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What to watch this week - One eye on MSI

LoL

2 years ago

Teh "GravityWillFall" Wi-Liam

What to watch this week - One eye on MSI

It's coming down to the wire in the regional Spring Split group stage.

The four major regions in LoL Esports are almost done with its Spring Split group stage games and will be having one eye towards the playoffs and the Mid-Season Invitational. Only the LCS has already begun its playoff run with four teams left standing, but only two will be going to China for MSI.

For the rest of the regions, this will be the final week of group stage games for both the LCK and LEC with the latter only taking place over the weekend. As for the LPL, this will be its second-last week for the group stage as its ninth and final week will only have three days' worth of matches to be played.

And based on the scheduling, we can expect the LCS to finish its Spring Split first, followed by the LCK, then the LEC, and finally the LPL. This makes sense given that MSI is taking place in Chengdu, China from May 1 - 19.

LCS Spring Split - Playoffs

The likes of Cloud9 and FlyQuest will have an opportunity to claim the first of two spots for MSI when they go up against one another in the upper bracket final later in the week. And in the lower bracket, there is still Team Liquid and 100 Thieves to contend with as the winner of this series will go on to face the loser between C9 and FQ. And the winner of the lower bracket final will already guarantee a spot to MSI.

Saturday, March 23

100 ThievesvsTeam Liquid - 1:00 p.m. PST

Sunday, March 24

FlyQuestvsCloud9 - 1:00 p.m. PST

LCK Spring Split - Group Stage

With this being the final week of group stage matches, there are only two teams left in contention for one more spot in the LCK Spring Split playoffs. As it stands, the likes of Gen.G Esports have already solidified its position as the number one seed. Both T1 and Hanwha Life Esports are currently in second and third respectively, followed by KT Rolster and Dplus KIA. And the battle for the sixth and final spot stands between Kwangdong Freecs and FearX.

On paper, it would appear that KDF has the harder schedule of matches for the final week as opposed to FearX. KDF will have to play against the likes of Dplus and KT, two teams who are in a tight fight for the fourth spot. In FearX's case, their matches for this week are against Nongshim RedForce and OKSavingsBank BRION.

Wednesday, March 20

DRXvsGen.G - 5:00 p.m. KST
Nongshim RedForcevsT1 - 7:30 p.m. KST

Thursday, March 21

Hanwha Life EsportsvsKT Rolster - 5:00 p.m. KST
Dplus KIAvsKwangdong Freecs - 7:30 p.m. KST

Friday, March 22

Gen.GvsOKSavingsBank BRION - 5:00 p.m. KST
FearXvsNongshim RedForce - 7:30 p.m. KST

Saturday, March 23

Dplus KIAvsHanwha Life Esports - 5:00 p.m. KST
DRXvsT1 - 7:30 p.m. KST

Sunday, March 24

FearXvsOKSavingsBank BRION - 5:00 p.m. KST
KT RolstervsKwangdong Freecs - 7:30 p.m. KST

LPL Spring Split - Group Stage

Of the 10 teams that will make its way to the LPL Spring Split playoffs, five have already solidified its place in the next round. This includes two of last season's best teams in Bilibili Gaming and JD Gaming, who are currently first and second respectively. Top Esports in currently third with FunPlus Phoenix close behind in fourth. Given that this is the second-last week of the group stage, it will also be the last time you can check out the LPL group stage broadcast from every Wednesday to Sunday.

Thursday, March 21

Ninjas In PyjamasvsRare Atom - 5:00 p.m. GMT
EDward GamingvsUltra Prime - 7:00 p.m. GMT

Friday, March 22

FunPlus PhoenixvsRoyal Never Give Up - 3:00 p.m. GMT
ThunderTalk GamingvsTop Esports - 5:00 p.m. GMT
JD GamingvsWeibo Gaming - 7:00 p.m. GMT

Saturday, March 23

Invictus Gaming vsOh My God - 3:00 p.m. GMT
Bilibili GamingvsNinjas In Pyjamas - 5:00 p.m. GMT
LNG EsportsvsTeam WE - 7:00 p.m. GMT

Sunday, March 24

LGD GamingvsRare Atom - 3:00 p.m. GMT
Anyone's LegendvsTop Esports - 5:00 p.m. GMT
EDward GamingvsJD Gaming - 7:00 p.m. GMT

LEC Spring Split - Group Stage

There's just one more weekend left for the LEC Spring Split group stage and so far, only Fnatic and G2 Esports have done enough to confirm its position to the next phase. Both teams are tied 5-1 at the moment with Fnatic in first after they won the head-to-head match. And with six more spots remaining in the playoffs, this final weekend of games is about to get all the more exciting.

MAD Lions KOI will be one to watch after a great LEC Winter Split performance but now languish in eighth, right behind Karmine Corp. The French-based org were disastrous just a few months ago but have since been much better and could possibly qualify for its first LEC playoffs.

Friday, March 22