After WE defeated BLG in the first round of the playoffs, fans across the internet praised WE as the biggest dark horse in the LPL playoffs. However, some viewers believe that WE only won against BLG due to luck. If BLG hadn't "thrown" during the match, WE wouldn't have been a match for them. In fact, many fans even joked that it would be a success for WE to win just one small game against AL, since AL is known for their strategic play, while WE's chaotic fighting style is naturally countered by AL.

But what surprised many WE fans was that in the crucial match against AL, WE easily crushed AL 3-0. The so-called "full-series champions" AL never even got to see WE's base turrets. Many viewers commented that the LPL has truly changed, and after the match, the topic "WE, are you going to ruin the LPL?" even made it onto the trending list. It's worth noting that BLG and AL both spent tens of millions during the LPL transfer period, while WE's entire roster is "minimum salary." According to insiders, the total value of all WE players and staff combined does not exceed 3 million.

After WE's victory, WE captain MONKI publicly called out TES in a post-match video: "MONKI hopes TES will take WE's strength seriously, because winning against BLG and AL was not luck but skill." Later, MONKI also posted online, stating that WE's "Black Eight Miracle" was achieved thanks to the support of teammates and fans, and that WE will go even further in the future. (If WE can defeat TES in the winners' bracket final, they will directly qualify for MSI. Do you think WE can win?)

Coach Dawei's interview sparks dissatisfaction among AL fans

After AL's unfortunate loss to WE, AL coach Dawei accepted an interview with the host. During the interview, the host asked whether AL's defeat was due to underestimating their opponent. Dawei replied that all AL members had taken the match very seriously and that he had spent a long time studying WE. However, after the match, he realized"his research direction was wrong, and he will thoroughly review the match in the future." (Who would have thought that two of the top four teams in the Summit Group—JDG, BLG, and AL—would miss out on MSI?)

AL coach Dawei's interview comments caused many AL fans to break down, considering that the rising-from-the-ashes LNG managed to take WE to a full BO5, while AL, after studying WE for a long time, was swept by them. Personally, I think AL coach Dawei really had a problem with his draft, especially in the second game, where he let WE pick all their signature champions. It's hard to imagine WE having a lineup in one game of jungle Rakan, support Neeko, Ezreal, and top lane Cube's Sion.

Besides coach Dawei's post-match interview sparking controversy, AL's manager Aixiao was also teased by LPL viewers after the match. After WE beat BLG, Aixiao once commented on Cube's personal social media, calling him "the world's best top laner." But today, after WE swept AL, Aixiao quietly deleted that comment. Honestly, Aixiao really likes to stir things up, and he's a classic "glass cannon"—as soon as a boomerang comes back, he immediately deletes and runs.

Conclusion

WE proved their strength through two BO5 series. It's fair to say that BO3 and BO5 are entirely different formats. In the regular season BO3, WE went 1-13 and was criticized as being worse than the Rising Group teams, but in the playoffs, they easily defeated two major organizations. Next, WE will face TES in the winners' bracket final. Do you think WE can create another Black Eight Miracle? Personally, I really want to see Cube go up against Zeus and MONKI face Kanavi.