With only two days left before the LOL Mid-Season Invitational ends, Riot has released an updated global power ranking. BLG, undefeated at MSI, tops the chart again. Following their surprise defeat to G2, T1 fell from third to fifth. G2 now holds second place, while HLE, who dropped to the losers' bracket, is third. GEN, which didn't make it to MSI, stays fourth.

Aside from BLG, the LPL teams in the top ten also include TES and AL. Despite being eliminated in two consecutive losses, TES still ranks sixth, while AL is exactly tenth. The top five rankings are fairly reasonable, but from sixth place onward, things look a bit off. A team that lost to a Vietnamese band is ranked sixth globally, which is hard to swallow—though power rankings are based on wins, so it's not entirely unreasonable.

Oner caught up in a romantic relationship

After the MSI ends, the Esports World Cup (EWC) will follow immediately, with group stage matches starting on the 15th. Teams that were eliminated from MSI but qualified for EWC are already preparing. However, T1's jungler Oner doesn't seem to be focusing on reviewing and training—he's been spotted going on dates with his girlfriend. T1 fans recently dug up his girlfriend's Instagram; she posted a story on the 10th showing Oner giving her flowers and spending time with her on her birthday.

A birthday celebration might be understandable, but fans later noticed that in a behind-the-scenes video from T1's MSI, Oner told his teammates he had a date the day before a match. Being a "sports student" kind of player, his mind wasn't on the game when it mattered. Coupled with his failure to make the Asian Games roster, it's no wonder his performance at MSI has been inconsistent.

A Korean coach criticizes LPL players

LCK world champion coach Edgar recently gave an interview to Korean media, where he extensively discussed the differences between the LPL and LCK. Coach Edgar said the biggest distinction between the two regions lies in player mentality and will to win. During post-match reviews, Chinese players rarely have conflicting opinions—most are content with their current situation. They seem satisfied with their salaries and lifestyle, lacking the motivation to push harder.

Edgar added, however, that he hasn't experienced a top-tier team like BLG, so he's not entirely sure about their situation. But he believes that mid-to-low tier teams generally have this kind of atmosphere. If a team's players don't clash during reviews, they definitely aren't focused on winning. What he said is indeed true—LPL teams that have been stuck in the lower ranks for years lack ambition. Still, top-tier teams are different.

369's blunt take on Doran: mental issues

During the MSI match between the West and the East, content creator Zz1tai invited two former top laners from TES, Wayward and 369, to his livestream. Since 369 had previously promised to sing "Sudden Top Spin" in front of 369, Zz1tai actually played the song during a break and sang it in front of both TES top laners. 369 and Wayward covered their mouths, not daring to laugh. However, as they left, Zz1tai revealed that the two were secretly singing along.

While casting the game, 369 also gave a harsh critique of Doran. He said Doran has real skill but a mental issue that makes him prone to going crazy. He always tries to do high-difficulty things, like solo-killing his opponent, but eventually realizes he doesn't have the ability. 369's comments almost sounded like self-criticism—his own performance on carries is sometimes decent but often disappointing, yet he still picks those kinds of champions.

Conclusion:

Coach Edgar recently left LNG, so his words carry weight. Among LPL mid-to-low tier teams, only WE seems to have players with fighting spirit. Teams like TT and OMG, which have been stuck in mediocrity for years, have players who basically coast along. There are very few players who want to prove themselves in a weak team and then move to a strong one through sheer skill.

So, do you think 369's assessment of Doran is accurate?

Feel free to leave a comment to discuss!