WE stages a deserter scene

Yesterday, the LPL wrapped up the first round of the loser's bracket. TES cleanly swept WE 3:0 to secure their advancement. The entire BO5 series saw no fierce competition, unfolding as a completely lopsided affair. WE seemed disconnected and uncoordinated in every aspect—laning, team fighting, and macro strategy—much like a random ranked game. Many viewers even speculated about internal "conflicts" within WE, as it was hard to explain why, at the start of the year, WE could take TES to a full five-game series, yet after the Spring Festival break, they were easily crushed by TES.

When WE left the stage after their defeat, a controversial scene occurred offstage: top laner Cube and captain/jungler Monki left the venue directly ("ran off") before the post-match procedures concluded, failing to bow to the audience. According to LPL official tournament rules, after being eliminated, WE's captain Monki was required to hand over the WE team emblem (emulating the format of events like the Esports World Cup where losers surrender their logos), and the entire team needed to go on stage together to thank the live audience before exiting. The post-match "dash" by the top and jungle duo left the remaining three WE players stunned.

The other three WE players, to avoid official fines, had no choice but to sit awkwardly in place until venue staff retrieved the absent top and jungle duo. Only then could the full team complete the bowing ceremony. Many viewers joked that WE were "completely dazed by TES." TES's flawless victory also sparked curiosity about their strength. Currently, TES and AL share identical playoff records: both defeated WE 3:0, then lost to JDG 2:3. (Do you think TES still has a chance to qualify for the Global Pioneer Tournament this year?)

LPL's most beloved player misses out on the Pioneer Tournament!

In recent years, DK's mid laner ShowMaker, having repeatedly lost to LPL teams in international tournaments, has been jokingly called by many viewers a prime example of "paying filial piety to the LPL," earning him a fanbase within the LPL community. Given the LPL's eight consecutive BO5 losses against the LCK last year, many fans were hoping ShowMaker would qualify for the Global Pioneer Tournament to continue "delivering warmth" to LPL teams. However, surprisingly, ShowMaker's DK team was decisively swept 3:0 by the LCK dark horse FBX in the LCK lower bracket final. This outcome left many LPL viewers, who were anticipating some "entertaining drama," feeling quite disappointed.

Throughout this BO5, ShowMaker's performance genuinely disappointed many viewers and fans. Considering that BFX's mid laner VicLa is widely regarded as the team's relatively average player, many ShowMaker supporters had hoped he would dominate VicLa and help his team secure victory. Instead, ShowMaker not only failed to suppress his opponent but was repeatedly outplayed. Beyond ShowMaker, the other four DK players also made numerous mistakes. Many viewers wondered how DK, in such a state, had managed to defeat T1 earlier.

By defeating DK, BFX also made history by reaching the LCK finals for the first time. In the post-match interview, BFX's star player Diable directly called out GEN's bot laner Ruler, stating that the LCK should be ruled by the new generation and it was time for the older players to step aside. Diable also admitted in the interview that as long as the meta favors bot lane carry champions, he feels responsible for leading his team to a championship. This confident statement impressed many LPL viewers, with some even dubbing Diable the "Korean version of Uzi."

Conclusion

The LPL playoff landscape is gradually becoming clearer, with BLG, AL, and JDG being the most likely candidates to qualify for the Global Pioneer Tournament. The LCK region has already confirmed FBX and GEN for the Global Pioneer Tournament. Which two LPL teams do you think would have the best chance of winning the championship if they participated? Can BLG, widely recognized as the LPL's strongest team, defeat LCK teams at the Pioneer Tournament?