The round-robin of the LPL has barely just finished, and the teams are already getting ready for playoffs. While the top-eight teams had already been locked in since Thursday, the final placement of each team was still up for grabs. With Suning’s victory over FPX, they locked in a top-four bye and will skip the first round of playoffs.
Today’s article will discuss the two matches of the first round of playoffs, as well as the quarter-finals.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
The first match of playoffs is between FPX and Victory Five. While FPX lost to Suning, they were playing with DoinB bot and GimGoon mid due to Lwx experiencing pain and going to the hospital. However, he got the all-clear and will return versus V5.
As for the match itself, it will be a battle of opposites. FPX are experienced players, with multiple best of fives, not to mention a World Championship, under their belt. On the other hand, V5 has four players that never played a best of five. Even though V5 are the higher seed, they will need to overcome a mountain of experience.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
The second match of the first round is quite similar. All four of WE’s players are fairly inexperienced, with Teacherma being the oldest player at the age of 21. While they did make playoffs in spring and won a match, they don’t hold a candle to the vast experience LGD is packing.
Often branded as a team of misfits, LGD is the LPL’s veteran squad. Four of their five players have been to Worlds, with Mark being the one left out. With their mid-season encounter going to LGD in a clean 2-0, there is little that indicates that the same won’t happen here.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
The first match of the quarterfinals has Suning facing off against either FPX or V5. While Suning did manage to defeat both of them during the regular season, neither match was a clean victory, with both going 2-1 in favor of Suning.
Regardless of who they face, Suning will need to step their game up if they want to make it to the semifinals. With a spot at the Regional Finals and Worlds on the line, Suning cannot afford to slip up after getting so close to their first Regional Finals and Worlds as an organization.
Image Courtesy of Leaguepedia
IG will return to the rift to play in the second quarter-final match. While they did trip and lose to Vici, the match didn’t mean much, it can’t be taken into consideration. However, regardless of who they face in this match, IG will need to stay on their toes.
Should LGD win, IG will have to face off against the squad of veterans. Despite having four veteran players themselves, IG probably won’t want to play a slow and cautious game, since that would favor LGD. And should they face WE, the young squad of rookies will be full of motivation, and more than amped to take them down to make it to their first semi-finals.
And that concludes the preview of the first round of playoffs, as well as the quarter-finals. Be sure to tune in to FPX vs Victory Five on Thursday.
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