTalk Gaming can no longer make playoffs, meaning that all they have left is to finish the split. On the opposite side of the table, EDG and FPX have already confirmed their playoff spot and now will look to end the split with a top-two bye. Other than these four teams, everyone else still has a shot at making it, but quite a few teams are holding on by the skin of their teeth. Here is the next week’s worth of matches.
Week 7: Day 6
Match 1: Rare Atom vs Ultra Prime
Saturday’s first match features Rare Atom and Ultra Prime. After their sour patch, Rare Atom has returned to their winning ways after taking down BLG. However, it wasn’t a convincing team and it feels like once again, this team has been found out. While this match shouldn’t be much of a challenge, Rare Atom need a convincing win to reassure fans that summer won’t be a rerun of spring.
For the side of Ultra Prime, it is do-or-die. A loss here would officially lock them out of playoffs. While no one was expecting them to do particularly well, UP still could have done better. Ultra Prime showed moments of greatness during the split, beating LNG and taking a game off FPX. Another upset win over Rare Atom would not only extend their lifeline but mess things up for the side of Rare Atom.
Prediction: Rare Atom
Match 2: JD Gaming vs RNG
After seemingly returning to form, JDG has once again started to slip and slide. First, they tripped over Suning and then BLG. Due to the nature of the LPL, and how competitive it is, these losses made JDG fall from fighting for second all the way down to eighth. With their playoff spot not yet guaranteed, JDG can’t afford to keep dropping series.
On the other hand, RNG is back. Currently, on a five-series rampage, RNG dismantled EDG, the team that was looking nearly unstoppable. XiaoHu has once again come to play and is putting on monstrous performances. While a top-two seed may be hard to reach, RNG is coming for the top spots.
Prediction: RNG
Match 3: Team World Elite vs EDG
The final match of the day will be one that many fans will be waiting anxiously for. As teased by their social media accounts, Clearlove is expected to make his return for EDG. As one of the most beloved pro players in all of the LPL, many will want to tune in to see the return of Clearlove7. Despite their loss to RNG, EDG managed to confirm their playoff spot this week, and are coming into this match as the favourites.
There is a cruel irony in the fact that Clearlove’s return to pro play will be against Team World Elite. While he became an international phenomenon on EDG, Clearlove had his first major breakthrough in pro-play playing for World Elite. Speaking of WE, they are on a three-series winning streak, but none of their wins were against heavy hitters. A convincing win here would bring a positive atmosphere for Team WE moving into playoffs.
Prediction: EDG
Week 7: Day 7
Match 1: LGD vs LNG
Sunday’s first match will be an interesting one to watch. LNG broke their losing streak but then lost again against Suning. With their new bot lane, the team seems to have improved, but are still making the same basic mistakes. LNG lack a proper understanding of their power spikes and their opponent’s power spikes, often causing them to take fights they won’t win, falling even further behind.
LGD are also going through rough times. If it wasn’t for their series against TT, LGD would be on a four-game losing streak. While they aren’t far behind the other mid-of-the-pack teams, LGD have some catching up to do, especially considering how many games they’ve already played. This will be their fourteenth game, of sixteen. RNG, the tenth-placed team at the moment, are heading into their twelfth series this Saturday.
Prediction: LNG
Match 2: Victory Five vs OMG
Speaking of teams that fell off, OMG are another team that while they are still in the race, they are trailing behind the playoffs teams. That said, even if they don’t make playoffs, OMG should keep their head held high. Many had OMG as a bottom four team coming into summer. But they surprised many and showed up to games that many weren’t expecting them to.
On the other hand, this could potentially be Victory Five’s second winless split as an organization in two years. This is a record that no one would like to have, and probably won’t be broken any time soon. To make matters worse for V5, OMG is their last opponent that isn’t a playoff team, as they will still face Suning, FPX and EDG.
