In the third phase of LCK, after a three-day break, the matches of the third week officially began. The rising team BFX easily defeated BRO with a score of 2:0. Following this victory, BFX climbed to second place on the leaderboard. Although there is still a 4-point gap with DK, securing a spot in the play-in stage seems to be a certainty. The bottom team DNF has only won one match in three phases so far, and it feels like they are already on the verge of elimination.

In another match on the same day, the legendary team HLE faced off against NS. This best-of-three series also ended in just two games, with HLE winning 2:0. Although Hanwha won, it was honestly an ugly victory; both games were very intense, especially the second match, where they were at a disadvantage in the early to mid-game. It was only in the late game, due to the opponent's mistakes, that HLE managed to secure the win. The current state of Hanwha feels somewhat similar to that of AL.

HLE advances to the LCK playoffs.

After sweeping NS, HLE's season record stands at 17-6. Even if the fifth-ranked NS wins all their remaining matches, they cannot catch up with or surpass HLE's points. Therefore, Hanwha has secured a top-four finish in the third phase, advancing to the playoffs. Their current points only guarantee HLE's qualification and have not yet reached the standard to unlock the revival item; they need to continue winning to ensure a top-two finish to have a revival item in the playoffs.

With HLE's advancement, T1 is close as well. With a record of 15-7, T1 only needs to win two more games to secure their playoff spot. T1 has already achieved four consecutive victories in the third phase, even dominating GEN. Advancing to the playoffs is definitely not in question, and if they continue to perform like this, T1 is likely to surpass HLE and enter the second round of the playoffs. The last direct qualification spot will be contested between KT and NS, and I personally feel that KT has a higher chance of making it.

Shadow unlocks his lucky year Buff.

After BLG defeated JDG, they have achieved five consecutive wins in the third phase. Although they are currently ranked second on the leaderboard, given their current form, it’s only a matter of time before they overtake T1. The change in jungler has strengthened their combat power. It seems true that there is such a thing as a "honeymoon period" for BLG. Compared to Beichuan, Shadow's game strategy is indeed clearer. Most importantly, after he took away ELK's command, the bottom lane has been performing better and better.

In the previous match against JDG, when the game ended, some spectators noticed that Shadow lifted his shirt, revealing his red undergarment. Wearing this during his lucky year means something that everyone understands. Many fans jokingly commented that Shadou has unlocked his lucky year Buff, and he himself responded with a post: "Damn, you guys found out my secret to winning. Truly the second-generation Weibo king, creating jokes on his own!"

Incheon mid-top has appeared 400 times.

In the match between IG and AL, Gala used Yu'ana, achieving the world's first pentakill. Meanwhile, the mid and top duo, TheShy and Rookie, unlocked a new achievement by jointly appearing 400 times. They rank seventh on the LPL historical leaderboard, with the six pairs ahead being Bin and ON. Earlier in August, they also reached 400 games, while LWX and Liu Qingsong rank fifth on the list.

The former WE duo, Xiye and Dajiuzi, are ranked fourth on the list. Before them are Meiko and Jiejie, and Xiaohu and Shisensheng. The most frequently paired duo is Scout and Meiko. All the listed combinations have partnered for many years. Meiko is the only player to partner with two players on the list. Currently, among those still in the same team, only the support from BLG and the mid-top from IG remain.

Conclusion:

The notion of Shadou's lucky year Buff is purely a playful tease from the audience. The reason for BLG's strength lies in Shadou's personal skill, clear game strategy, and his ability to lead. Most importantly, like Xun, he knows how to uplift the team's atmosphere. Recently, the performance of the three carries has shown significant improvement, indicating that they have been cheered up by Shadou.

So, how many more years do you think Incheon mid-top can continue to play?

Feel free to leave your comments for discussion!