The third phase of the LPL group matches is nearing its end, and during the last match day, EDG faced off against NIP in the Nirvana group. After some reinforcements, NIP's strength didn't meet expectations, getting swept 2:0 by EDG. Currently, only EDG remains undefeated in the Nirvana group, while TT and NIP both hold a 2-1 record. After securing their first win, Lao Gan Ma's record improved to 1-1, while both LNG and UP are still winless.

Based on the current standings, EDG appears to be the strongest team in the Nirvana group. UP and LNG are likely to be eliminated from the group stage, as neither team has managed to win against anyone, and their chances of securing a first win seem slim. LNG is in a tough spot, with eight players on the roster but unable to find a winning combination. By the end of the season, it seems likely that everyone except Zika will be replaced.

BLG officially announces Shadow as the starter.

After a few days of rest, BLG and AL, the two teams participating in the international competition, finally made their debuts. The officials arranged for BLG to face AL in the first match, maximizing viewer interest. Everyone is aware of BLG's roster changes during the transfer period, and before Shadow returned from FPX, the management had already signed him. In the first match of the new phase, Shadow took the starting position directly.

Beichuan joined BLG two months ago and performed decently in the international matches, but unexpectedly, he was benched upon his return. Compared to Xun and Wei, he is definitely the most unfortunate one; Xun has been with BLG for two years, Wei for two seasons, while Beichuan has only played for two months. With the new jungler, BLG might trigger a buff, but winning against AL seems challenging, and Shadow might find himself benched again after a couple of games.

Meituan reportedly acquires RNG.

After being eliminated in the second phase, RNG has finally settled down. Doinb previously revealed during a livestream that RNG's spot had been acquired, but he didn't specify who it was. It’s rumored that the Saudi Falcons are the most interested, but it seems that Riot doesn't want to sell the spot to that club. After a lot of speculation, there hasn't been much news lately, but recently, UP leaked new information.

LOL content creator "1 Sauce" revealed during a recent livestream that someone sent him a message saying RNG was acquired by a delivery service. He clarified that "delivery service" refers not to an individual but to major companies like Meituan, Ele.me, or JD.com. Since JD has already entered the LPL, that leaves Meituan and Ele.me, with Meituan having the highest probability, as they frequently collaborate with the LPL.

The coach, the Factory Director, states: focus on playoffs.

After a dismal debut in the new phase where JDG was swept by IG, the coach, the Factory Director, recently gave a media interview. When asked about the team's shortcomings and their goals for the third phase, he responded that the goal is to build synergy during the regular season and then perform well in the playoffs. His statement seems a bit hard to believe, considering JDG was completely outplayed by IG. With their current strength, can they really make it to the playoffs?

From the performance against IG, it appears that JDG, with their new top and support, hasn't improved in strength. In fact, they seem weaker compared to when Mi Le was on the team. It might be that the synergy isn't quite right yet and needs more time. However, Xiao Xu's potential is honestly not as high as A Le's. As for Wink, he doesn’t seem to fit well with Peyz either. Most importantly, Scout, the star player, has been in a slump and is struggling against everyone.

Conclusion:

In addition to Shadow, BLG has also brought in Kakao as a specialized coach. It seems the management really doesn't understand the game; it's clear what the issues are with BLG. They still think that changing junglers can save the team. Even if Xun returns, he likely won't be able to uplift the struggling 3C.

So, how long do you think Shadow can stay?

Feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments!