The LPL second stage playoffs, loser's bracket second round are underway. LGD, which only made it past TT after a five-game battle, was completely shut out by AL. While the final score was 3-0, LGD held on for at least 34 minutes in all three games, showing some resistance. Still, the key distinction between lower-tier and top-tier teams is their inability to convert early leads into a snowball; they gradually lose control and let the enemy come back.

In the first two games, LGD managed to secure some early advantages but were outclassed by AL's macro play. With LGD's elimination, all the "Nirvana" teams in the LPL playoffs have been wiped out. Judging from the matches, there is a noticeable gap in performance between online and offline play for these Nirvana group teams. However, AL themselves are not in great form; Shanks' performance across three games was even worse than Tangyuan's. With this level of play, it's unlikely they can advance much further.

Xiaocream reviews the S15 "bible" (controversial moment)

Top Esports, who have reached the winner's bracket finals, only need one more BO5 win to secure an MSI spot. With one day left before the match, the team's dual carries and coach appeared on the official podcast show "Bring Him Over." In the interview, Xiaocream responded to last year's documentary controversy. He said that at the time, Homme had already given up before the battle, not only failing to understand him but also not trusting him. However, Homme was not present when Xiaocream said this.

Xiaocream actually vented to two assistant coaches, but everyone thought he had directly confronted Homme. He then explained the situation: The BP plan had already been agreed upon the night before the match. However, just before going on stage, Kanavi suddenly told him that they might need to ban two champions that they originally planned to leave open. Later, after they got on stage, the number changed from two to three. That's why he lost his composure and lashed out after the game.

Chovy's documentary: one versus four outburst

The LCK playoffs are about to begin soon. GEN recently released a documentary about their regular season loss to T1. While reviewing the match, Chovy unusually lost his temper and criticized his teammates: "It seems everyone subconsciously thought we could win just by playing casually, so we were too lax. In the second game, if the bottom lane had pushed a bit deeper, we could have stabilized the situation. But everyone except me was retreating. I really can't understand that."

When there was a chance to win a team fight, everyone was avoiding it. There was no sign of the team executing strategies to win. In simple terms, Chovy felt that his teammates were afraid to engage when opportunities arose, as if they didn't want to win. In all his years of playing, this was the first time he was so angry. However, his emotions are truly stable; even while criticizing, he still spoke very gently.

BYD officially announces sponsorship of LPL

Ever since Mercedes-Benz withdrew its sponsorship, the LPL had no major automotive industry partners. Just before the loser's bracket second round began, the league suddenly announced that BYD had become an official partner. At a time when the league's popularity is declining, this big sponsor came out of nowhere, giving the LPL's second split a boost. Many viewers compared BYD to Mercedes-Benz, sparking a heated debate.

Some viewers have a really strange perspective. They think that switching from Mercedes to BYD is a downgrade—such comments are quite absurd. Given the current low popularity of the LPL, having a major car company willing to sponsor is already a good thing. Discussing the tier of the cars is completely missing the point. The league's environment is already very poor, and BYD's sponsorship has helped the officials catch a break.

Conclusion:

GEN's strength in the second split has indeed dropped significantly compared to before. They didn't even make the top two in the regular season, so there are definitely internal issues. There are only two MSI slots. Among T1 and HLE, one team is virtually guaranteed to qualify. For GEN to go, they need to win two consecutive BO5s. In the latter part of the regular season, GEN's form improved slightly, but it's uncertain whether they can make it to MSI.

So, do you think GEN can make it to MSI?

Feel free to leave comments and discuss!