Over the past decade, China has firmly established itself at the pinnacle of the Esports ecosystem in League of Legends. The Riot Games MOBA, which enjoys immense success in the Middle Kingdom, has rapidly evolved into the equivalent of a traditional sport there, followed by millions of fans with some teams even having their own stadiums for several years.
However, the League of Legends Pro League, China's elite, has not always excelled in terms of performance. Long overshadowed by its Korean rival, China mostly settled for consolation prizes during the game's early years, far from the level already achieved by the masters of the LCK.
WBG, BLG, JDG, LNG: the four Chinese teams qualified for Worlds are ready to battle it out, each with their own style and expectations.
Nonetheless, this trend seems to be reversing more and more over the last five years. Since 2018, seven out of the ten international competitions held were clinched by Chinese teams, while only two went to Korean teams. China particularly leads this ranking because it has become a specialist in the MSI, the Mid-Season-Invitational, which has eluded LCK teams since 2017.
However, in the ultimate competition, the debate remains wide open. While the LPL secured Worlds victories in 2018 through Invictus Gaming, in 2019 with FunPlus Phoenix, and in 2021 via EDward Gaming, DAMWON Gaming's dominant triumph in 2020 almost overshadowed the Chinese victories. Moreover, the 2022 edition favored Korea. As China came fully equipped to reclaim the title, Korea utterly dominated the competition, eliminating all Chinese teams and sending three of its four representatives to the semi-finals. This was déjà vu from 2021 when EDG managed to triumph over Gen.G in the semi-finals and DWG KIA in the grand finale. This time, JD Gaming failed to replicate the feat and was eliminated without putting up much resistance against T1 in semis.
This year, China approaches Worlds with a single goal: to exact revenge, and they have geared up accordingly. At MSI, the LPL not only placed one but two teams in the finals. BLG consecutively ousted T1 and GENG before succumbing to JDG. Furthermore, the four Chinese powerhouses engaged in impressive battles throughout the season, in an intensely competitive league, possibly the toughest to conquer in the world. This positions them as favorites at Worlds, a status they intend to embrace fully.
Weibo Gaming, the Unpredictable Force
Certainly not the favorites at the outset of these Worlds, Weibo Gaming's qualification for the premier League of Legends competition has caught many by surprise. Yet, the team assembled by the Chinese social media giant would make any fan's dreams come true, Kang "TheShy" Seung-lok, Li "Xiaohu" Yuan-Hao, Liu "Crisp" Qing-Song. These three names alone carry significant weight both in the LPL and on the international stage, boasting 2 world championships, 3 MSI titles, and 7 LPL championships – an impressive track record.
Despite this, Weibo did not sail smoothly throughout the season. The team was marked by inconsistency and unpredictability. Capable of delivering the best and the worst, Weibo struggled to maintain a consistently high level throughout the year, but shone during several phases where the team seemed unstoppable.
The Spring 2023 Season serves as a prime example of this. Early in the season, when JDG already displayed an impressive dominance in the league, WBG halted them in their tracks by securing an impressive BO3 victory, completely outclassing a bewildered JDG. However, just three days later, Weibo suffered a heavy defeat against ThunderTalk Gaming, a mid-table team.
Weibo Gaming has experienced quite a journey throughout the season but ultimately secured its qualification for Worlds 2023.
This pattern repeated itself several times throughout the year, with Weibo achieving impressive victories against stronger opponents, only to lose to seemingly less formidable adversaries. It's partly this inconsistency, and more importantly, the ability to be decisive in critical moments that allows the team to be the only one globally with a flawless record against JDG!
But if Weibo had some shining moments in the early Spring, the same couldn't be said for the playoffs. Facing Bilibili Gaming, on a fantastic comeback journey, Weibo was dismantled by Zeng "Yagao" Qi and his team, with a 3-0 defeat, without ever truly making a mark in the match.
The team's primary weakness was particularly exposed that day: Hung "Karsa" Hao-Hsuan, the jungle veteran, didn't quite meet expectations throughout the season. Worse yet, he was often the reason for Weibo's losses and the team's general inconsistency, frequently finding himself in trouble early in the game.
