• (-285) FunPlus Phoenix v EDward Gaming (+210)
  • (+210) Hanwha Life Esports v Liiv Sandbox (-285)

The LCK and LPL conclude with its final split-slate for the 2021 year with the regional finals concluding, where Hanwha Life Esports compete against T1 for the chance to avoid the play-ins stage of the World Championship, after HLE has managed to ascend all the way from 8th place to capturing the final worlds spot of the LCK. Meanwhile, the LPL play-offs Grand Finals commence with an undefeated FPX in the winners bracket facing off against EDG coming from the lower bracket.

Captain

Teddy ($11,400)

I have no words to describe how insane of a leap Hanwha has made, from 8th place in the LCK regular season all the way to qualifying to worlds, defeating both Liiv Sandbox and Nongshim RedForce. HLE’s bottom lane has been instrumental in defeating both Sandbox and Nongshim, but I have to give it to T1: they made finals, and while they fell to Damwon KIA, they are still a strong team with a great bottom lane. I don’t like to bet against a red hot Deft and Vsta, but nonetheless, I have my money once again against HLE.

Alternatives to consider: Doinb ($11,400)

Top Lane

Nuguri ($6,400)

The solo lane gap between EDG and FPX will be the nail in the coffin against EDG, alongside a strong Tian against a less than remarkable Jiejie. Nuguri is coming off his world championship performance on Damwon and has been the strongest overall top laner in the LPL. Flandre is certainly world class and has proven it in his match against squads like LNG and WE, but it’s not typical for him to be the raw carrying force behind EDG’s victories. My other option would be Canna, who plays against Morgan, the weakest point on HLE- however, Canna is not known for being outstanding himself. 

Alternatives to consider: Canna ($6,600)

Jungle

Oner ($6,800)

Oner is Willer staring into a mirror: a young, upstart player replacing two underwhelming junglers (poor Cuzz and Ellim) mid way through the split, and rejuvenating his team in the process? The tale of two junglers is what controls the narrative between HLE and T1. Overall, while Willer has benefited from a strong mid laner, Oner has took the lead from Faker, and while he has the guidance of one of the best overall mid laners in the history of the game, he has proven more apart from Faker than Willer has apart from Chovy, which causes me to side with the T1 jungler over his HLE counterpart.

Alternatives to consider: Tian ($7,000)

Middle Lane

Doinb ($7,600)

FPX’s mid laner Doinb is the best overall mid laner in the LPL hands down. He is great, while Scout’s return to form has been remarkable after a mediocre spring play-off showing, he will likely find significant challenge in Doinb’s versatility as a player. I have to pay respect to Chovy: the cheapest mid laner on Thursday, and he’s likely actually the best in the entire world despite being saddled with a weak top side. Faker has the salt to hold his own against his young rival, whereas FATE and Gori were unable to match up against Chovy’s raw talent.

Alternatives to consider: Chovy ($7,000)

ADC

Lwx ($7,400)

I have to say; every single ADC playing on Thursday is fantastic. Viper, Lwx, Teddy, and Deft. These are all players that with the correct team behind them, can win the world championship. Amongst these players, though, Lwx by far has the best supporting cast. Crisp, Doinb, Tian, and Nuguri are all superstars in their roles, and unquestionably brilliant: each of them a world champion in their own right, which is something that no other of these ADCs can boast- actually, no team in the entire world can boast right now, aside from themselves. Not even last year’s Damwon KIA is saddled with a full world championship roster.

Alternatives to consider: Teddy ($7,600)

Support

Vsta ($5,200)

Surprise! The one actual HLE player to make it onto the roster. I have to give respect to the most underrated player on the squad, their support Vsta. The level of progress that HLE has accomplished throughout the split is mostly attributed to the substitution of Willer, and Deft’s return to form, alongside Chovy’s consistently amazing performance, but Vsta’s progress from a dead last support all the way to world class (questionably, but, he will be going to worlds) has been a spectacle to behold. Furthermore, Vsta is the cheapest support on Thursday, and saves you $600 from a premium support like Crisp.

Alternatives to consider: Crisp ($5,800)

Team

FunPlus Phoenix ($5,000)

FPX comes from the winners bracket, and has been undefeated throughout play-offs: they haven’t dropped a single map, literally. Dominance has been the only word to describe their performance in the post-season. The other team, T1, has to face off against a red-hot HLE, and while they’re still projected to win, there’s no way of knowing what kind of HLE will show up against T1.

Alternatives to consider: T1 ($5,200)

Stacks

Doinb & Tian

Jiejie is the weakest point on EDG, and while I don’t necessarily think you need to grab Tian in order to capitalize on this weakness, I do think that pairing the mid-jungle of FPX has its advantages: Doinb is known for playing for his team and roaming significantly more relative to other middle laners, and Tian’s aggressive tendencies supports and rewards this style of play.

Teddy & Oner

ADC and jungle isn’t a common pairing, but Teddy is consistently the biggest carry on T1 after his substitution in the post-season, and Oner’s wild playstyle can reward his laners- particularly, his carries, with massive pay-offs of gold, which can potentially accelerate Teddy and lead to massive teamfight wipes in the favor of T1.

Chovy & Vsta

The underdogs: HLE have overcome the absolutely outstanding, from 8th place to worlds qualification, defeating teams that they have had no means of beating, 3-0ing what was for a while the 1st place team in the regular season in Nongshim. Vsta has grown significantly across his time on HLE, while Chovy still stands as one of- if not the, best mid laner in the world.

Top Picks: Oner, Lwx, Doinb

Oner versus Willer is an uncertain but favorable match-up for the young jungler… against the young jungler, Lwx is a superstar ADC who has found his form after an underwhelming 2020 season, and Doinb is the backbone of his team, with his style of play dictating and reflecting itself in FPX’s aggressive and bloody style across the rift.

Top Value: Nuguri, Chovy, Vsta

Chovy and Vsta have went from the bargain bin to the LCK to the bargain bin of worlds. They remain cheap in spite of their great ceilings that they’ve already revealed against otherwise outstanding teams like Nongshim and Liiv Sandbox (well, Nongshim.) Finally, Nuguri is easily favored against Flandre, having a wealth of international experience alongside being a confident individual player in his own right.