In the first stage group matches of the LPL, the schedule is more than halfway through. On the previous match day, OMG from the Phoenix group swept UP, securing their second win of the season. Their overall points tied with LGD, and with the top two advancing to the Knight’s Path, OMG remains in a precarious position. They have played more matches than LGD but have a lower point differential. To make it to the Knight’s Path, OMG must win their final match and hope LGD suffers two consecutive losses afterward.

Another match on the same day was BLG versus TES. Before the game started, few favored Top Esports due to the significant gap in paper strength. However, the result was surprising—TES went the full three games and won, handing BLG a third straight loss. Upsets like this are common in the Pinnacle group, but given how weak TES’s jungle and support were, their victory over BLG was truly unexpected.

TES’s two veterans stepped up in this BO3 series. In the second game, 369’s NAR engaged in intense lane skirmishes, eventually solo-killing Bin. The crucial Baron team fight saw the jungler and duo die, while the mid and ADC chose to fight 2v5, holding out until teammates arrived and leading a team wipe that flipped the game. In the final game, XiaoNaiYou kept shining, with Akali diving over the top to solo kill Left Hand in lane and relentlessly slaughtering opponents throughout the match.

After winning the match with each taking a carry role, during the fist bump segment, XiaoNaiYou boldly confronted Bin. The first four players bowed their heads respectfully, but when it came to Bin, XiaoNaiYou ignored him by shifting his gaze away and just lightly bumped fists before walking off. This move was quite a fan-pleaser. Bin is known for his independent attitude, never bowing to anyone during fist bumps, while other players usually show him respect by lowering their heads, but XiaoNaiYou refused to indulge him.

After BLG lost, Daeny was so upset he slammed the table. During the post-match interview, the media asked why Viktor was chosen against Akali in the third game. Daeny directly criticized Left Hand, saying: “We had a strategy prepared against Akali before the match. If Knight hadn’t rushed to take the tower plate, he wouldn’t have been killed. The team considered banning Akali, but since we had a counter plan, we chose Viktor instead.”

Knight has played for many years and has always been highly praised by coaches, so it was surprising that Daeny openly criticized him this time. It seems BLG has given Daeny considerable authority. However, looking back, Daeny’s draft in this BO3 was somewhat poor. In the final game, both carries lacked mobility, and the jungle and support picked engage champions. As long as XiaoNaiYou didn’t collapse in lane, Left Hand and Viper had no chance to output damage in mid to late game.

However, the mid and top lanes were solo killed during laning phase, so blaming the coach alone isn’t fair. After losing three straight games, BLG’s record is now 4-3. The top four all have 4 points, but BLG’s point differential is lower than AL’s, and they are behind JDG due to head-to-head losses, placing them third in the Pinnacle group for now. If their form doesn’t improve in the next three matches, making the top two seems unlikely, though the upcoming match against IG should be less stressful.

After beating BLG, TES’s record is 3-5. If they can win their last two matches, they still have a chance to break into the top four. However, TES’s upcoming opponents are strong, facing AL and then JDG. A two-game winning streak is unlikely; they might only manage one win. Even if they finish with four wins, TES will still need to go through the Knight’s Path. Given that this roster is not at the bottom of the Pinnacle group, their performance has already exceeded expectations.

In conclusion:

After being swept by JDG, BLG’s performance has deteriorated. Whether they can return to the top two depends on the match against IG and if they can regain their form and confidence. Personally, I think the match against IG should not be too stressful. Dandy knows IG’s mid and jungle well, so the draft should not be as unpredictable as it was against TES.

So, what do you think? Is Left Hand really the problem?

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