AL sets the second fastest BO5 record in LPL history

Following the Spring Festival break, the LPL’s playoff opening day featured two headline matches with very different storylines. JDG and TES fought through a grueling five-game series, with JDG clinching a 3-2 victory; AL, on the other hand, defeated WE 3-0 in only 74 minutes and 29 seconds, establishing the second fastest BO5 in LPL history. The fastest BO5 in LPL was SN vs LNG in 2021, lasting 73 minutes, while the third fastest was LGD vs IG in 2020, which took 74 minutes and 45 seconds.

Besides the BO5 matches, many interesting events occurred. For example, TES’s coaching staff was stuck in traffic due to the Spring Festival holiday, causing head coach Poppy to be unable to attend the BP (ban/pick) phase on site. Instead, assistant coaches bobo and Leo handled the BP. Many fans expected TES’s BP to be outclassed by tabe’s, but surprisingly, TES’s BP had few flaws and even featured some designs better than tabe’s. (TES really knows how to create surprises; having the head coach absent from BP on the first playoff day is quite unusual.)

The strongest new-generation mid laner nearly lost everything!

Although TES lost the match, their ability to push JDG to a full BO5 was unexpected by many LPL fans, especially since TES’s support, jungle, and AD carry players have low profiles in the league. Some viewers even joked that these three players are at LDL level. Before the match, many fans and casters predicted a heavy defeat for TES, but TES’s mid laner, Xiao Naiyou, proved his strength during the games. Notably, Xiao Naiyou’s performance on Azir was widely praised, with many considering him the best Azir player in the current LPL.

Due to Xiao Naiyou’s impressive performance in the BO5, many fans began to question JDG mid laner Hong Q’s individual skill, with some thinking JDG might be “the big loser” again this year since Hong Q’s current form seemed weak. However, Hong Q demonstrated his strength in games four and five, dominating Xiao Naiyou’s mid lane with Zoe and Ahri. Many Hong Q supporters argued that losing to Xiao Naiyou was due to the champion picks, and once given his preferred champions, Hong Q was not afraid of Xiao Naiyou at all.

Uzi’s sharp critique of LPL awards

Uzi, a legendary LPL player, watched the LPL playoffs live on stream and voiced a pointed question about why the award winners and coaching staff in the LPL regular season are all Korean. Before the playoffs began, the LPL held an award ceremony where AL’s jungler Tarzan received the regular season MVP, AL’s coach Helper was named the best coach, and WE’s AD carry About won the rookie of the year award.

Many LPL fans, after seeing Uzi’s criticism, lamented how heavily the LPL now relies on Korean imports. Many veteran players have retired or taken breaks, and the younger generation of domestic players is generally older than their Korean counterparts. Most LCK Koreans are born in 2007, while many LPL rookies are born in 2003. Hence, many clubs prefer to develop Korean players rather than local talent, limiting opportunities for domestic rookies. (Currently, the youngest domestic player in LPL is JDG mid laner Hong Q, who turned pro at 17 last year in CFO and just turned 18 this year to join LPL.)