Week 4 of the LPL 2022 Summer Split will soon be underway. With teams starting to distance themselves from each other, some order can be seen amongst the chaos. At the time of this articles release, the same four teams that were undefeated last week, remain undefeated. JD Gaming, LNG, Victory Five and RNG have yet to loose a match. Meanwhile, OMG, WE and FPX have yet to blow up the enemy nexus twice in a series. A few other teams have started to show their strengths, or have begun to succumb to their weaknesses. Here is a glimpse of the next week of action in the LPL 2022 Summer Split.
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 3: Day 6
Match 1: Rare Atom vs Weibo Gaming
Saturday’s first match features Rare Atom and Weibo Gaming. Rare Atom are off to a slow start, much like they did in spring. However, this time, the opponents that they’ve faced are already key opponents in the race for playoffs. Anyone’s Legend, OMG and Ultra Prime are all teams that will likely be competing with RA for one of the final playoff spots. So with that in consideration, they have lost two matches against their direct rivals. That means that if Rare Atom have to step their game up, less they miss playoffs.
Meanwhile, Weibo Gaming are currently 2:2. They beat WE and IG, two teams expected to finish below them, and lost to RNG and EDG, two teams that should finish above them. Weibo Gaming could end up being one of the gatekeeper teams this split, possibly finishing in seventh place themselves. However, they have the star power and potential to finish higher, so keeping tabs on this team is a wise choice.
Prediction: Weibo Gaming
Match 2: Top Esports vs FunPlus Phoenix
Top Esports will take on FPX in the second match of the day. Top Esports have returned to their winning ways after falling to JDG in week 1. Taking down WE, IG and BLG, Top Esports seem to only grow stronger with time. And while yes, they still tend to make punishable mistakes, they always remain confident in their abilities and bounce back immediately. However, it is important that they start to clean up their act, less they find themselves stumbling against harder opponents.
Meanwhile, FPX can rejoice that their newest top laner is finally here. Summit joined FPX this last week, adding depth and strength to their roster. And while questions can remain if the top lane was the lane that needed to change the most, it should still be a net positive for the team. However, up against the likes of Top Esports, it will be a tall order, and a mountain that even the likes of Park Woo-tae, will find difficulty to Summit.
Prediction: Top Esports
Match 3: Victory Five vs Royal Never Give Up
In the marquee matchup of the week, RNG and V5 will clash in a battle of the undefeated teams. The current LPL and MSI champions will look to maintain their top form, something they tend to struggle to find at the begging of summer. With Xiaohu playing the best league of legends of his career, as well as Ming and Wei consistently getting their job done, thinks have looked quite positive this split so far for RNG. However, they have played an opponent less, and have yet to clean a team 2:0, so they must keep their guard up.
Meanwhile, Victory Five have yet to even drop a game this summer. ThunderTalk Gaming, LGD and FPX all fell in a clean, 2:0 sweep. However, here is where some questions can be raised. None of them have been particularly impressive so far this split, so V5 were never truly challenged. And even then. In their series against LGD, they almost lost their first game of the split, but managed to carry it home.
Prediction: RNG
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 3: Day 7
Match 1: Anyone’s Legend vs Invictus Gaming
Sunday’s first match should be an interesting one. Anyone’s Legend is currently 2:2 this split and are outperforming expectations. However, at the same time, it feels like they could be 3:1. After cleaning house with BLG, wiping them in a 2:0 sweep, they got absolutely shell-shocked by LGD, a team that previously had no wins to their name. It feels like every time AL are the favourites to win a match, they end up on the losing side.
Meanwhile, Invictus Gaming are looking like the most threating 1:3 team in the LPL right now. Despite their negative record, they faced good teams in Weibo, EDG and Top Esports, taking all three to a three game series. This not only shows grit and the team’s potential, it also will benefit them if it comes down to a tiebreaker for playoffs, since they will probably have more game wins then other teams around them.
Prediction: Invictus Gaming
Match 2: EDG vs Bilibili Gaming
The final match of week 3 features EDG and BLG. EDG will want to show that their last two series are well behind them. After a crushing defeat to JDG, and a close shave with IG, EDG fans will want a strong showing against the likes of BLG. A win here would also push their opponents even further away from the top of the table, making a late season emergence even more difficult for a squad that couldn’t be further away from being in playoff form.