It's only logical that the Taiwanese player was replaced for the Summer, by a player few fans expected to see on a star-studded team. Wei "Weiwei" Bo-Han arrived at Weibo in a somewhat unheralded fashion after spending Spring in SoloQ, far from the LPL and any competition. However, upon his arrival, the 23-year-old jungler expertly stabilized his new team's gameplay. Nearly unstoppable on his Vi, he allowed his teammates to shine more easily by putting them in ideal conditions, something Karsa couldn't consistently achieve.
Karsa wasn't the only inconsistent player on the team. TheShy made a name for himself primarily due to this instability, capable of historic and unique performances, but also prone to sabotaging his team with a multitude of errors unworthy of his level and experience. While many remember TheShy as the top laner who triumphed in the 2018 World Championship, he has somewhat transformed since then, becoming more of a tank-oriented and support-focused top laner for his team, although he still occasionally showcases exotic champion picks here and there.
However, what has always defined TheShy as a brilliant player remains intact: his constant desire to dominate the laning phase. Regardless of his champion, he consistently pushes forward, often resulting in numerous deaths when the opposing jungler intervenes.
Back at Worlds for the first time since 2019, TheShy has changed significantly, but his sense of showmanship and aggressiveness remain intact.
Fortunately, the legendary top laner can rely on suitable teammates: Weiwei, and also Wang "Light" Guang-Yu, one of the most stable ADCs globally, renowned for his minimal number of deaths and impressive teamfight control.
This stability, combined with the decisive abilities of players such as Xiaohu, Crisp, and TheShy, enabled Weibo to be more competitive in the Summer Playoffs. They easily defeated NIP 3-1 before losing to one of the tournament favorites, LNG, in a thrilling 3-2 match.
The mission was accomplished, though. Weibo secured its place in the Regional Finals, where the last Worlds spots were up for grabs. Facing the daunting task of winning two BO5s against Top Esports and EDward Gaming, WBG appeared as the underdogs. This was when the team's true potential shone, particularly thanks to TheShy and Xiaohu, who delivered exceptional performances in these two crucial matches.
A surprising 3-2 victory against TES and a 3-1 win against EDG secured Weibo's qualification for Worlds, defying the expectations of many who believed their opponents would prevail. At Worlds, they must replicate the form displayed during the Regional Finals if they hope to go far. Weibo arrives with a unique status, often considered the weakest of the Asian teams at the World Championship.
Above all, they must not fall prey to their old demons, as the new Worlds format could quickly punish a team like Weibo that struggles with consistency. In a Worlds edition where the entire West will be closely watching every misstep of Asian teams, Weibo must perform at their best right from the start to live up to their players' illustrious achievements. Nevertheless, once again, they are the only team with an unblemished record against the current world's best team...
TheShy's statistics in comparison to the LPL toplane in 2023
LNG Esports, the Main Underdog?
While there may be some doubts about Weibo's ambitions and objectives at these Worlds, given its instability, there are no such doubts regarding LNG. The team likely arrives as the primary underdog of the competition, capable of defeating anyone and potentially claiming the title on November 19th without causing a major surprise to anyone.
Why does LNG, entering as the 3rd Chinese seed at Worlds, seem capable of being such strong contenders? The team underwent remarkable growth throughout the season, peaking during the Summer Playoffs, where LNG came close to topping the best team in the world on two occasions.
However, this wasn't necessarily their destiny at the start of the year. After the failure of a superteam around 2019 World Champion Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang last year, LNG decided to rebuild for 2023, retaining only Lee "Tarzan" Seung-yong on the roster.
By starting nearly from scratch with a project centered around Tarzan (on the left) and Scout (on the right), LNG has achieved the best season in its history.
Alongside Tarzan, LNG had the fortune of recruiting one of the world's best players in recent years, who decided to leave his team after 7 years: 2021 World Champion Lee "Scout" Ye-chan. Surrounding this formidable Korean duo, LNG opted for the exuberance of youth by recruiting Tang "Zika" Hua-Yu, Fu "Hang" Ming-Hang, and Li "LP" Fei, all in their second, second, and first year of the LPL, respectively. Three highly promising rookies, mentored by two role models in their positions, viewed as global references. In short, a team worth keeping a close eye on.
