You promised a top lane tutorial, but you're just using Worlds as material for your videos?

Chapter 424 LPL's Last Hope: RNG? Hold on!
A match that was expected to be a three-game sweep actually went to a fifth game.

However, when the game actually reached the fifth round, even those who had previously supported the Rabbit team lost confidence.

Because BO5 is a place where true strength really matters.

By the fifth game, the Rabbit team had used all the strategies they were supposed to have, and SKT countered the ones they could and banned the ones they couldn't.

The current Rabbit team has no more tricks up its sleeve and can only compete with SKT in terms of raw strength.

In the fifth game, the Rabbit team banned Faker's Galio again.

Rabbit Team's support player IgNar continued to showcase his extensive champion pool, choosing Thresh, his fifth support champion in this BO5 series.

IgNar was undoubtedly the most outstanding player in this BO5 series.

However, few people noticed that Wolf, on the opposing team, also picked out his fifth support hero in this decisive game – Tahm Kench.

Both players used five different support characters in each of the five games.

SKT's bot lane was consistently pressured today, with Wolf being completely dragged down by Bang.

Tahm Kench naturally counters Thresh. After five games, SKT's bot lane finally stopped being pressured in this game.

SKT, relying on their superior strength, won the decisive game without any major setbacks.

SKT narrowly defeated MSF 3-2, becoming the first team to advance to the semifinals of this World Championship.

All the audience members paid tribute to the Rabbit Team with applause, and also felt sorry for them.

After all, they were just one step away from eliminating the three-time champions SKT.

The most regrettable group is undoubtedly RNG's fans.

With SKT advancing to the semifinals, it also means that if RNG advances to the semifinals, their opponent will be their long-time nemesis, SKT.

No one said that RNG fans were taking out loans to reach the semifinals, because all LPL viewers thought so too.

FNC posed absolutely no threat to RNG.

The next day, the 20th, at 4 PM.

The quarterfinal match between RNG and FNC has begun.

Unlike the Rabbit Team, FNC is not able to continuously unleash their ultimate moves.

Their tactical reserves were almost exhausted during the group stage.

The two teams fought based on pure skill, and FNC was no match for RNG.

Even in the third game, Mala Xiangguo contributed a classic moment in the World Championship.

The prince used a reverse EQ combo to interrupt Rekkles' Tristana's W skill.

He truly deserves to be called the most daring jungler in the world.

However, RNG lost this third game, which was basically a reckless loss.

It's just a pity about Uzi's 19 kills with Kog'Maw in this game.

This is also the highest single-game kill count in the history of the S-series.

Consider this loss a face-saving one for FNC, an old friend of the LPL.

After all, being swept 3-0 isn't a very attractive outcome.

RNG ultimately defeated FNC easily 3-1, advancing to the semifinals of this year's World Championship.

RNG's opponent in the semifinals will be SKT.

The next two days are the weekend, and also the two most important matches in the quarterfinals of this World Championship.

Both BO5 matches are major clashes between China and South Korea!

Saturday, October 10.

The quarterfinal match between WE and Samsung will begin at 4 PM.

The two teams facing off are the third seeds from LPL and LCK, respectively.

Before the match, many viewers thought the two sides were evenly matched.

A significant number of LPL viewers even believe that WE has a better chance of winning.

The reason for this feeling is simply that Samsung was defeated twice by RNG in the group stage.

It's only been about twenty days since the World Championship started, and every team is constantly improving. We can't judge a team with old perspectives.

Moreover, BO1 matches don't actually have much reference value.

Teams that have recently played scrims against Samsung know that Samsung is very strong right now!

Their understanding of the version and the adaptability of their gameplay to the version are both very high.

However, we'll only know the true outcome after the match.

Training is never as convincing as a formal competition.

This involves a lot of mindset and on-the-spot performance.

Since WE qualified first in their group, they have an extra chance to choose sides.

In the first game of the BO5 series, WE chose the blue side.

In the first round of banning and drafting, neither side banned either Xayah or Rakan.

WE also secured the first floor of the blue team's base.

If Xayah and Rakan cannot be combined, picking one of them individually is generally considered to be of higher priority than Xayah in the current version.

Surprisingly, the red team, Samsung, didn't pick Xayah on the first and second floors, but instead chose Tristana as their ADC.

This means they're giving the Xayah and Rakan duo to WE.

It's unclear whether Samsung's decision to let Xayah and Rakan through this move was overconfidence or arrogance.

