The third week of the second stage intra-group matches in LPL has started. On the last match day, EDG and LGD clashed in the Nirvana group. After just two games, EDG was defeated. While LGD achieved a clean sweep victory, this BO3 was genuinely abstract; the second match dragged on for 50 minutes to decide the outcome. EDG obtained the Elder Dragon but only destroyed one lane of LGD; LGD claimed the Elder Dragon but surprisingly lost the team fight.

After watching, one can only say that the official decision to have the Nirvana group play a single round-robin is absolutely correct. Both teams played in such a "feeding" manner; if there were more matches like this, league popularity would plummet. Another match on the same day was much more interesting: the top team BLG versus the dark horse NIP. Before the match, almost everyone favored BLG, but BLG suffered a shocking upset, being clean swept by NIP with a 2:0 score.

Bin was dominated by Hoya in lane. In the first game, his Yorick went 0-7, nearly achieving a "super ghost" status. In the second game, his Jayce, targeted early, ended up 0-5. Combined across two games, his record was 0-12. It's hard to believe this is Bin, the world's top laner developing the O-series—truly unbelievable. Not only did the top lane lose, but BLG's bot lane also collapsed. Assum continued his previous strong performance, consistently pressuring Viper in lane.

Left-hand, seemingly the most hardworking, achieved a 18-6-10 KDA across two games. Looking solely at KDA, he definitely tried his best. However, those who watched know: his rabbit with a 10-0 start frequently died in crucial team fights—not feeding often, but when he did, it was major. If Left-hand hadn't given Assum two bounty-carrying kills, BLG wouldn't have lost the first game. His Akali in the second game can only be described as truly trying but helpless.

While sidelanes were crushed, Xun's decision-making also faltered. In the first game, with a significant team advantage, he chose to contest smite in a fight that could have been won straightforwardly, dying and leaving his teammates to fight 4v5. In the second game, before teammates arrived, he dashed in 1v2, feeding kills to the enemy. With three out of four lanes beaten and the only carry dying in team fights, BLG's loss was deserved—they were truly outplayed head-to-head.

Interestingly, before the match, ON told Zhuo: "My shoe soles itch." Zhuo replied: "My face also itch." Unexpectedly, NIP truly used their face to pierce the shoe soles. Even more amusing, Crystal became the biggest victim of this BO3. Before the match started, Crystal publicly declared: "If NIP wins against BLG, I'll call Assum father." They indeed won, and post-match Crystal directly called him "father" publicly.

Although "the relationship isn't that close," Crystal's credibility score is truly maxed out this time. Assum played extremely aggressively this match, constantly pressuring forward in lane, seizing every chance to attack Viper, even pressing forward when mana was depleted. Watching so many matches this year, few ADs play this aggressively. If he maintains this form, top-tier teams will surely seek him next year.

BLG being pierced through by NIP is undoubtedly the most shocking upset of the second stage. Honestly, BLG was somewhat complacent. When AL faced NIP, they played very formulaically: avoiding early fights, relying on lane-switching to develop mid-game, only engaging with NIP when ready for team fights. Thus AL clean swept NIP. BLG is different; they prefer close combat—if the enemy wants to fight, BLG will definitely engage.

Conclusion:

Bin's recent form is genuinely somewhat low. He's often pressured in lane; if the enemy jungler comes, he's caught. It feels like he's won too much and has become somewhat arrogant. With ten more kills, his O-series development would surpass "Brother's" record. However, next match BLG faces Weibo; Brother's record likely won't be broken by Bin.

So, who do you think is BLG's biggest culprit?

Welcome to leave comments and discuss!