BLG pulled off a "Golden Path" maneuver, securing a spot in the winners' bracket finals, while Faker's candid comments stirred up buzz.

Hello to every LPL fan and League of Legends summoner. This is the World of Esports.

The fourth competition day of the MSI main event saw BLG take on a key winners' bracket match against LYON following TES's quick exit. Bin squared off against his familiar foe Dhokla once more.

Editor's note

In the end, BLG cruised to a 3-0 victory over their opponents, advancing straight to the finals.

BLG showcased the "Golden Path" and moved into the winners' bracket final.

After an intense, five-game battle against T1 in the previous round, BLG had a comparatively easier matchup in the second round against LYON. Though the opponent's strength shouldn't be underestimated, BLG held advantages in mechanics and composition. They gained an edge in the first game's draft and successfully executed their mid-jungle synergy.

However, that game still had chaotic moments: On's Camille gave opportunities, and Bin got targeted. Yet in critical phases, BLG secured the win through superior teamfighting.

Notably, Mel pulled off a highly unusual play in that game. After the enemy Taliyah cast her ultimate, Mel used her W to reflect it, producing a golden-hued Taliyah wall that amazed viewers. Fans immediately called it the "Golden Path," aligning perfectly with BLG's goals this year—perhaps a good omen.

Returning to the series, BLG's victories in games two and three shared similarities with the first. After building leads, they still gave the opponent openings. Game two saw a huge advantage, but the enemy caught them multiple times in the mid-game. Knight's massively fed Orianna was momentarily contained, yet Bin's Gnar stayed consistent, allowing BLG to claim match point.

Faker's honest opinion: BLG exceeded expectations

The third game was arguably the riskiest. BLG's draft wasn't optimal, and with little advantage from picks and bans, the match grew tougher. Knight's Ahri faced pressure early, On's Bard helped relieve lanes, while Bin remained in top form. The teams traded blows in an all-out offensive style.

BLG's dual carries seemed ineffective for a while, but during the crucial dragon soul teamfight, Xun retreated after being wounded and then re-entered. Bard's ultimate proved decisive, enabling BLG to quickly eliminate opponents. Even after the enemy secured the soul, BLG's teamfighting prowess crushed them, securing the win.

The upcoming winners' bracket final will decide which team reaches the MSI finals first. The long-awaited clash of titans is finally here.

A brief analysis of this round: BLG still struggles with discipline issues. At times, when they try to switch playstyles, they still give away opportunities. Faker's frank assessment in an interview perfectly captures BLG's traits as a team.

Faker commented that BLG displayed an unusually composed and calm side in the match, which surprised him. The subtext is that BLG tends to get impatient in the mid-to-late game and sometimes throws, yet against T1 they played very steadily.

Winners' bracket preview: laning phase is crucial

The upcoming winners' bracket final is extremely important. Falling into the losers' bracket carries real risks. Generally, in international tournaments, the longer the event and the more matches played, the stronger T1 becomes. If BLG can defeat HLE, it would likely set up an all-Korean LCK final—the ideal scenario for this MSI.

To beat HLE, the key, in my opinion, lies in laning performance. HLE employs a similar strategy against T1 as BLG did: suppress T1 as much as possible during the laning phase to prevent them from controlling the game through mid-to-late macro play and pick opportunities.

Zeus vs. Bin, Knight vs. Zeka, and the bot lane matchups are all highly anticipated. Whether they can gain an advantage in these lanes will determine the outcome. Both teams have fierce offensive power, making the draft strategies and champion pool battles highly exciting.

For BLG, it comes down to reducing mistakes, reading the game clearly in every match, making the right decisions at the right times, and establishing a clear team core. Only by playing their best can they have a better chance of winning this tough battle.