WE, of course, didn't hold back and quickly picked Xayah.

Besides Xayah and Rakan, WE also picked Malzahar for mid lane in this game.

Malzahar is a mid-laner who suddenly became popular during the knockout stage.

However, this hero is really easy to use. He clears lanes quickly, deals high damage in team fights, and is easy to operate.

They also have a powerful ability to pinpoint and suppress enemies, forcing you to waste resources on Mercury early on.

This aligns well with the current trend of mid-laners gradually becoming more utility-oriented.

Samsung suffered the consequences of giving Xayah, Rakan, and Malzahar to WE.

The bottom lane was completely dominated by Xayah and Rakan.

In the end, WE won the first game of the BO5 series in just 27 minutes.

This greatly excited the vast majority of LPL viewers.

However, the coaches and players of the other two LPL teams, RNG and LGD, who were watching the match at the time, knew that the situation was not optimistic.

WE won purely because Xayah and Rakan were too strong; it's impossible to get Xayah and Rakan later on.

Sure enough, in the second game, the blue team's Samsung banned both Xayah and Rakan.

Banning Rakan was expected, but the fact that Xayah was also banned on the blue side is surprising. Does Ruler not know how to play Xayah?
Probably not.

Ruler picked Varus in this game.

Not only in this game, but after the first game, Ruler played Varus for three consecutive games.

The overall course of these three games was basically the same.

WE was completely unable to withstand Samsung's gradual, insidious encroachment.

Samsung's superior vision control, teamwork, and utilization of every bit of vision advantage left WE suffocating.

WE lost three games in a row in the same way, with no way to break the deadlock.

Samsung came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat WE 3-1 and advance to the semifinals. Although the score was 3-1, with Samsung losing one game, all viewers who watched the match would have had the immediate impression that Samsung won very easily.

In a hotel in Guangzhou, in the LGD training room, Dgc frowned after watching the match.

Samsung's performance today exceeded his expectations.

If LGD were to face them, would they also be outmaneuvered and unable to break the deadlock, just like WE?

Dgc then shook his head and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Why think so far ahead? Let's focus on tomorrow's opponent, Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball is currently the top favorite to win the championship.

After WE's crushing defeat to Samsung, LPL viewers became pessimistic on forums, Weibo, and other platforms.

Are Korean teams really that strong at the World Championship? How can we beat them?

The reason why the vast majority of LPL viewers have this pessimistic sentiment is not only due to the LPL's poor performance in the World Championships over the past two years.

Another point is that even though Samsung has shown tremendous strength today, many LPL viewers still believe that Samsung is not as strong as SKT and Longzhu.

If even Samsung is this difficult to beat, how will RNG compete against SKT in the semifinals?
How will LGD play against LCK's number one seed, Longzhu, tomorrow?
A few rational LPL viewers have realized that today's Samsung team is basically a different team from the Samsung team that was defeated twice by RNG in the group stage.

However, most viewers are not yet able to accurately assess the strength of these three LCK teams this year.

LPL viewers generally believe that SKT and Longzhu are stronger than Samsung.

Although SKT went the distance and played five games against Rabbit Team in the quarterfinals, their three-time world champion status meant that LPL viewers couldn't help but think highly of them.

Dragon Ball, on the other hand, hasn't played a best-of-five series yet.

But the LCK's number one seed, who won all their group stage matches, is not someone to be trifled with.

Which LCK number one seed in the World Championship over the years wasn't strong?
Therefore, a sense of pessimism spread uncontrollably among LPL viewers.

Many people think that LGD's chances against Longzhu tomorrow are slim.

Of course, there are still some people who firmly believe in LGD.

Your Dragon Ball may be strong, but my LGD is the LPL's Spring and Summer champion this year, and also the MSI champion. How are we inferior to you?
So what if their performance in the group stage wasn't ideal?

Does this mean they don't have a high opinion of LGD?
Although Dragon Ball won all their group stage matches, it wasn't a complete rout or a total stomp every time!

Just support LGD!

Although there are still many people online who firmly support LGD, there are also online trolls who deliberately try to make LGD look bad.

Just a few hours after WE lost to Samsung today, a very strange public opinion emerged online.

It's as if RNG is the only remaining member of the LPL, and the LPL's last hope rests on RNG.

