Introduction: The S16 season is underway, and the majority of players have been paying close attention to the recent clashes. The LPL's pre-New Year games have wrapped up, producing eight quarterfinalists: AL, BLG, JDG, WBG, TES, NIP, IG, and WE. During the group draw, a humorous moment occurred as many chose relatively weaker teams. Notably, AL’s Shanks immediately selected his old team WE and even confidently stated, "If chosen, then it’s on." This has raised anticipation for the post-New Year BO5 matches, promising top-tier showdowns.

The LPL post-New Year knockout schedule has been released.

Most players are quite familiar with the LPL region. Once a top global league, the LPL has undergone significant roster changes and faced sponsor withdrawals in recent years, leading to operational challenges and even the reduction of several teams this season. The S16 first stage was restructured into three groups: Peak, Tenacity, and Rebirth. After multiple rounds and the Knight’s Journey, eight teams advanced to the knockout stage. This grouping also gave some early-qualified teams the advantage to pick their quarterfinal opponents, resulting in expected outcomes.

First, the regular season leader AL chose what appears to be the weakest team among the eight, WE. Shanks directly targeted his former team and even boldly declared during the trash talk phase: "If chosen, then it’s on." Everyone knows these are old friends, and his comment brought laughter to the whole audience. The choice seems logical—picking a team of similar strength in a BO5 knockout could lead to an early drop to the losers' bracket, which everyone wants to avoid despite the resurrection item. As expected, BLG picked NIP, also considered one of the lower-ranked teams, both having climbed from the lower ranks.

Next, the third-ranked WBG selected IG. Judging from the Peak group’s performance, IG was indeed the weakest, nearly being pushed out by the teams behind them. Fortunately, OMG gave them a chance, allowing IG to keep their playoff spot. Lastly, JDG and TES, who were left unchosen, automatically formed a matchup. Starting from the 24th, two BO5 matches will be held daily, making the post-New Year opening battles intense. However, the results likely won’t change much given the significant strength gap between the Peak group and the others.

A bold prediction for the tournament’s progression: JDG, AL, WBG, and BLG will win their first-round matches. The second round in the upper bracket is less certain, especially JDG, who swept BLG in the group stage, showing a high ceiling. If they avoid reckless plays, they have a chance to beat AL. Comparatively, the match between BLG and WBG seems less suspenseful, with BLG having a higher probability of winning. If all goes as expected, the final will likely be a showdown between AL and BLG.

Farewell thoughts.

Everyone opted for relatively weaker teams, which makes sense since the knockout stage is intense. Teams want to conserve strength and prepare their lineups for later drafts, avoiding strong opponents early on. Looking forward to the post-New Year matches—BO5 knockouts truly reveal team strength. The LCK’s knockout rounds are already highly competitive.

What do you, the audience, think about this situation?