After the Knight's Journey ended in the LPL's third segment, eight playoff teams dispatched representatives to the selection event. Their choices aligned perfectly with our previous forecasts. Top Esports took NIP, the only team to play a full five-game series in Knight's Journey. The star-studded IG chose EDG, the runner-up in the Phoenix group, while BLG went for the underperforming JDG. Finally, WBG and AL, left unselected, were paired together automatically.

The bracket follows a 1-4-2-3 format with AL and TES in the bottom half and BLG and IG in the top half. This setup is intriguing because IG and BLG could meet as early as the second round (assuming both win their first matches), leading to a best-of-five showdown. In the bottom half, Doinb and Xiaotian might also clash in the second round (if both lose initially), with Wei seeking his third revenge and a promising matchup below. The stakes are definitely high.

During the selection ceremony, there was also a segment for bold statements. The four teams that qualified directly to the playoffs were relatively "calm," but the teams chosen showed more bravado. Doinb proclaimed on-site: Maybe we haven't beaten TES this year, which is why they dared pick us, but this time we will definitely win. Meanwhile, EDG's jungler Xiaohao openly challenged IG: This time, we'll show you what a knight's salute really means.

Xun, facing his former team, wasn’t very aggressive, only saying: This time, we will show them what true JDG is. When the camera shifted to Xiaohu, honestly, it was hard not to smile. Despite his comedic appearance, Xiaohu was anything but modest: Our team will defeat every opponent blocking our path to the World Championship on Weibo. Wow, is Tiger brother making a live flag here?

After discussing team picks and bold words, let's briefly predict the outcomes of these four best-of-five series. First, IG versus EDG in the top half seems quite one-sided. EDG, from the Phoenix group, failed to beat NIP in the second round of the round robin. Facing a fully prepared IG, their chances are likely below 10%. IG might experiment with strategies and drop a game, but under normal circumstances, IG should sweep 3-0.

The BLG versus JDG match carries some uncertainty. If JDG can regain their form, this series could go the full five games. However, judging by JDG’s recent performance against LGD—where they only won two games thanks to opponent errors late in the match—JDG’s best case might be taking a single game. Even if BLG underperforms, losing seems unlikely.

Next is Top Esports versus NIP in the bottom half, which should be the least suspenseful. NIP fought a full five-game series against the bottom-ranked FPX in the Phoenix group, only clinching their playoff spot after Jiejie led a risky play in the jungle. As the regular season kings, Top Esports facing this Phoenix-level team should be an easy 3-0 victory.

The AL versus Weibo match is harder to predict. AL’s form has improved recently, but WBG is no weak team—otherwise, they would have been picked earlier. If both teams perform at their best, this could be a full five-game battle. The key will be their form on match day. If AL returns to their early third segment state, Weibo has a strong chance to win, especially if their bottom lane performs well.

In conclusion:

The playoffs officially start on the 7th, with two best-of-five matches each day for the first two days. After the schedule leaked, the organizers were heavily criticized, so IG’s and Top Esports’ matches were moved to the prime 5 PM slot. The four-day break feels quite long, but there will be an anniversary celebration on the 6th featuring Master Brother, Xu Xiu, Jin Gong, and others.

So, which four teams do you think will emerge victorious?

Feel free to leave your thoughts and join the discussion!