This became even more evident when LNG joined the ranks of the elite, competing with the top teams in the LPL, JDG, and EDG, throughout the regular season, finishing in a three-way tie at the top of the standings. Scout, in particular, delivered stellar performances, leading a very young team to the summit of the world's most competitive league and earning a well-deserved MVP award.
However, the honeymoon came to an end in the playoffs. Falling to OMG, Scout and his teammates couldn't withstand the relentless onslaught of the rising team and ultimately lost 3-1, falling short of expectations. Following this disappointing result, and an enticing opportunity presented by RNG, another team that struggled in the playoffs, LNG decided to make a decisive change for the rest of their year.
Arriving in the middle of the season, GALA transformed LNG into a formidable team, capable of defeating anyone, even the best team in the world.
The prodigy Chen "GALA" Wei, trapped in an underperforming RNG team, thus signed with LNG, replacing LP, identified as the team's weak link due to his inconsistency. LNG has just pulled off the move of the transfer market, adding one of the world's best ADCs to a roster that already includes one of the best mid-laners and a world-class jungler. With this trio in place, LNG strides into the Summer with confidence, especially as these stars are not alone.
Progressing at an astonishing rate, Zika and Hang both elevated their game during the Spring and continued to impress during the Summer, with LNG consistently in the top tier and holding their place on the podium. Scout, once again, finished as the league's MVP, maintaining his impressive form despite the incredible level of competition in the Chinese mid-lane.
This time, LNG enters the playoffs with a firm intention to leave a mark. Right from the beginning, they face a strong WBG team that pushes them to their limits, taking them to a decisive fifth match, where LNG breaks through WBG's heroic defense to secure their place in the Top 4.
Now in the Winner's Bracket, LNG encounters the competition's behemoth, the best team in the world, JDG. Heavily favored at the outset, JDG soon realizes that LNG is a formidable opponent, one that manages to control JDG better than anyone has done throughout the year. While the best team in the world eventually emerges victorious (as always), it comes at the cost of a fifth match and numerous anxious moments.
Despite two consecutive losses, LNG is the team that has posed the most problems for JDG, taking them to a fifth game on both occasions.
LNG falls into the Lower Bracket. This is when Scout humiliates Song "Rookie" Eui-jin, the 2018 World Champion, and Top Esports, to progress through the bracket. LNG then faces BLG for a place in the grand finals as an opportunity for both teams to exact revenge on JDG. BLG are the favorites and demonstrates this by easily winning the first game. However, the balance of power shifts entirely from the second match onwards. The inevitable Scout dominates the match, while Zika and GALA take turns impressing with meticulously executed teamfights and near-perfect skirmishes. LNG secures a spot in the first LPL final in its history, with two very young players on its roster. A remarkable achievement.
But LNG is not satisfied yet and will boldly seize its chance against JDG once again. While the final result remains the same, LNG's ability to challenge JDG is impressive, taking control of two matches and never letting go. Zika, in particular, holds Bai "369" Jia-Hao in check, even though he is only playing the sixth best-of-5 of his professional career! On that day, JDG was crowned champion, but LNG had just made a significant statement by pushing the LPL's reigning king to the limit.
The day after the final, LNG confirmed its new status in the Regional Finals to secure its place at Worlds, easily defeating EDG. LNG qualifies for its second Worlds appearance, this time with an entirely different status: that of a fierce underdog, the team that has troubled the unstoppable JDG throughout the year, combining the experience and wisdom of its veterans with the exuberance of its young talents.
In summary, LNG holds all the cards to achieve great success at Worlds 2023 and perhaps lead China to another title, unless its new nemesis once again thwarts its quest for the ultimate prize.
Scout's (exceptional) statistics compared to the LPL midlane in 2023
Bilibili Gaming, Repeating the Feat
The 2023 season for BLG reads like a script from a movie, as if everything had been preordained. First, there are the actors. Bilibili chose to rebuild this year around Chan "Bin" Ze-Bin, who was already impressive last year but often carried his team alone. Surrounding him, a cast of young talents has been assembled to support him: Peng "Xun" Li-Xun, a jungle prodigy revealed by IG last year; Zhao "Elk" Jia-Hao, a former LPL Rookie of the Year who was stuck on a Ultra Prime team that was far too weak for him; and Luo "ON" Wen-Jun, one of the most popular and mechanically solid supports of the moment.