Prediction: OMG
Match 3: Top Esports vs Invictus Gaming
The final match of the week should be an amazing one. Top Esports and IG always seem to bring out the best in each other. With TheShy back in the top lane, IG will need to have a monstrous run if they want to make playoffs. Sitting at four and seven, IG only have five more games to prove that they belong in playoffs. Luckily for them, IG’s opponents are teams that they are in direct competition with for the playoff spots, and TT.
Speaking of, Top Esports are far away from where they would like to be. Sitting at seven and four, they are tied with Team World Elite for fifth. While only a single game separates them from a top-four finish, they feel like they are a league away from a top-two finish, which is where they would like to be. A win here would keep them in discussion for a top-four finish, as well as making life for their rivals, IG, even harder.
Prediction: Top Esports
Week 8: Day 1
Match 1: ThunderTalk Gaming vs Ultra Prime
In what could potentially be the first match between two mathematically eliminated teams, the result of this series should have little to no effect on the rest of the table. Both teams have shown signs of life and a reliance on key players, but have fallen short of playoffs and Worlds.
Going into 2022, both of these teams will most likely undergo massive changes. Due to both being new teams in the LPL, neither of them is yet to cement themselves or produce a player that is the face of the brand. With plenty of room to grow, both teams will be looking towards the future.
Prediction: Ultra Prime
Match 2: RNG vs Rare Atom
Unlike the first match, the second one will be very important to the table and standings. RNG are on an upward swing, with a top-two finish still being a possibility. While unlikely, RNG have once again entered the discussion for a top finish. With plenty of middle-of-the-pack teams left to face, RNG will want to shove them out of their way and return to the top.
Rare Atom need to win here if they want to main their distance from the teams that are rising up the table. With Top Esports, WE, RNG, and Suning all starting to rise, Rare Atom can’t afford to drop a series to their direct competitors. It was around this time in spring that Rare Atom got exposed as a one-dimensional team. It would be heartbreaking for the exact same thing to happen in summer.
Prediction: RNG
Week 8: Day 2
Match 1: Suning vs Victory Five
Suning had an amazing week. Despite falling to FPX, they dismantled JDG on the weekend and took down LNG in a close series. Suning have once again returned to the top part of the table and are looking to confirm their playoff spot. Strength of schedule also favours them, as they have to face V5 and TT, the two eliminated teams.
Summer wasn’t easy for Victory Five. Much like TT and Ultra Prime mentioned previously, V5 are still a new org in the league. However, they already have one winless split, with this one being a real possibility. Regardless if they ever manage to bounce back or not, this will forever be a stain in the org’s history.
Prediction: Suning
Match 2: LNG vs Rogue Warriors
Oh Rogue Warriors, so close but so far. After an amazing run by Rogue Warriors, defeating both Rare Atom and Suning, they fell to ThunderTalk and Top Esports. While the second was expected, the first was a bucket of cold water down the back of their fans. Rogue Warriors’ playoff dreams are still alive, but they will have to show their best league of legends to date to make it.
While LNG have started to fall off, it can’t be stated enough how much this team overperformed compared to expectations. On a Bevies with the Boys episode, a podcast hosted by LPL casters Dadga and Munchables, both hosts, Christian “IWD” Rivera, and Kelsey Moser all agreed that LNG would finish in twelfth. It is safe to say that LNG has definitely surpassed expectations, and should be proud of it.
Prediction: LNG
Week 8: Day 3
Match 1: OMG vs JD Gaming
Wednesday’s first match features OMG and JDG. JDG have had a split full of ups and downs. With Kanavi acting as their main star and carry, he has had carry performances and then been absent the next game. With Loken and LvMao often struggling to impact the game, JD Gaming’s top side must do well if they want to succeed. Luckily for them, the top lane and jungle of OMG have been their most inconsistent players.
