Introduction: The S16 season matches have officially kicked off, and most players have been paying close attention to the recent battles. The LPL region’s matches have been highly competitive. From the current overall outlook, JDG’s efforts have indeed shown some results, with teamwork becoming more cohesive. The match against BLG became a hot topic across the community after a 2-0 sweep, which put BLG under intense scrutiny. AD player Viper’s series of moves were hard to understand, especially his attempt to cleanse the knock-up from the Stone Giant. Knight was also solo killed by Hongq in lane. The match definitely boosted morale, but many players also questioned BLG’s privilege when they chose to restart the BP after JDG revealed Varus, then immediately locked in Varus themselves.

BLG accused of receiving official favoritism

Most players are quite focused on JDG, an e-commerce backed team in the LPL region, known for heavy yearly investments. This season, they increased their budget by over 100 million. From the start of the season, JDG’s overall form has steadily improved, especially in their match against BLG where they achieved a clean 2-0 sweep. The games featured strong team fights and a hard-fought 40-minute comeback. This first match between the two teams was arguably the most exciting confrontation of the year, with JDG players performing at their peak in every play.

In the first game, just three minutes in, Hongq’s Ryze seized an opportunity, flashing and flawlessly executing an E-W-A-Q combo to kill Knight’s Syndra, leaving no chance for Left Hand to react. Afterwards, both sides entered a tug-of-war phase with minimal economic difference. The Stone Giant’s ultimate steal of the dragon was a crucial moment. However, the most awkward moment was definitely Viper’s attempt to cleanse the Stone Giant’s knock-up ultimate, which even casual players would know is ineffective — he probably was caught off guard.

At the start of the second game, there was an issue with the BP draft. BLG first picked Janna, but after JDG revealed Varus, BLG decided to restart the BP phase and then swapped their lineup to secure Varus. This move quickly sparked mockery across the internet. Changing picks after the opponent reveals a counter champion is a bit excessive, but some knowledgeable fans pointed out that to restart the BP, teams must notify the referee immediately. The Varus pick was likely discussed with the officials before JDG’s reveal. This is probably the only reasonable explanation; otherwise, it would seem like official favoritism.

In the second game, JDG staged a comeback despite a mid-game gold deficit exceeding 5000. At 32 minutes, Hongq’s Ahri instantly eliminated Viper’s Varus, marking a turning point that erased the gap. After the match, coach Tabe stood up enthusiastically. In the post-game interview, he expressed great happiness, especially since they defeated both AL and BLG, two teams he had previously coached, highlighting the importance of the coaching staff. Still, BLG’s BP didn’t have many flaws; this loss seemed mostly due to player execution. Why didn’t Bin’s Renekton heal with Transfusion? Why did he keep engaging out of sync?

Farewell thoughts

No one expected JDG’s form to improve so rapidly after thorough practice. AL and BLG are considered the strongest teams this season, yet both lost to JDG in the regular season. Could this young squad be the top dark horse this year? Honestly, except for AD carry Gala, the other players are mid-tier, but after synergy, they’ve performed remarkably, with Hong even solo killing Knight. Looking forward to JDG’s future.

What do all of you viewers think about this matter?