The battles in the Chinese division continue in the main stage of LPL Spring 2023. As a reminder, the LPL Spring 2023 play-offs feature $610,000, two trips to the Mid-Season Invitational 2023, and the championship title, which adds points of prestige and respect to the professional scene.
With the first round of matches behind us, it's time to move on to the more important matches. Royal Never Give Up and Bilibili Gaming will meet on their way to the championship.
Royal Never Give Up finished 9th in the group stage. Having played his regular season with a score of 8-8. RNG outplayed ThunderTalk Gaming in the first match of the play-offs, although the match started sadly for the Kings.
Bilibili Gaming came into the play-offs from 5th place in the regular season. The score of 10-6 in the group stage allowed the team to go directly into the second round of the main stage of the confrontation.
Let's see which team will advance further in the LPL Spring 2023 play-offs grid and meet Weibo Gaming in the next round.
Bilibili Gaming form
We begin the breakdown of the game with an analysis of the form of Bilibili Gaming. The team is seen as the favourite for this encounter.
Bookmakers highly rate the ability of Bilibili Gaming to defeat their title rivals. The odds for victory in this match are at 1.6.
It is worth remembering that such a figure for the Chinese bo5 speaks more about the equality of the teams, but in no way denies the status of Bilibili as the leader of the upcoming match. Everything has to do with the team's success during the regular season.
Bilibili Gaming line-up
Bilibili owe their big success, and there's no other way to call it top 5 regular season, to their newly assembled squad. The team was reshaped before the Long Song LPL Spring 2023 and as we can see - not in vain.
Bilibili Gaming players
The line-up is eminent and has points of contact with Royal Never Give Up. Until June last year toplaner played for RNG, and watching him play against his former club is always The International ere.
Speaking of performance, the team's headliners during the regular season were Elk and ON and XUN, leaving behind grandsires Yagao and the same Bin. ADC Bilibili Gaming was twice MVP, while On and XUN were celebrated once each.
Bilibili Gaming results
Bilibili grazed their rear last season, although they reached the play-offs twice. The team finished in the top 8 of the LPL Spring 2022 and the top 10 of the LPL Summer 2022 in the summer.
In the new year, the team has already repeated their best result of the previous year. Finishing the regular season in 5th place with a 10-6 record, the team secured their place in the top eight.
Bilibili Gaming champions
The most popular characters in the TOP remain: Gnar (3 matches, 66% wins), Gwen (2 matches, 0% wins), Camile (2 matches, 50% wins), Renekton (2 games, 0% wins), KSante (2 matches, 0% wins).
The jungle is dominated by VI with 6 matches and 66% wins. Also picking up Wukong (4 games, 0% wins), Nidalee (3 games, 33% wins).
Azir (3 games, 0% wins), Ahri (2 games, 0 wins), Galio (2 games, 2 wins), Sylas (2 games, 50% wins) appear in the midfield.
Lucian (7 games, 57% wins), Varus (3 games, 33% wins), Zeri (2 games, 0 wins) pick on shooters.
The most popular combo with Lucian is Nami (7 games, 57% wins), Karma (2 games, 50% wins).
Royal Never Give Up form
Continuing our review of the match with an analysis of Royal Never Give Up's form. They are predicted to be the underdog in this match.
Bookmakers are looking at Royal Never Give Up with apprehension. The odds of the title club winning this match are estimated at odds in the region of 2.2.
RNG's pre-match figures have been influenced by their play during the regular season. After last year's shake-up and a frustrating Top 8 at Worlds 2022, the club were 'looking for themselves', leading to a lacklustre performance within the group stage.
Royal Never Give Up line-up
Nevertheless, you certainly shouldn't write off RNG. The team consists of top players with plenty of experience, who know how to play and know how to win.
Players of Royal Never Give Up
The focus is on Breathe, who will oppose Bin. He replaced the departed Mid-Season Invitational champion in June last year and at the time such a decision from team management looked a little strange.
The most effective player during the regular season was Ming. He was named MVP of the week twice and the GALA once again.
In the first match of the play-offs, Breathe, the same GALA and Wei were also noted. Thanks to their performance on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th cards, the team made it through the first round of play-offs.
Royal Never Give Up's performance
Last season Royal Never Give Up were the LPL Spring 2023 champions and then won the Mid-Season Invitational 2023. Finished in the top 8 at Worlds 2022.
In the regular season, RNG placed 9th in the group table. The team finished the regular season 8-8.
Royal Never Give Up champions
Top line selections are KSante (4 games, 25% wins), Renekton (3 games, 66% wins), Jayce (2 games, 0% wins).
From Foresters: Maokai (3 games, 33% wins), Sejuani (3 games, 0% wins), Graves (2 games, 50% wins), Poppy (2 games, 0 wins) and Wukong (2 games, 50% win rate).
In the midrange a classic situation: Azir (2 games, 50% wins), Akali (1 game, 0 wins), Ryze (1 game, 100% wins).
On the shooters too, it's pretty usual, except for ignoring Lucian-a. The most selectable champion is Zeri (4 games, 75% wins). There were Caitlyn (3 games, 33% wins), Ziggs (2 games, 0% wins) and Varus (2 games, 0% wins).
Heimerdinger (2 games, 50% wins), Yuumi (2 games, 50% wins).
History of head-to-head oppositions
The teams played each other in the LPL Spring 2023 regular season. Bilibli Gaming won that game, however the match was not a one-goal game as Yagao team won 2-1.
The outcome
This match should be spectacular. I don't believe in a clean win for one side and I see 5 cards as the most visible outcome.
When it comes to the winner, I will believe in Royal Never Give Up here. "Kings" warmed up in the duel with ThunderTalk Gaming, where after the first maps seemed that RNG "deflated", but it was not so, Royal Never Give Up got together and outclassed their counterparts.
Bottom line: victory for RNG.
