Introduction: With the S15 season now underway, most fans are keeping a close eye on the ongoing battles. The LPL region has been particularly intense, and the overall format of the matches is shaping up clearly. TES, after a dominant victory over AL, has become the first team in the LPL to be highlighted in red, firmly claiming the top spot in the regular season and successfully advancing to the playoffs. During the second phase, their performance remained smooth, but as the competition progressed, they began to encounter various issues. It’s uncertain whether they can go all the way this time, and netizens have even joked that they might not reach the semifinals.

TES tops the LPL regular season rankings for two consecutive splits

Most fans are likely very familiar with TES. As one of the LPL’s veteran teams, they’ve maintained a relatively stable form over the years, consistently representing the region on the world stage. This season, TES’s ranking is again impressive, but in the first phase, they struggled with severe team coordination issues, resulting in minimal communication on stage—even making the LPL appear as the fourth-best region, which greatly disappointed many fans. Although they secured first place in the regular season during the second phase, they were crushed in the playoffs and didn’t even make the top four, becoming the first LPL team in history to miss the semifinals after finishing first in the regular season.

After the start of the third phase, TES brought in support player Hang, which significantly boosted the team’s overall performance. They battled BLG for the top spot in the regular season. The match against AL proved crucial; after a 2-0 win, TES firmly secured first place. In game one, just seven minutes in, AL tried to invade the jungle for an opportunity but were countered by TES, resulting in a clean 0-for-3 trade and losing all early momentum. Although AL had a slight gold lead in the mid-game, TES executed a flawless teamfight at Baron, with Linghuan 2 securing the Baron, and they closed out the game in just 29 minutes.

In game two, only one minute in, there was a bloody skirmish in the bot lane, resulting in both AD carries dying and each support picking up a kill. At four minutes, AL attempted a three-man tower dive, but TES handled it better, trading one for two. At six minutes, Sion’s ultimate missed in the dragon pit, and Cream’s Akali not only secured the dragon but also picked up a double kill. That play gave Akali a huge advantage in gold and items, allowing her to disrupt the enemy backline even when picked off in later fights. TES closed out the game in under 29 minutes, with their three carries dealing massive damage.

After this victory, TES recorded their tenth regular season win in the third phase. Their next two opponents, FPX and WE, have already been relegated to the “Knights’ Road,” so it’s almost certain TES will finish first in the regular season. They are also the first team to be marked in red this phase. As they enter the playoffs, their main focus should be on BO5 draft strategies, as global bans demand a deep champion pool from the players. It remains to be seen if they’ve improved in this area recently.

Personal thoughts

From the first phase, TES has maintained solid momentum and achieved great results in regional matches. After bringing in Hang as support, their teamfight dynamics changed dramatically. Hang’s initiations are extremely precise, constantly disrupting the enemy backline and enabling his teammates to instantly eliminate the opposing carries. It feels like this round of roster changes has been the most successful for TES so far, doesn’t it?

What do you all think about this situation?