The cream has risen to the top in the Chinese region as the LPL Spring session has continued over the past couple of weeks. Royal Never Give Up and EDward Gaming were seeded as the two top tier teams entering the session and this has largely proven true, with a couple of other interesting developments.
RNG dominate Group A
Royal Never Give Up have ascended to the top of the LPL with a 7-1 series score, giving them sole possession of first place in both Group A and the overall standings.
In one of the most anticipated matches of the season, RNG squared off against perennial top team EDward Gaming with first place on the line in Week 4.
In the first game RNG and EDG were all tied up at 5-5 in kills and 39,000 in gold on 24 minutes before a misstep led to EDG’s eventual demise. EDward Gaming jungler Fireloli went for a pick onto RNG’s mid-laner Xiaohu, but not only did Xiaohu escape death (via LetMe’s Shen ultimate), but RNG superstar AD carry player Uzi picked up the double kill on Ezreal (taking down both Fireloli and Zet). This was the edge RNG needed, allowing them to pick up the baron and snowball the game for victory.
In game two Uzi once again shone, this time on the rarely seen Tristana. This was the first play of Tristana in the LPL this season and Uzi put on an absolute show. Picking up where he left off in the first game, Uzi completely dominated EDG, securing five kills within the first 10 minutes of the game. EDward Gaming regained their composure, however, allowing them to keep the game close until 34 minutes in.
EDward Gaming then went for a 5 v 2 dive underneath RNG’s second middle turret, but it turned out horribly wrong. Royal Never Give Up collapsed in time, allowing them the ace for only one member lost, giving themselves the victory. The 2-0 series win was an incredibly impressive performance for RNG, showing they are the team to beat in the LPL.
Team World Elite living up to their name
The surprise of the LPL Spring so far has to be Team World Elite as they sit tied atop Group B with EDward Gaming with an impressive 6-2 match score. After starting off the year 1-2, World Elite have pulled off five series victories in a row, with the latest coming against IMay in Week 5.
In the first game against IMay, World Elite played Karma in the mid-lane; something not many other teams are willing to do as she’s seen almost exclusively in the Support role.
The game remained fairly close overall until IMay top-laner AmazingJ was picked off in the bottom lane. Team WE then dove IMay’s tier two turret, giving them two turrets, the inhibitor and three more kills. The gold lead then ballooned for Team WE, reaching upwards of 8,000 gold just 22 minutes into the game. However IMay fought back, winning fight after fight while severely down in gold, eventually allowing them to surpass Team WE by 2,000.
IMay won a team fight at the 48 minute mark 4-0 but made the crucial mistake of attempting to end the game. Multiple members of Team WE spawned in time to defend the nexus, allowing them to pick up their own 4-0 and give themselves the incredible back and forth victory.
Game two was a complete slaughter in favour of World Elite as they dominated from the get-go. Team WE were up 4-1 in kills at 22 minutes before a team fight netted them 4 more kills and the incredibly early baron. Team WE then won one more fight before pushing for the victory in an astounding 26 minutes.
Still all to play for
IMay’s defeat left them tied for second in Group A along with Invictus Gaming and Snake Esports with an even 4-4 record. Meanwhile over in Group B the Qiao Gu Reapers with excellent play from mid-laner Doinb are in third, one point behind Edward Gaming and Team WE.
