LoL Worlds 2024: DK-LNG, A Dragon's Path to the Quarterfinals

The excitement of Worlds 2024 continues as the Swiss Stage enters Round 3. Only one of the 16 teams will claim the title of League of Legends Season 14 World Champion, and Sheep Esports is here every day with insights on the day's key matchups. Today, we turn our attention to the clash between Dplus KIA and LNG Esports.

Both teams are battling to secure their place in the quarterfinals after winning their two firsts matches. Dplus KIA, after a strong showing against Fnatic and FlyQuest, is eager to prove their level and erase last year's humiliation on the international stage. Meanwhile, LNG, one of the LPL's top contenders, is determined to carry its momentum forward after surprisingly taking out BiliBili Gaming this Friday. This time, with the match played as a best-of-three for qualification, we're guaranteed to see draft adaptations and evolving strategies from both teams as they battle for a spot in the next stage.

This matchup between Dplus KIA and LNG marks the fourth clash between LPL and LCK teams in this tournament. Both teams come into this game as the third seed from their respective regions, having fought their way through fierce competition in the regional finals. Despite their shared status as third seeds, the two teams have had contrasting performances so far.

Dplus KIA has had a mixed run, benefiting from a favorable draw but struggling against both Fnatic and FlyQuest. While they’ve shown their ability to capitalize on their opponent’s mistakes, they've also revealed a worrying tendency to make significant errors of their own. LNG, on the other hand, carries strong momentum into this match. Known for their more passive style, they also showed difficulty during Game 1 against Team Liquid, but turned things around with an excellent draft against BLG. Giving Lee "Scout" Ye-chan Yone was a masterstroke, securing a convincing 2-0 win. Despite lingering concerns about team synergy due to recent issues surrounding Scout's situation, LNG has proven they can rely on their exceptional individual talent to carry them through tough moments.

This series promises a bloodbath. Dplus KIA’s early-game aggression has been a hallmark of their play so far, while LNG's strategy hinges on passive laning performances to scale into the late game. If Damwon can secure an early lead and cleanly transition it into midgame dominance without too many mistakes, they could suffocate LNG and secure their spot in the next stage. But LNG’s individual brilliance and drafting prowess make them a dangerous opponent. For Dplus KIA, banning champions like Yone and Rumble could be crucial to disrupting LNG's comfort zone and forcing them to adapt.

Heo "ShowMaker" Su and Scout are set to clash in the midlane once again. Their only previous meeting was during the 2021 Worlds grand final, where Scout led EDG to a 3-2 victory over Showmaker's Damwon, denying him a second consecutive title and cementing his own legacy. This time, however, with Zoe absent from the meta, Scout will need to rely on other champions from his extensive arsenal to secure the win. Although the stakes aren’t as high as a World final, with qualification, pride, and immense pressure at play, this showdown promises to be just as intense, with both midlaners likely to go all out and showcase their mechanics.

Chen "GALA" Wei has also been the most reliable force for LNG, though his playstyle has leaned heavily toward a more defensive approach, as seen in his picks of Jhin and Ashe so far. On the other side, Kim "Aiming" Ha-ram has shown solid consistency while not delivering standout performances, though he’s faced some minor difficulties along the way. Wei "Weiwei" Bo-Han seems to have his first reference game, as he was put in the center of LNG's composition with Nocturne against BLG. Choi "Lucid" Yong-hyeok will surely have a tough opponent to match in this Saturday's match.

As usual, the series is scheduled to begin at 2 PM CET, followed by a rematch of the LCK Summer Final featuring Gen.G and HLE.