Is JKL Still the King ADC of LPL?

In the second stage of LPL, there is a dark horse team that has successively crushed WBG, JDG, and BLG to secure a top-three position in LPL, and this team is NIP. Many viewers are now looking forward to NIP's future performances, especially their ADC player Assam. With his extremely aggressive lane pressure during matches, he has consecutively lane-killed star players like ELK, GALA, and viper, earning him the title "New Generation Uzi" among many LPL fans. Some even believe Assam qualifies as a candidate for the "Asian Games ADC."

Of course, many viewers also think whether Assam can make it to the Asian Games depends on the matchup between NIP and TES. After all, JKL enjoys high popularity and skill in LPL. If Assam cannot defeat JKL head-on, he might miss the Asian Games. Thus, the NIP vs. TES match attracted a huge audience and discussion among LOL fans, but something unexpected happened: Assam, hailed as the "New Generation Uzi," was utterly outplayed by JKL in lane.

In the first game, Assam, playing Lucian with an advantage, repeatedly walked into the control skills of TES's top laner Langmu and support Salefenni. In the second game, using the duo of Corki and Nami, he was lane-killed by JKL's Yuna and Lulu. Moreover, the aspects viewers most focused on—Assam's teamfight execution and damage output—were completely overshadowed by JKL. After seeing Assam being comprehensively suppressed by JKL, many fans marveled at how well JKL has maintained his form. Counting from S8 to now, he has been playing professionally for nearly eight years. Every season, new "talented ADCs" emerge to challenge JKL, yet through all these years, JKL remains a top-tier ADC in LPL.

12-Game Winning Streak Due to Luck?

After TES defeated NIP, TES achieved a 6-match winning streak in major games and a 12-game winning streak in minor games. In the post-match interview, the LPL host asked TES coach Bob about his thoughts on TES's 12-game winning streak. Coach Bob stated that TES's 12-win streak is due to the players' hard work, but he also believes there is a significant element of luck involved. Coach Bob feels TES still has many shortcomings and deficiencies in mid-game macro play, often losing resources during mid-game operations.

During the match against NIP, TES was exposed to many weaknesses by NIP in the mid-game. For TES to improve, they must fix these bad habits. Coach Bob thinks TES's victory over NIP relied more on the team's refined teamfight execution. Many viewers believe that with the replacement of top laner 369, TES's teamfight mechanics have become much stronger than before. Especially Zuian's champion pool surprises many fans. Initially, many thought Zuian only played Jayce and Gnar, but as matches progressed, viewers discovered Zuian has a deep champion pool, even pulling out niche top laners like Blind Monk and Vayne.

Outside the TES vs. NIP match, an amusing "cross-space interaction" took place. TES jungler Tian posted a photo of a shoe sole on social media after the match, captioning it with a shout to NIP support Zhuo: "Generate a face for me." This is actually Tian making a playful reference. Previously, Zhuo joked in an interview that his "face is so thick it can pierce through BLG players' shoe soles." So, after defeating Zhuo, Tian posted to tease him. Zhuo quickly appeared in Tian's comment section, replying: "Such a thick sole, Brother Tian."

Conclusion

TES's 12-game winning streak indeed surprised many viewers. Who would have thought that after captain 369 left the team, TES's performance would keep improving? Do you think TES can win the second stage championship this year? Of course, many viewers also consider TES a regular-season king, believing that once TES enters playoffs, they will reveal their true limitations. Where do you think TES's current strength ranks among LPL teams?