And that’s exactly the case with BLG. With Fofo completely fumbling the bag so far this split, Icon was brought in. However, in their first series against Top Esports, Icon managed to look arguably worse than Fofo did. Add on Bin struggling in the top lane, and Weiwei not finding consistency, and BLG look like a train wreck.
Prediction: EDG
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 4: Day 1
Match 1: OMG vs LGD
The first match of week 4 of the LPL 2022 summer split features OMG and LGD. OMG will more likely than not, enter this series 0:4. This is not the way a team that has hopes of contesting for a playoff spot wants to start off their split, To make matters worse, a lot of their opponents so far were teams that will probably be directly competing with them for the final playoff spots, meaning that they are losing to their direct rivals. Not to mention that the strongest teams are yet to come.
Meanwhile, LGD managed to get a win against Anyone’s Legend. And not just any win, they looked very impressive and stomped out both games. With Haichao making his LPL debut, LGD managed to find strength in their young players. While it could be a long shot, this should reignite LGD fan’s hopes for playoffs.
Prediction: LGD
Match 2: JD Gaming vs ThunderTalk Gaming
Meanwhile the second game of the day should be an open-and-shut case. While TT managed to get a win on the board, taking down WE, it doesn’t say much. Team WE are by far the weakest team in the LPL, and beating them is almost a must. While TT did it well, it is still far from enough to prove that they will fight for a playoffs spot, let alone take down JDG. But it was a start, showing that their roster rebuild could be successful further down the line.
Meanwhile, JD Gaming are currently at the top of the LPL standings. Looking like the strongest team right now, they sit at the top. While this match shouldn’t be much of a challenge, JDG must remain careful. Last summer, LNG were in a similar spot, were they had a hype train going for themselves in the summer split. And curiously enough, it was TT that exposed that team’s weaknesses. JDG have the talent and synergy to make this a clean series. Hopefully for them, it won’t end like LNG’s.
Prediction: JD Gaming
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 4: Day 2
Match 1: Victory Five vs Team World Elite
Tuesday’s first match features V5 going up against WE. Victory Five could remain undefeated, or come into this match off of a loss against RNG. Either way, Victory Five should still be pumped. For the first time since the org’s arrival in the LPL, they have a clear shot at making an international appearance. All that is left now is to continue with their sprits high and not falter against weaker opponents, like WE. Oh, and Rookie is back, so that’s another positive for the side of V5.
Meanwhile, WE are struggling to find any positives. In their series against ThunderTalk Gaming, they looked absolutely abysmal. Being out micro managed in one game and out macro managed in the other, WE lost on all fronts to a team that will probably be a bottom three team. It will be a long summer ahead, if WE doesn’t make a change soon.
Prediction: Victory Five
Match 2: LNG vs Top Esports
Unlike the first series of the day, the second one should be pure hype. LNG will likely enter this series undefeated. However, they haven’t looked like the most solid team. Having taken down BLG, AL and TT, LNG didn’t impress in any of those matches. In fact, they almost lost to TT, in what was a horribly close series that came down to a tiny mistake that TT made. LNG have to clean up their act, and stop swapping their supports around, if they want to remain at the top of the LPL.
Meanwhile, Top Esports are on the up and coming. Sure, they lost to JDG. Sure , they struggled against IG. But after that, they started looking better and better. While their bot lane can still look a bit suspicious some times, JackeyLove and Mark usual show up when it matters the most. And with LNG playing games and swapping supports, Top Esports will certainly look to abuse that. You snooze, you loose.
Prediction: Top Esports
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 4: Day 3
Match 1: Rare Atom vs FunPlus Phoenix
Wednesday’s first match should be an solid one. Both of these teams made playoffs last split, and are likely to fight to return this split. However, neither one of the started the split off well, losing to direct rivals in the playoff race. With much tougher opponents coming up, this match will be pivotal for both squads. So in a way, this match could end up deciding in the end, which one of these two teams ends up making it in and who’s season will end early on in the year.
The biggest difference maker will be Summit, up in the top lane. If he manages to have a solid performance, than FPX have an excellent shot at winning this series. Rare Atom’s hopes lie mostly with Strive in the mid lane, who has been having a tremendous split so far, despite his team’s lack of results. However, in a carry vs carry matchup, Summit has much more experience and and positive results to back him up, making FPX the slight favorites in this match.
