The LPL third stage playoffs are almost over. Last game day, the winners' bracket final started, with the top team BLG and the second-tier AL fighting for the final spot. Everyone thought it would be a close match, but BLG delivered a clean 3-0 shutout, sending AL to the losers' bracket. The gap between these two "kings" is so large that it looks like BLG has no equal in the LPL.

AL's performance in this BO5 was quite strange. In the first game, they were completely shut out by BLG, failing to get a single kill in the 31-minute match, ending with a 20-0 kill ratio. BLG was really ruthless; even when they had a 10,000 gold lead, they remained steady and didn't give AL any chance. It seemed the players were determined to give AL a shutout, probably to boost Saint Gun's reputation.

In the second game, AL had a chance to win. They led by 2K gold at 20 minutes and had the dragon soul point. But during the dragon soul team fight, Hope was possessed by ELK, diving in with E and getting chunked, losing the chance to contest the soul. Breathing saw Hope's mistake and couldn't resist, suddenly flashing with W to engage, and then giving away the Baron. The situation completely reversed. In the final decisive team fight, the top laner and ADC were out of sync, leading to a wipeout and losing the match point.

In the decider, AL completely lost their minds, even their draft became bizarre. With Bin locking in Olaf first, Breathing actually chose Nasus. When he locked it, Tarzan couldn't help but laugh. During the laning phase, Nasus was useless; to stack Q, he had to last-hit, and Bin simply ignored him, greedily taking plates. While the top lane was at a disadvantage, the bottom lane was crushed in lane. BLG just rolled over them and won the game easily.

The top lane was choked, the bottom lane was hopeless - these two were really terrible in this match. As a top laner once compared to Bin, Breathing gets a good job every year, but he always loses to Bin. According to viewers' statistics, Bin has a 100% win rate against Breathing in BO5s; they have faced each other in 10 BO5s, and Breathing lost all of them. Not only did he lose all series, but he only won 3 games in total. So who is it that keeps hyping up Breathing?

I won't comment on Hope. My view remains the same: if AL doesn't change their AD, they will never reach their full potential, and their international performance is predictable. After BLG made it to the finals, if they win the next match, they will take the championship and secure the first seed. Looking at the strength of the remaining three teams, BLG's title win seems inevitable. This team's strength is on a different level in the LPL, with no challenger in sight.

After AL fell to the losers' bracket, their next opponent will be the winner of IG vs. LGD. Based on the performance in this BO5, either IG or LGD has a chance to reach the finals. If they study BLG's playstyle carefully, they have a decent chance to win. However, AL's second seed is basically secured, because in the current LPL, there is only BLG and other teams. The remaining three teams should all be unable to beat BLG.

AL now has at least third place in the league and has earned 80 World Championship points, totaling 130 points. IG and LGD only have 10 and 15 points from the first two stages. Even if they get second place and add 110 points, they can't surpass AL. So as long as BLG wins the championship, AL will secure the second seed. Of course, it's not impossible that AL could win two consecutive games to claim the championship and the first seed, but the possibility is extremely low.

Conclusion:

A 31-minute match with zero kills - AL is the first team to achieve such a record in these playoffs. If even the "Little King" of the LPL is only this strong, then it seems we can only rely on BLG at this year's World Championship. The gap between strong and weak teams in the LCK is not as wide as in our region. It feels like we might get spun around like a top at Worlds this year.

So, what do you think? Can AL get revenge on BLG?

Feel free to leave a comment and discuss!