That makes it two for the LPL for now as LNG Esports becomes the latest team to secure a Knockout Stage spot at Worlds 2023.
In a series that went all the way, it was LNG Esports who came out on top in the end with a 2-1 win against KT Rolster to secure a Knockout Stage spot for themselves at Worlds 2023. This makes LNG only the third team to win three games in the Swiss Stage as well as the second LPL team to qualify to the Knockout Stage after JD Gaming. As for KT, they are not yet eliminated but will now drop to the ‘2-2’ bracket where they will play one more best-of-three series this Sunday, October 29 to determine if they will make it to the next round.
They will join fellow LCK contenders, Dplus KIA in the fifth and final round of the Swiss Stage in the hopes that they don't face one another to give the region a better chance of having all four teams in the Knockout Stage. And despite having a star-studded roster that was able to secure a third-seed in the LCK, KT could not withstand the firepower of LNG. In a roster that featured the 2021 world champion midlaner, it was not difficult to see why.
- Check the results:
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LNG EsportsGame one was fairly even between both teams for most of the game with KT having the slight advantage for the first 20-odd minutes. However, LNG soon found themselves back in the fight. Renata Glasc is steadily become a regular pick for support players and Ming-Hang “Hang” Fu showed just why with his standout performance that saw him get 11 assists out of his team's overall 13 kills. Aside from Hang, Chen “GALA” Wei also had a solid game as Aphelios and picked up eight kills, zero deaths, and three assists.
But in the second game, the momentum drastically shifted from one end to the other as it was KT who took a strong lead from the early game and did not let go until the end. Out of the three kills LNG was held to, one of it came from the first blood, which was one of the few highlights from the LPL squad in the second match. And because of how well KT performed, three players walked away with perfect KDAs but it was Kim “Aiming” Ha-ram that carried the team across the finish line with his 7/0/4 score line on Kai'Sa.
With the series all squared, it was winner takes all in the third and final game that turned out to be a rout for LNG. Much like with KT did to them in game two, LNG repaid the favour in kind by keeping the LPL team at arm's length for the majority of the match. Despite getting the first blood, LNG showcased great experience and composure to stick to their game plan. Hang had another great game, this time with Rakan where he notched 14 assists with a sole death. Hua-Yu “Zika” Tang was the only player to get a perfect KDA in the third match as his Renekton went 1/0/7 due to his great initiations and movement.
As LNG had already secured their spot to the Knockout Stage, KT will still have one more shot to make it out of the Swiss Stage this weekend. The LCK already have one team through to the next round with three more waiting in the wings.