To guide this young talent, they needed an experienced director, and that's where the veteran Zeng "Yagao" Qi comes in. Yagao joins the roster after leaving JDG, replaced by his rival and friend Zhuo “knight” Ding. Together, they form a very intriguing BLG team. Not the scariest on paper, but with limitless potential.
In a good script, the hero often starts at the bottom. This was also the case for BLG. Struggling early in the season as the team couldn't find its playstyle, Bilibili was in ninth place after 7 weeks of competition, fighting for a playoff spot. Then, the turning point happened. BLG won five matches in a row, secured a playoff spot, and positioned themselves among the top contenders.
With highly promising young players like Elk (left) or Xun (right), BLG has significantly exceeded expectations and is having an impressive year.
Finishing 5th in the regular season, BLG began their playoffs in the second round, where they faced RNG, whom they beat 3-1 without much difficulty. In the next round, they faced Weibo, a much stronger opponent. Nevertheless, BLG was even more ruthless, sweeping WBG 3-0, securing their place in the top 4 and, most importantly, their entry into the Winner's Bracket.
Every great story has a great antagonist. In this story, it's JDG, and they crossed paths with BLG for the first time in the Winner's Bracket. Heavily favored, JDG found themselves up against a Bilibili team that was much better than expected, giving them a run for their money and even taking a 2-1 lead in the series. But JDG managed to bounce back and win the best-of-5, although not without difficulty.
Now, BLG found themselves in the Loser's Bracket, guaranteed to finish at least fourth, an outcome that seemed almost impossible a few weeks earlier. However, the team had no intention of stopping there. Facing OMG, Bilibili delivered one of the most spectacular matches of the season, with five bloody battles showcasing individual and collective excellence, and Yagao taking control to lead his team to victory.
Against EDG, BLG was still not the favorite. In fact, many predicted that EDG would qualify for the MSI. However, it was the spirited BLG team that emerged victorious once again, thanks to Elk, who played an indispensable role throughout the playoffs, earning a qualification to the top tier of the LPL.
The only player already with BLG the previous year, Bin has become the captain and the symbol of a spirited team, always ready to fight.
Qualified for the MSI and back in the final, BLG had fulfilled their contract, and only one step remained to make history in the LPL. But once again, the great antagonist struck. JDG, much improved from their previous encounter, left no chance for an exhausted BLG, who buckled under the might of their nemesis.
At MSI, BLG arrived as the fourth force on the roster, behind the unstoppable JDG and the two Korean giants, GENG and T1. Worse still, they were expected to struggle against Western teams, being considered by some as the only accessible team for European and American teams. This assumption was quickly dismissed when BLG swept C9 with a 3-0 victory. However, BLG was still not taken seriously, and for a good reason as JDG handed them a similar defeat, sending them to the Loser's Bracket.
Once again, BLG defied all expectations. While they faced some difficulties in their victory against G2, BLG was considered the prey by many observers when they took on GENG in the next round. However, BLG left everyone in awe as they swept aside one of the best teams in the world with a 3-0 victory, an outcome that no one had anticipated.
BLG finds themselves facing their arch-nemesis for the fifth meeting of the year and the fourth in a best-of-5. Despite the different context of the MSI, JDG was simply too strong, and BLG was left with little to show as they continued to struggle against the best team in the world.
Against JDG, BLG still hasn't found the solution. In 7 direct confrontations, including 5 BO5 matches, BLG has yet to win a single time.
Back in China, Bilibili had to assume a new status: the team was now feared and expected. They responded in the best way possible. They set a historic record: the best regular season in the history of the LPL. With 15 wins out of 16 matches and unparalleled dominance in the league, there was only one blemish on their record. And who was it against? JDG, of course. Even when everything was going well for BLG, that thorn in their side just wouldn't go away.
