LPL Playoff Group Results Announced!

Following LGD and EDG's 3-2 victories over WBG and NIP, all games of this LPL Knight's Path have wrapped up. The Knight's Path delivered many unexpected "lower-seed defeats higher-seed" moments. Before the tournament began, no one imagined that IG, WBG, and NIP would end up in the Nirvana group. Meanwhile, WE, which fans had jokingly called "pretending to be a Summit team," surprisingly secured their spot in the Summit group by narrowly defeating the Nirvana leader LNG 3-2 with tenacity.

With the conclusion of the Knight's Path, the LPL officially announced the playoff schedule and group allocations. Based on the Summit group rankings, BLG had the first choice, followed by JDG, TES, and finally AL in order. BLG selected WE as their first-round playoff opponent. Many LPL fans understood and praised this choice, since BLG's player Viper is currently recovering from an injury in South Korea, and BLG likely didn't have extra time to study other Nirvana teams. Choosing a familiar opponent like WE also reduces the risk of an upset, especially since WE's performance heavily relies on their jungler carrying the team.

JDG, ranked second in the regular season, chose TT, which surprised many LPL viewers. TT convincingly swept IG 3-0 in the Knight's Path, leaving fans astonished. Some even speculated that TT might have "secret weapons" hidden. JDG's seemingly risky pick of TT worried many supporters. However, others argued that since JDG's goal is to qualify for MSI and win the championship, facing a strong opponent early could help them quickly adjust their form and rhythm. Thus, choosing TT might actually be a positive move.

The third-ranked TES selected the "Water Ghost Team" LGD in the playoffs. Many viewers believe this BO5 could be a potential trap for TES. LGD's performance ceiling is highly unpredictable, and during the Knight's Path, they eliminated the star-studded full-Chinese lineup of WBG. Therefore, many fans are eager to see the matchup between TES and LGD, especially since TES suffered an upset loss to WE in the second stage of last year's playoffs. Many fear that TES might be dragged down by the "water ghost" LGD.

Finally, AL was forced to take EDG as their playoff opponent. EDG's strength should not be underestimated, as they knocked out NIP during the Knight's Path. Notably, NIP had defeated all top-five teams in the Summit group at least once. Many viewers see EDG as the biggest dark horse of this playoff season. Additionally, there is great anticipation for the bot-lane duel between EDG's Leave and AL's Hope. EDG's playoff qualification was largely driven by Leave's carry performances, while AL's Hope has often been criticized as a "fraud AD." Fans are eager to see who comes out on top between Leave and Hope.

Personally, I watched all the LPL Knight's Path matches, and the WBG vs. LGD game had the biggest impact on me. WBG's entire roster has high salaries, while LGD's five players are all "minimum-wage players." Yet LGD won the match through superior macro play and draft decisions. This "grassroots underdog story" truly gets the blood pumping. After the game, LGD's support ycx's post moved many fans to tears. How far do you think LGD can go in the playoffs?