The LCK second split playoffs are nearing the end with only 10 BO3s left. On the previous match day, GEN and T1 both took the stage. When facing BRO, T1's entire team stepped up, coming back from a 5K gold deficit in the second map to sweep BRO 2-0, earning their 12th victory of the split. GEN also had a clean sweep against DNS. Currently, KT, GEN, and T1 are tied in standings, keeping the race for the top position highly intense.

After BRO's loss, with only two games left, they cannot catch up to or surpass DK in big points. Thus, the LCK third split group allocation is confirmed: the top five teams—HLE, KT, GEN, T1, and DK—enter the Legend group, while the bottom five—BRO, KRX, NS, BFX, and DNS—drop into the Nirvana group. At that point, the LCK format will resemble the LPL's, including a "Knight's Path" stage.

Doran calls on the developers to change the patch.

After T1's easy win over BRO, top laner Doran gave an interview and urged the developers to increase the impact of the top lane. He explained that in the current patch, top lane champions are very limited, with only a few picks rotating. Due to counter relationships, other champions struggle to be played. Doran said he often feels lonely during matches and hopes for changes to introduce more major events.

Come on, man, winning a few games doesn't make you Zeus! If the team actually plays around the top lane and it doesn't go well, he'll get flamed. However, Doran's suggestion might actually come true because the developers mentioned earlier that Atakhan will return to the Rift. If it's permanently placed in the top side, the frequency of fights in the top half will increase significantly. But when it returns is still unknown.

Scout uses a Chinese interface to find his form.

In their last match, NS lost 1:2 to HLE. Having played 16 games with only 4 wins, even if NS wins their final two matches, they would have at most 6 points, tying with current BRO. However, NS's small-game score is -14, and even two 2-0 wins would bring it to -10. Even if BRO loses both remaining games 0-2, the gap in small-game scores would still be 10. Therefore, NS is eliminated from playoff contention with two games to spare.

During the match against HLE, LCK caster Jisun noticed that Scout had switched his in-game interface to Chinese, whereas it had always been Korean. She interpreted this as him trying to recreate the environment he was in back then, attempting every method to regain his peak form. At the start of the second split, Scout performed quite well, but later his performance declined. It's hard for him to find his form again.

BLG chooses WE as their opponent.

After the LPL Knight's Path concluded, the schedule for the second split playoffs was released. BLG, as the first team to pick their opponent, proactively chose WE. It's likely that the players and coaches had already made up their minds when they saw WE qualify. They probably spent the rest days studying WE, as the two teams had faced each other in the group stage. Compared to the other three teams, BLG indeed knows WE better.

Mainly, all three Nirvana group teams performed well in the Knight's Path, and BLG didn't want to take the risk of picking a team they knew nothing about. Among the remaining teams, JDG chose TT, TES picked LGD, and the last to pick, AL, was automatically matched with EDG. None of the three top teams chose EDG, which shows that EDG's Knight's Path performance gave the summit teams a bit of a shock. The question is whether AL will stumble.

Conclusion:

In the LPL Knight's Path, the three Nirvana teams that made the playoffs should not be underestimated. TT swept IG to advance. EDG, though winning 3:2 against NIP, dominated every game. LGD also showed some skill, even daring to pick Vayne in the mid lane in the decisive match. When strong teams face them, it's not certain they can win easily. However, it's also possible that the three summit teams were just too weak.

So, what do you think of Doran's proposal?

Feel free to leave your comments and discuss!