As a result, BLG enters the playoffs with great confidence and has already secured a spot in the Loser's Bracket. Their first match, against Top Esports, was brutal and offered a spectacular encounter where players showcased individual skills, resulting in a 3-1 victory. In the Winner's Final, it was JDG who stood in BLG's way. This time, nothing was left to chance. JDG, perhaps upset about losing their first-place finish in the regular season, obliterated BLG with a decisive and uncontested 3-0 victory. The seventh encounter was still not the right one for the blue and red team, and they seemed to be moving further away from their revenge with each passing match.
The trend continued in the next match, when LNG, not the favorites, caught BLG by surprise, especially coming off a heavy loss to JDG. BLG left the playoffs in third place, having not put up much resistance against the two best teams in China. However, they still managed to secure their qualification for Worlds 2023 thanks to the points accumulated during the two splits.
BLG enters Worlds 2023 under the radar, much like they did at the beginning of the season. Despite their performance at the MSI, many still remember their double loss in the LPL playoffs, which may have had an impact on the BLG roster. However, if any team has proven that they are capable of surprising everyone and silencing the doubters, it's them. BLG will have a golden opportunity to recreate the same feat as the MSI at Worlds 2023, but it remains to be seen if they are still up to the task.
Bin's statistics compared to the LPL toplane in 2023
JD Gaming, The Golden Road
Unless you've been hibernating for the past 10 months, you've undoubtedly heard about JD Gaming and the incredible year they've been having. It's quite simple; JDG is entering Worlds as the ultimate favorite, the team to beat, as they are on the verge of making history in esports. With the title under their belt, JDG would become the first team to achieve the Grand Slam (winning both domestic seasons of their region, the MSI, and the Worlds in the same year). It's an achievement so impressive that not even SK Telecom, now T1, managed it during their dominant periods.
JDG gave the world a heads-up right from the beginning of the season, even before it began. After a promising year that ended in major disappointment with a semi-final exit at Worlds, JDG had a monumental offseason, showcasing their massive ambitions even before playing their first match.
To make this happen, they had to bid farewell to a team pillar who had been with them for five years, Yagao. His place was taken by one of the legends of the LPL, the "Golden Left Hand", knight. Despite knight's exceptional performance, his entire team crumbled around him during the last Worlds, making him yearn for a fresh start. What better team to join than the best in the LPL?
The signing of knight was remarkable, but it paled in comparison to JDG's other big acquisition. After a solid year, Wang "Hope" Jie showed his limitations during the Worlds, which hurt his team. JDG replaced him with not just one of the best players in the world but one of the best players in the history of his role, Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk. This was Ruler's first departure from Gen.G after six years of loyal service, and he joined a team that looked poised to become the best in the world.
This year, JDG has swept everything, dominating both LPL seasons as well as the MSI. They are the top favorite for Worlds 2023.
JDG lived up to the hype. They stormed through the LPL like an unstoppable force, finishing first in the regular season (tied in points but securing first place due to their incredibly low number of losses). In 36 games across 16 best-of-3 series, JDG only lost 8, demonstrating their dominance with a string of 2-0 victories. Favored for the playoffs, JDG faced an on-fire BLG team in the opening round but couldn't be overcome thanks to their resilience, largely due to Ruler's incredible performance.
In the playoffs, JDG displayed masterful performances, first crushing EDG, who had beaten them in the regular season, with an incredibly one-sided 3-0 victory. They then punished BLG in the finals, leaving no room for a comeback.
JDG entered the MSI as the favorite, a status that had eluded them at the Worlds a few months earlier. However, things were different this time, and JDG was well-equipped to perform internationally. They proved this by dismantling BLG once again, this time without dropping a single game, setting up a showdown against T1 for a spot in the finals.
The match against T1 remains one of the most impressive of the season in terms of skill level and the story and stakes. Following a close-fought battle, JDG got their revenge against the team that eliminated them from the Worlds and secured their spot in the finals.
In the finals, they faced their arch-nemesis, BLG, who had just eliminated the two best Korean teams one after the other. However, no matter the momentum or the circumstances, the result of a JDG/BLG match was already known. Ruler won his first MSI title, the only missing trophy from his collection, and knight finally received the global recognition he deserved. He was even named MVP of the final, a testament to his outstanding performance throughout the tournament.