Prediction: FunPlus Phoenix
Match 2: Weibo Gaming vs Ultra Prime
Weibo Gaming will take on Ultra Prime to wrap up Wednesday’s matches. Despite finishing in sixth last split, Weibo Gaming have shown no sign of improvement for this split. In fact, they seem to have deteriorated. While they have the individual star power, they lack any sense of teamwork or cohesion with each other. They feel like five random solo queue players who happen to be on a call together and on the same team.
Meanwhile, Ultra Prime have done a solid job so far this split. Currently 2:1, they beat out two teams expected to fight against them in the race for playoffs, and lost to BLG, which might come to bite them later on. With Zoom starting to regain momentum, and Cryin playing the best league of legends since his e-Star days, Ultra Prime are looking like a solid underdog this split. A good performance here would do the team wonders, and would boost them ahead of the middle-of-the-pack teams.
Prediction: Weibo Gaming
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 4: Day 4
Match 1: Bilibili Gaming vs Invictus Gaming
Thursday’s first match should be a very important one in the long run of the split. Bilibili Gaming will need to win this match to get back in the playoff race. A team formed as a super team during the off-season last split, BLG has failed to produce anything. Finishing in eighth in spring and with serious odds of going 1:4 this split, BLG cannot afford to fall further behind the pack. It is almost unthinkable that a team with players like Bin, Doggo and Crisp would be in this situation, yet here they are.
Meanwhile, Invictus Gaming will come in firing on all cylinders. With a chance to go 3:3, and take down a team that could be their direct rivals in the playoff race, it will be a tough task to stop IG’s energy. Playing a fast and loose game of league of legends, the youngsters on IG will want to outmaneuver BLG’s veterans. And if the performance of both teams so far this split are anything to go by, chances are, IG makes it.
Prediction: Invictus Gaming
Match 2: RNG vs OMG
RNG and OMG will fight it out on Thursday. Should OMG fail to take down LGD earlier in the week, they face the real possibility of going 0:6 at the start of their split. And while it would only be the start of their split, it might as well be the end of it. On average, eight losses is the max amount that a team can endure and still make playoffs. Having lost 6 already, and not having faced the likes of Top, EDG, Victory Five or Weibo is a scary concept.
Meanwhile, RNG will want to continue their positive performances. Regardless of their result against Victory Five, RNG will have started their summer split off much better than they did last year. For a team that is still experiencing growing pains due to playing with a new top laner post MSI, RNG seems to be doing fine. A solid, convincing win here would do wonders for the team moral, as well as keep them at the top of the leaderboards.
Prediction: RNG
LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 3: Day 5
Match 1: EDG vs ThunderTalk Gaming
Friday’s first match is an important one to watch. While ThunderTalk Gaming only has the one win to their name this split, their roster has started to show potential. While it is still definitely a rough draft of where they could end up, it’s a heading, something the team previously lacked. While JDG is much too tall a task, EDG has shown signs of being much weaker, and a good showing from the side of TT could have very positive results. While the win is still very unlikely, having a solid performance would do wonders for TT.
Meanwhile, EDG need to crush ThunderTalk Gaming. With many starting to question if EDG will even make it to Worlds to defend their title, EDG need to silence the doubters and keep up with the top teams. With either RNG or V5 experiencing their first loss of the split this week, EDG has the opportunity to tie their score line with whichever one loses. It’s a golden opportunity that EDG can’t pass up.
Prediction: EDG
Match 2: Victory Five vs Anyone’s Legend
The final match of today’s article features Victory Five and Anyone’s Legend. Anyone’s Legend have had a weird split so far, where it feels like the stronger their opponent, the better is their showing. So by that logic, their match against V5 should be a banger. However, with their recent, crushing loss to LGD, it makes it hard to see them competing on the same wavelength as V5. At the end of the day, this is a match between a team that will fight for a top-two seed, and a team that might not even make playoffs.
However, Victory Five can’t give out any freebies if the truly want to contest for a top-two seed. One to three losses is the max that a team can face while remaining with hopes to stay in the top-two at the end of the split. So matches like these, that on paper should be very one-sided, are the must win matches for the side of Victory Five. The pressure will be on them, not on AL. Will Victory Five manage to remain at the top of the standings by the end of week 4?
Prediction: Victory Five
And that concludes the preview of week 3, as well as the first five days of week 4 Be sure to come back next time, to read about the last matches of Week 4 as well as the first few matches of Week 5.
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