Introduction: The S16 season has officially started, and it’s believed that the majority of players have been paying attention to the recent clashes. The LPL region’s battles are highly competitive. As the matches continue, two teams from the LPL have advanced to the knockout stage: AL and BLG. AL is currently leading with a 6-2 record and a renewed roster, showing very stable results. TES has been a major concern for many; although their rookie bot laner managed a 1v2 double kill against AL, the overall game pace was completely dominated by the opponent. Many fans jokingly call for Waterbro to come back and save the team, even suggesting he switch to support.

TES rookie AD pulls off a 1v2 double kill

Most players are quite familiar with TES, one of the top teams in the LPL region. Over the past few years, the team has undergone significant roster changes, often revolving around their AD player, Waterbro. This season, due to Waterbro’s health issues, he did not participate in the first split, which led to a sharp decline in TES’s performance. They have now fallen to the bottom of the upper bracket and are struggling to secure wins, losing much of their former dominance. Their match against AL showed no room for counterattack, but there were still some standout plays, especially from the rookie AD.

In the first game, he picked Ashe. When Tarzan and Hope were pushing the mid-lane turret, he decisively flashed forward to make a solo play, first killing the low-health Corki, then skillfully kiting and fighting Poppy head-on. With the help of his barrier, he secured a 1v2 double kill. This was probably the most impressive moment in the entire BO3 series, but it didn’t affect the overall match outcome. His Ashe ended with a 3-10 score, while Hope’s Corki racked up 13 kills. The second game was even more one-sided; in just 25 minutes, AL dominated with a 19-2 kill score and easily closed out the match.

Many fans are calling for AD player Waterbro to return, with some even suggesting he switch to support to help the rookie AD. Currently, TES’s bot lane has no presence and gets crushed early, with the rookie support unable to withstand the pressure of the LPL. Honestly, even if JKL returns now, it’s hard to see how the team could turn things around. The players have lost confidence after so many losses and can’t seem to find their rhythm. According to previous reports, Waterbro is expected to return in the second split, but the team’s results then are unlikely to improve significantly.

After AL swept TES 2-0, two LPL teams have secured early playoff berths: AL at 6-2 and BLG at 5-3. As last season’s big and small kings of the LPL, they continue to dominate this year. Especially AL, whose original lineup remains very strong. From this season’s matchups, AL’s synergy keeps improving, with Hope and Kael’s coordination becoming seamless. Last season’s weaknesses seem to be fading. In contrast, BLG’s qualification feels less impressive. Since Bin’s departure, this team struggles to compete with top-tier global teams.

Farewell thoughts

Currently, the four most promising LPL teams are AL, BLG, WBG, and JDG. However, JDG’s performance has been inconsistent, sometimes brilliant and sometimes poor. They previously scored a double kill against BLG and nearly dismantled them, but subsequent matches revealed some teamwork issues. Their overly aggressive plays led to many mistakes in team fights. As a young roster, they still need more time to gel. The rest of the season will be crucial for their development.

What do you all think about this situation?