In response, many LGD fans and casual observers have spoken out in rebuttal:
I was thinking LGD's quarterfinals haven't even started yet! Does this mean we're already assuming we can't beat Longzhu and will be eliminated by them?
To say that this trend in public opinion wasn't deliberately manipulated by someone with ulterior motives would be something I wouldn't believe if I were told otherwise.

You can wait until LGD is eliminated by Longzhu tomorrow before you start marketing LPL's last hope!

What's the rush!

Some of you, hold your horses!
What happened to the promised unity? Why are they doing all this behind my back?

As expected, the claim that LPL would be the most united team in World Championship history was just talk.

To put it bluntly, the S-series is ultimately just a competition between club teams, and the fundamental goal of running a club is still to make money.

If you can attract traffic and make money, what does it matter what methods you use?

Of course, the manipulation of public opinion can only be carried out in online communities where many players gather.

There are also many LPL viewers who simply watch the game and don't care about anything else, but they still cheer for LGD, who will face Longzhu tomorrow, with simple emotions.

These same people will also be cheering for RNG, who will face SKT in the semifinals a week later.

They will always support LPL teams in international competitions.

The day after WE was eliminated by Samsung, on Sunday, October 22nd.

This is also the last day of the quarterfinals of this World Championship.

Because it was the weekend, the stadium in Guangzhou was packed with spectators today.

After all, it was a home game, and the vast majority of the audience was there to support LGD.

The audience who came to support WE yesterday left disappointed, and they hope for a good result today.

The match was scheduled to start at 4 PM, and the entire LGD team arrived at the venue very early.

Meanwhile, backstage in the lounge, Dgc was holding a laptop, discussing something with a data analyst, making some final pre-match preparations.

With the big battle imminent, several LGD players were scattered around, sitting on chairs and sofas, each with a different expression.

Zhou Dian was leaning back in his chair, eyes closed, looking completely at ease. No one could tell what he was thinking from his expression.

But whatever he's thinking, judging from his expression, there's absolutely no sign of tension.

Across from Zhou Dian, Imp still wore his usual fearless expression.

After all, imp has won the World Championship before, so what's there to be nervous about in the quarterfinals of the World Championship?

However, PYL and Wei Shen, both veteran players, showed signs of tension and unease through their facial expressions and body language.

After all, their only previous S-series appearance was a rather terrible experience.

For the two of them, the S-series tournament has never left them with any pleasant memories.

Moreover, today is the first time the two of them have played in the S-series knockout stage.

Eimy usually has a good attitude, but at this moment her facial expression is a bit tense.

With a major battle imminent, no matter how good one's mindset or how well one adjusts oneself, it's inevitable that one will be affected by the atmosphere before the battle.

The only one on the field who was completely unaffected was the French King, who was a substitute.

He was scrolling through his phone at that moment.

He knew perfectly well he wouldn't be playing today, so why was he panicking?

Even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up.

"Alright, everyone, welcome to the 17 League of Legends World Championship in Guangzhou!"

"We are about to bring you the final quarterfinal match of this World Championship!"

"Our LPL region's number one seed this year, LGD, will face off against the LCK region's number one seed, Longzhu!"

"This match will be provided by PDD, Zhihuan, and myself as the live commentators."

"Hello everyone, I'm Guan Zeyuan!"

The camera panned up and focused on the LPL commentators' booth.

"Hello everyone, I am Zhihuan!"

"Hello everyone, I'm PDD!"

PDD's voice drew cheers from the audience.

Teacher Piao is quite popular.

Today, PDD was invited by the LPL officials to the venue as a special guest commentator, teaming up with Guan Zeyuan and Zhihuan to commentate on the quarterfinal match between LGD and Longzhu.

"Then let me ask you first, Mr. Piao, what do you think is the biggest highlight of today's match?" Guan Zeyuan asked first.

"Let's start with the match itself. The clash between the LPL's number one seed and the LCK's number one seed is the biggest highlight in itself!"

After a pause, PDD continued, "Speaking of the match itself, I think the focus today will definitely be on the top lane matchup between the two sides."

"Both top laners are currently recognized as the best top laner in the LCK and the best top laner in the LPL. I myself play top lane, and the matchup between the best top laners in China and Korea right now is exciting just thinking about it!"

“That’s true!” Zhihuan nodded and continued the conversation.

"Although it's currently the Ardent Censer meta, LGD and Longzhu have the highest carry rate and tactical importance in the top lane compared to all other teams in the quarterfinals!"

(End of this chapter)