Only four BO5 matches remain in the LPL third-split playoffs. Last matchday saw the losers' bracket second round kick off, where IG defeated WE 3-1 in just four games. IG's whole team was performing at a high level, with Rookie standing out—even in the lost game, his mid-lane play was solid. For WE, the mid laner gave his best, but the rest of the team failed to provide support.

Cube was dominated by TheShy in all four games—he couldn't hold his own with tanks or deal damage with fighters. The top lane gap was really significant. If Cube had played better, WE could have taken IG to a full BO5. Despite finishing in sixth place, WE still have a chance at the World Championship, and they are likely to start from the winners' bracket of the Regional Finals. Among the three teams already in the gauntlet, WE's championship points are higher than JDG's, putting them in second place.

Both LGD and IG need to finish in the top two to surpass 85 points, so WE holds a solid advantage in the Regional Finals. The other match on the same day was LGD versus NIP, which went the full five games. LGD ultimately won and advanced to the semifinals to face IG. NIP's journey this split is truly bittersweet: they went 6-0 undefeated in the Resurrection Group, and also won in the Knight's Path and the first playoff round.

Across the entire split, NIP achieved an eight-game winning streak. However, due to the format, teams coming up through the Knight's Path must start from the losers' bracket, leaving NIP with zero margin for error—one loss and they're out of the World Championship race. Moreover, NIP only has 20 championship points, so they don't even qualify for the Demacia Cup. If the format were still the same as before, giving NIP some buffer, they would have had a real chance at a Regional Finals spot.

Of course, blaming only the format is a bit unfair. Other teams earned their higher World Championship points by performing well in the first two splits. If NIP hadn't fallen into the losers' bracket in the second split, they could have started from the winners' bracket with a BO5 buffer. So qualification for the World Championship or the Regional Finals depends on performance throughout the entire year. Being good for a short while isn't enough; consistency is key.

IG, who have already made it to the semifinals, are in the same situation as NIP. They will be eliminated with a single loss as well. The upcoming losers' bracket third round is a do-or-die match between LGD and IG. The winner will secure a Regional Finals spot. IG's form in the last two games has been slightly better than LGD's, but LGD is highly resilient. Their mid laner, jungler, and support are on par with IG's. If Heng plays well, LGD has a chance to win.

Tangyuan has truly stepped up this season. He plays traditional mages and assassins with good structure. The team's only weak link now is the bot lane's "Young Master" (AD carry). In winning games, he occasionally carries, but in losses, the problems mostly come from him. Crisp (Si Shao) is in such good form but still can't carry the AD. Against IG, the bot lane could be a breakthrough point. However, IG also has issues—TheShy's recent form has been unstable.

Cube has consistently been a "pushover" for TheShy for years, so facing him doesn't reveal much. Earlier, when going up against Zuian, the top lane was breached several times, and IG only won against TES because his teammates held the fort in the mid-game. The young foreign player Burdol is slightly weaker than Zuian but stronger than Cube. If LGD targets the top lane, they might create a breakthrough, so TheShy needs to stay steady.

Conclusion:

Before the playoffs began, no one expected that the 3rd to 5th place teams in the Summit Group would all miss the semifinals, while the 6th-placed LGD advanced. In the current LPL, apart from AL and BLG, the gap between other teams seems small. It's unclear whether they are all strong teams or just mediocre teams spinning their wheels.

So, do you think NIP's elimination is a pity?

Feel free to leave your comments and discuss!