An unexpected storyline unfolded in the LPL as IG avoided facing Doinb in the first round, with TES making the first move, raising hopes for a perfect match.

Hello to all LPL viewers and League of Legends summoners, this is Tianxia Game Exchange.

The LPL Pro League finished all Knights' Path matches today, and the eight teams qualifying for the playoffs have been confirmed. By rule, the top-ranked teams choose their opponents in sequence.

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The expected blockbuster first-round match did not take place; rather, the second round could feature some thrilling encounters.

Unexpected twist in the LPL: IG avoids Doinb

First, a brief overview of the Knights' Path: four teams advanced, two from the Summit group—WBG and JDG—and two from the Nirvana group—NIP and EDG. In the Nirvana group, NIP ranked first and EDG second.

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Typically, the top four teams would prioritize selecting opponents from the Nirvana group, as those teams are generally considered easier to face. TES holds the first pick as the top-ranked team, followed by IG, then BLG and AL.

This led many to expect a set of matchups where TES would likely choose EDG as their opponent, since EDG is second in the Nirvana group and assumed to be the weakest among the bottom four teams. Consequently, IG would likely face NIP, setting up a high-profile clash in the LPL's first round.

Earlier this year, IG formed a full-strength roster but was defeated by NIP, who had Doinb returning to the scene, even suffering a double loss later. Although IG eventually avenged one loss, fans were eager to see a rematch between the two champion mid-laners, Doinb and Rookie. However, in an unexpected turn, IG managed to avoid facing NIP.

TES makes the first move, choosing to face NIP

The only way IG could avoid NIP is if TES, as the first team to pick, selected NIP as their opponent. Indeed, JKL stepped up first during the selection phase and chose NIP for the first round, leaving IG to naturally pick EDG.

In an interview, Doinb mentioned TES might have picked NIP due to a favorable head-to-head record, but this time NIP intends to prove themselves.

It’s clear Doinb was somewhat surprised by JKL’s decision to pick them.

Thus, the four matchups are TES vs. NIP, IG vs. EDG, BLG vs. JDG, and AL vs. WBG. The most anticipated battle is definitely TES against NIP, as it pits the Summit group’s top team against the Nirvana group’s leader—a scenario not seen since the LPL format overhaul.

Whether the Nirvana group’s first can challenge the Summit group’s best will be revealed on September 7th.

Among the other matchups, IG naturally draws a lot of attention, and AL vs. WBG is considered the closest in strength. Objectively, however, there is still a noticeable skill gap in all four matches.

Exciting potential clashes in the second round

It’s important to note that the highly anticipated IG vs. NIP battle won’t happen in the first round, but it could occur in the second round depending on how the brackets unfold. If both NIP and WBG lose their initial matches, they will face each other in round two.

This "golden duo" will meet again, with Xiaotian going up against Doinb. Many fans jokingly say this match will decide who will organize whose retirement ceremony.

Some speculate that JKL chose NIP partly to aid IG and partly to witness the "golden duo" face off. Personally, I believe a TES vs. NIP matchup is very likely. Despite TES having some internal issues, they still hold a strong advantage over NIP, possibly resulting in a one-sided contest.

Then the focus will shift to the losers' bracket, where the competition can often be even more intense than the winners' bracket. The playoffs officially start on September 7th, with one match per day. This event is the highlight of the year, with the only LPL championship and four spots for the World Championship on the line, along with many other mysteries waiting to be revealed.