Rookie's return to the stage is confirmed, LPL gets new rumors, new split format adjustments, fierce competition

Hello everyone, LPL viewers and League of Legends summoners, this is Tianxia Game Hub.

The MSI Mid-Season Invitational is about to kick off, with TES and BLG in active preparation mode. Meanwhile, on the LPL front, new rumors about the third split have surfaced.

Among these, Rookie's return is a certainty, and the LPL third split format might also undergo changes.

Rookie confirmed to return, IG starts promotion

Shortly after the end of the second split, IG quickly announced the departure of three players from the team, while also announcing The Shy's return. However, there has been no official news about Rookie yet. Nevertheless, fans have already assumed that Rookie will definitely return in the third split.

The reason is simple: as a veteran, as long as Rookie still has the ability to compete, he will basically choose to extend his career. Moreover, Rookie carries a high level of traffic. His off-stage controversies actually make discussions about IG even hotter. In the new split, both The Shy and Rookie will bring a mix of popularity and controversy.

Recently, IG's home venue also updated the player banners on the home building, with the mid-lane spot featuring Rookie, which is an early hint of his return.

Starting from the Nirvana Group is not bad for the two veterans. They can find their form, ideally go on a winning streak to build confidence, then aim for the top two in the Nirvana Group, wait for the Knight's Path promotion opportunity in the third split, and try to redeem themselves by leading the team back to the Summit Group.

It's worth noting that the name "Summit Group" is actually related to IG. As the most popular team in the LPL, returning to the Summit Group would be the most beneficial for IG.

Third split format adjustment: rankings become more important

After The Shy's return was confirmed, some viewers speculated whether the LPL should adjust the third split format, since having two superstars like The Shy and Rookie play in the Nirvana Group seems a bit beneath them. According to rumors, the LPL is indeed going to modify the third split format, but they certainly cannot give IG special treatment to return to the Summit Group, as that would be self-contradictory.

Normally, the third split format has the bottom four of the Summit Group face the top four of the Nirvana Group. However, rumors indicate that the margin for error in the third split will be smaller, with only the top two from the Nirvana Group having a chance to advance, competing with the bottom two of the Summit Group for playoff spots.

At the same time, the rules for the playoff "resurrection armor" (second chance) have also been adjusted. Teams advancing through the Knight's Path will not have the resurrection armor.

Meanwhile, the top two teams in the regular season will skip the first round and also have resurrection armor, while the middle four teams will also possess resurrection armor.

Editor

Take the second split as an example: there won't be a situation where the top regular season team, BLG, gets defeated by WE in the first round. If BLG still finishes first in the regular season in the third split, they will skip the first playoff round.

This is actually somewhat similar to the LCK, which places great importance on regular season rankings. The LPL making such adjustments is indeed more reasonable, increasing the significance of the regular season and making everyday matches more exciting.

After the format adjustment, the pressure on IG to advance becomes greater.

To be honest, if the format is adjusted this way, the pressure on IG to qualify becomes greater. Personally, I think the main difficulty lies in the internal competition within the Nirvana Group. Since WBG, NIP, and IG—three former Summit Group teams—have dropped down, the competition level in the Nirvana Group will increase significantly. Additionally, there is also a strong Nirvana Group team, LNG, making it a four-team race for the top two spots.

It's worth noting that EDG seems to be looking to strengthen their roster by acquiring players from the Nirvana Group, targeting HOYA and Bulldog. If these two transfers go through, it could weaken both NIP and LNG, giving IG a better chance to advance.

Personally, based on normal logic, the top two in the Nirvana Group should be IG and WBG. I wonder if any dark horse team will emerge in the Nirvana Group during the third split.

A bit unfortunate is that the number of matches in the Nirvana Group is relatively small; normally it's a single round-robin format. If possible, the league could change the Nirvana Group to a double round-robin, increasing the number of IG matches. This would help boost LPL viewership and allow IG to sell more home venue tickets.

In summary, the Nirvana Group in the third split this year will be the most watched ever. Everyone can look forward to it.