BIN is not in the top 16

After BLG failed to reach the Worlds quarterfinals, many LPL fans wished for BIN to retire quickly, recalling his statement last year that he would retire if BLG made the Worlds top 16. However, after all the Swiss stage matches concluded, LOL officially released the rankings and prize distribution. According to the official data, BLG ranked not in the top 16 but between 9th and 11th place, sharing $175,000 with FLY and KOI. Many LPL fans joked that BIN doesn’t need to retire next year since BLG isn't officially top 16.

Although BIN has a mixed reputation externally, LPL champion mid laner DOINB recently supported BIN in a livestream, stating that BIN is the future leader of the LPL. At first, many thought DOINB was joking, but he explained that currently, only JKL is a top domestic star in LPL, and TheShy, due to certain reasons, struggles to represent LPL. So after JKL retires, BIN will be the only one to take his place. DOINB admitted that although BIN attracts a lot of negative attention, it’s still better than having no attention at all.

Bad news for AL in the playoffs!

As the LOL quarterfinals approach, many LPL fans noticed a strange scheduling issue: the official schedule places T1’s matches on the very last day of the playoffs. Since AL advanced 3-0 in the first round, they haven’t played for many days. According to the official timetable, AL will face a 14-day gap without matches. Many AL fans worry this long break might hurt the team’s form.

Besides LPL fans noticing this odd schedule, well-known overseas caster IWD publicly criticized Riot on social media, saying T1 is Riot’s “favorite son,” and the scheduling is designed to maximize viewership. Although IWD is known as a T1 critic, his comments have merit because official viewer statistics show that T1 matches consistently rank in the top five most-watched games at Worlds.

FAKER’s individual stats are terrifying

Many LPL fans believe AL can beat T1, but T1’s potential is formidable, especially after Riot released player stats from the Swiss stage, showing T1 mid laner Faker’s performance is outstanding. Before Worlds, many thought Faker had declined with age, but he proved his strength in the Swiss rounds, leading all mid laners in damage per minute, teamfight damage, and damage conversion rate.

Many LPL fans wonder how Faker, at 29, can still be so dominant and fear he might transform into a “big boss” in the playoffs. However, some believe that if AL’s jungler Tarzan performs well, AL still has a strong chance to reach the semifinals. Faker’s high damage in teamfights partly results from T1’s top laner Doran underperforming; if Doran played normally, Faker wouldn’t have to carry so much in the Swiss stage.

Conclusion

What do you think about T1 vs AL being scheduled on the last day? Will it affect AL’s performance? After reviewing the official Swiss stage data, I can’t help but feel relieved that T1’s former top laner Zeus has left; otherwise, T1 might have a strong chance to win a third consecutive World Championship, as Zeus’s individual stats were also very impressive. (Do you think AL can defeat T1?)