That said, OMG has shown up this split and are no push-overs. With Creme being their shining star, if he can shut down Yagao, he will automatically stunt Kanavi, allowing Aki to keep JDG’s star in check. With Able and Cold playing well this split, OMG could look to upset JDG. This would not only keep them in the playoff race, but it would put JDG’s spot in check.
Prediction: JD Gaming
Match 2: Invictus Gaming vs Bilibili Gaming
Invictus Gaming’s battle for survival will continue against BLG. Luckily for them, BLG isn’t high in the playoff standings, meaning that they are one of the teams that IG could potentially take their spot. While this will be an uphill battle, it is far from impossible. Invictus Gaming can finally say that they have their complete roster, and while it may be too little too late, IG will want to show that they are one of the best in the league.
The moment of truth approaches for BLG. For the past four splits, BLG has always had a team that should, on paper, make playoffs, only to disappoint in the end. Once again, they have a solid roster, but this time they are sitting in the playoff zone. With only two weeks left, fans will be waiting and hoping that BLG manages to maintain a hold of their spot in playoffs.
Prediction: Bilibili Gaming
Week 8: Day 4
Match 1: RNG vs ThunderTalk Gaming
Thursday’s first match should be an open-and-shut case. RNG is tearing through the league, wanting to return to the top of the table. TT is one of the eliminated teams, with their most notable achievement this split being them all but locking Rogue Warriors out of playoffs. With both teams being on such opposite waves, it seems nearly unthinkable that TT would manage to upset RNG.
It gets even worse when the team’s strengths are brought up. TT’s few wins were due to LangX and Xiaopeng putting on their carry shoes and leading TT to victory. However, their opposite numbers happen to be RNG’s best players in Xiaohu and Wei. It would be nothing short of a miracle if ThunderTalk manages to take down RNG.
Prediction: RNG
Match 2: LNG vs Top Esports
The second match of the day should be much better than the first. Knight has been an absolute monster this split, playing arguably the best league of legends of his career so far. On the opposite side of the rift, Icon has also been playing his best, and will most likely fight against Fofo, Scout and Zeka for a place on the All-Star team.
The battles don’t stop there. Ale is a carry top lane through and through, while Quigtian has struggled to help out his team. And while JackeyLove and Zhuo are possibly the most aggressive duo in the bot lane, LP and Kedaya pulled out a Draven-Thresh lane in their LPL debut. Lastly, Karsa and Tarzan are two legendary names when it comes to the jungle. This series should be a barn burner.
Prediction: Top Esports
Week 8: Day 5
Match 1: EDG vs Victory Five
Much like Thursday’s first match, Friday’s first match should also be a walk in the park. The number one team in the LPL, possibly the world, will face the last-place team that will probably finish 0:16. Can’t get much more opposite than that.
In this clash between rookies and veterans, EDG’s veterans have the definite upper hand. Depending on who plays in the jungle for EDG, their entire team could be with veteran players, with Viper being their least experienced player. Meanwhile, Victory Five’s most experienced player would be Uniboy, who has been to Worlds twice but only started making a name for himself in 2019.
Prediction: EDG
Match 2: Rogue Warriors vs Team World Elite
The final match of today’s article features Rogue Warriors and Team World Elite. Depending on the result of this match, the table could either change drastically or have no changes whatsoever. A Rogue Warriors win would not only extend their playoff lifeline but also put WE’s spot in check, due to them facing RNG and Top in the final week. A win for Team World Elite would basically confirm their playoff spot, and lock Rogue Warriors out of theirs.
As far as the match itself, the main question will be the top side of the match, Breath vs ZdZ and Beishang vs Xiaohao will write the story of this match. While it is WE favoured, Rogue Warriors just recently took down Suning and Rare Atom, two teams that were in a similar boat to WE.
Prediction: Team World Elite
And that concludes the preview of the final days of Week 7, as well as the first four days of Week 8. Be sure to come back next time, to read about the last matches of Week 8, as well as the first few matches of Week 9.
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Follow JJ on Twitter: @NeonColouredJay