IG has guaranteed their position in the winners' bracket of the play-in tournament in advance!

As the only fully rostered team from LPL, many LPL viewers hoped IG would advance to the World Championship. However, after IG was consecutively beaten badly by BLG and AL in the playoffs, many IG fans no longer wish for IG to qualify for Worlds. They believe that if IG enters Worlds as the LPL's fourth seed, they might embarrass the region by becoming the first LPL team ever eliminated at the Top 17 stage. (The LPL fourth seed must face the LCK fourth seed, which is very likely to be GEN or T1.)

But something that pleased many IG fans happened: AL defeated JDG 3-0 in the playoffs, which means IG’s league points are stable in the top four, qualifying them to compete for the LPL’s third seed. Apart from BLG, who have secured their Worlds spot, AL and TES still need to prove themselves in upcoming matches. If TES does not win the championship, IG will face TES in the first round of the play-ins; if TES wins, then IG’s first opponent will be AL.

IG only needs to win one BO5 match in the play-ins to qualify for Worlds. After this news broke, many IG fans analyzed whether TES or AL would be an easier opponent. Many believe IG’s playstyle is completely countered by AL, as IG was shut out by AL in the playoffs. Therefore, many IG fans hope their first play-in opponent will be TES, since TES’s top laner 369 has been in poor form recently. If THESHY can perform well in the play-ins, IG still has a chance to beat TES. (Do you think IG can win against TES?)

Can IG secure a stable spot at Worlds?

Of course, some IG fans doubt IG can overcome TES, since TES’s jungler Kanavi is truly a "master at dominating weaker opponents." Kanavi’s jungle control even overwhelmed Beichuan. Many IG fans don't believe WEI can withstand Kanavi’s aggressive tempo, so they focus more on the LPL fourth seed. Some admit that even if IG gets eliminated in the Top 17 at Worlds, it’s better than just watching from home. In fact, many IG fans are hoping for a miracle from IG at Worlds.

If IG loses in the first round of the play-ins, they will face the winner between WBG and JDG. Many IG fans think both JDG and WBG have clear weaknesses. If IG meets either JDG or WBG in the play-ins, IG is very likely to win, especially since WBG’s bottom lane player Light has been underperforming in the playoffs, and JDG hasn’t beaten IG in any major matches all year. Personally, I feel IG’s chances of qualifying for Worlds are very high.

JDG mid and jungle fans clash online

After JDG lost to AL and dropped into the losers' bracket of the play-ins, fans of mid laner Scout and jungler Xun started blaming each other in the official fan forum. Mid lane fans criticized the jungler for inactivity throughout the game, not taking Rift Herald while having lane advantage, and missing dragons despite bot lane advantages. Meanwhile, jungle fans blamed Scout for poor laning and getting lost in team fights. Especially in the last game, when JDG had an early lead, Scout recalled while at half health and mana, which frustrated many Xun fans who disliked teammates retreating during team fights.

Conclusion

IG is considered the "white moonlight" in the hearts of LPL fans, with many hoping to see them at Worlds. IG’s mid laner ROOKIE hasn’t been to Worlds in six years. I genuinely look forward to a match between IG and T1 at Worlds. If IG qualifies as the fourth seed and meets T1 in the Top 17, do you think IG can make history by defeating T1? (T1’s greatest strength is their adaptability to the meta, so if IG can catch T1 before they fully adjust, IG might really have a chance to win.)