Ready to defend their status as favorites at Worlds 2023, JDG is mainly seeking revenge from last year, and their 3-1 elimination in the semifinals against T1.
Returning from the MSI, JDG, likely still reeling from the incredible competition they had just participated in, stumbled against Weibo right away. However, they then went on a dominant streak, losing only one match in their next 15 encounters.
Their almost unparalleled control over the most competitive league in the world left their rivals struggling to find answers to JDG's dominance. The only blemish was JDG being overtaken in the standings by a highly motivated BLG team, eager to challenge the now-best team in the world.
The playoffs arrived, and JDG was surprised by an unexpected challenger, LNG. However, the red army had yet to lose a BO5 series all year, and their home advantage wasn't going to change that. Despite LNG's best efforts to force a game 5, JDG was too powerful even with their backs against the wall, sending LNG to the Loser's Bracket.
JDG faced their old friends, BLG, for a spot in the finals, marking the seventh meeting of the year between the two teams and the fifth in a BO5 series. But JDG wasn't in the mood for reunions and once again crushed a BLG that appeared lost and seemed to regress each time they faced JDG.
Prepared for an eighth confrontation against BLG in the grand final, JDG found themselves facing the young LNG team, which had caused them problems just two matches earlier. In an exceptional final, with both teams performing at an unprecedented level, LNG took the lead after the third game and appeared poised to win.
If there’s one thing we all know, you don't simply close the deal against JDG; instead, JDG is the one who does the closing. And when JDG doesn't want to lose, they don't lose. Knight, facing one of the best players in the world and the double MVP of the league, single-handedly turned the tide with back-to-back victories, securing his third title of the year and emphasizing JDG's unchallenged dominance throughout China.
Masters of teamfighting, JDG is a relatively straightforward team to predict. In a controlled and well-organized style of play, they rely heavily on their immense teamfighting prowess to outperform their opponents. What terrifies the world is the difficulty, sometimes verging on impossibility, of putting JDG on the back foot during a match.
knight clenches his fists while MISSING kisses the trophy: JDG has just won the LPL once again, their third title of the year, in 3 competitions.
Much of this strength is attributed to the core members of the team, who remained after the previous year's disappointment and reached exceptional levels in 2023. Seo "Kanavi" Jin-hyeok has become the world's best jungler, capable of playing any champion with pinpoint precision and exceptional decisiveness. 369 is a pillar, seemingly impossible to shake, always playing a critical role in JDG's game plan, no matter how far he falls behind in the lane phase. Finally, Lou "MISSING" Yun-Feng, the least talked-about player on the team, transformed into an outstanding initiator, adept at finding openings in any opposing team better than anyone else in the world.
It's no coincidence that JDG has not lost a single BO5 series this season, even after being pushed to game 5 four times, winning every time. This team seems impervious, but a curse has surrounded teams with similar paths to JDG's for years.
In 2018, RNG and G2 in 2019 faced the same situation as JDG, arriving at the Worlds as triple champions with the possibility of achieving the Grand Slam. The most recent, G2, appeared almost unstoppable during the Worlds, reaching the grand final with ease, only to be obliterated in Europe on their home turf by FunPlus Phoenix.
Nevertheless, none of these two teams exhibited the same imperial dominance as JDG has this year. While nothing is predetermined at the Worlds, and that's what makes it the most prestigious competition in esports, it's hard not to immediately think of JDG when looking at the Summoner's Cup. The team will arrive in South Korea with immense expectations, perhaps more than anyone else before them. The question remains whether this seemingly flawless team is capable of achieving the Grand Slam, a feat that seems to slip further away with each passing year...
Kanavi's statistics compared to the LPL jungle in 2023
As a result, China is better equipped than ever to reclaim the ultimate title and take revenge on Korea. However, this status is double-edged for the LPL, which has typically performed best when they were least expected to. Perhaps it's time to break free from the status of a surprising underdog and embrace their position as the best region in the world, which has been disputed for years with the LCK. It all hinges on whether they can achieve victory at the Worlds 2023. Are they up to the task?
