The group stage of the League of Legends Asia Invitational has finished. On the last day, BFX dominated MVKE for their third consecutive win, standing as the sole undefeated team. At the same time, DK quickly secured a 2-0 victory over GAM, earning the third spot in the knockout stage. Lastly, NS defeated NIP in just two games to move on to the playoffs, finalizing the four semifinalists.

All three LCK teams made it to the playoffs, while from our region, only the all-Chinese roster WBG advanced. Both NIP and JDG were eliminated. Although this is slightly better than the complete wipeout of LCP, the outcome still surprised many fans. JDG, seeded fifth, lost not only to DK but also unexpectedly to GAM. Even with a one-point concession, WBG ultimately failed to reach the playoffs.

NIP’s elimination was somewhat expected since they finished last in the playoffs. Despite their efforts in training, the team’s potential ceiling is limited, making it too difficult to beat LCK teams. After the semifinals were set, the two groups face off in the knockout stage: WBG, first in Group A, will play NS, second in Group B; BFX, first in Group B, will face DK, second in Group A. With the LCK’s three teams surrounding WBG, no matter how it goes, WBG is guaranteed at least second place.

The playoffs follow a double-elimination format. For WBG to win the championship, they need to win three consecutive matches at minimum. If they slip up, they will drop to the losers' bracket and face elimination risk. Judging by their international performance, WBG’s strength and form are quite reliable. Since they managed to sweep the strongest team DK, facing the other two weaker teams should pose little pressure. Personally, I think their chances of winning the title are quite high.

The first playoff match against NS, considered the weakest among the three LCK teams, should be manageable for WBG. Although it’s an entertainment tournament, so far only one LPL team remains, relying on the veteran player “Tigerman” to defend the honor. The eliminated JDG and NIP performed so poorly even in this fun event that, barring surprises, they will likely disband and reorganize next year.

With a world champion mid laner, a top-tier LCK AD carry, and the capable Xun, JDG’s roster looks strong on paper. However, the team chemistry seems completely lacking. Since Scout’s form declined, the others appear to have lost their game sense. Xun has been lost in the jungle with no rhythm, and Peyz’s performance fluctuates wildly, losing the reliable backup ability he showed in the first split.

Blue Lotus must be frustrated seeing JDG get swept by GAM. After spending tens of millions to build a Korean-import dual-C lineup, the result was a team full of “salary scammers.” The strangest part is that JDG even advanced salary payments to their juniors. With this situation, it’s unlikely JDG will be able to replace their mid laner next year. It’s recommended that Peyz quickly pack up and return to LCK or join a team with a stronger mid laner.

NIP’s disbandment is almost certain. During a livestream, Doinb clearly stated he won’t compete next year. His comeback was mainly for streaming popularity, and now that his goal is achieved, there’s no need to continue playing. The key issue is Doinb’s current skill level, which barely qualifies as casual play, and sometimes he can’t even manage that. Staying on the competitive scene risks damaging his legacy.

Conclusion:

After watching the Invitational, confidence in IG’s chances against T1 in the qualifiers has decreased. JDG had close matches with IG during the bubble stage, but now even the fifth seed DK can’t beat them. Since T1 is stronger than DK by a good margin, IG’s path to victory looks quite difficult. Hopefully, the recent Korean bootcamp has produced some improvements.

So, what do you think? Can Xiaohu lead a comeback for LCK to win the championship?

Feel free to leave your thoughts and join the discussion!