After TES replaced two LDL rookies during the transfer period, many LPL viewers joked that TES would 'tank the season', as other top LPL teams invested heavily in reinforcements. For example, BLG spent top salaries on 'White Moonlight XUN' and 'top Korean import Viper', JDG bought top domestic AD player GALA and the outstanding CFO mid-jungle pair from Worlds, and even WBG spent big to build a premium all-Chinese roster (champion jungler Jiejie, Xiaohu, and ELK).

However, something unexpected happened: despite being underestimated by outsiders, TES managed to achieve a one-versus-three streak in the playoffs with their two rookies, becoming the first LPL team to qualify for MSI. After TES secured their spot at MSI, LPL champion coach Zhu Kai revealed a big scoop during a livestream: TES's MSI qualification caused many LPL big bosses to break down, because TES's new-season investment didn't even rank in the top six, yet their results were better than many LPL super teams.

Precisely because many LPL super teams had poor new-season results, many top teams are planning to reduce prize pools for the next segment. Among them, LOL insider 'Lianlian Hongcha' publicly revealed that although JDG will play the third segment with their original roster, JDG's match bonuses will be completely cut. Many viewers speculate that the prize reduction for WBG and IG might be even larger than JDG's, since both WBG and IG have fallen into the Nirvana group, and whether they can even make the playoffs is a major question.

Tian calls on BLG to reach the finals

After TES advanced to the LPL finals, TES jungler Tian and coach Poppy gave an interview to official media. During the interview, TES coach Poppy focused on analyzing WE's weaknesses. Poppy believes that jungler Monki has his own system, making WE very united and 'directional' in every match, but Monki's system puts WE's side-lane players in a tough spot. Therefore, TES used an 'avoidance' strategy to counter WE's tactics, allowing TES to win easily.

Viewers who watched this BO5 should have noticed that WE often grouped up five in the mid-game to gank, even abandoning minion waves and turrets for kills. However, TES players did not actively engage in team fights. When WE players attempted ganks, the rest of TES would split-push on the sidelines. As a result, while WE’s five players shared one wave and got one kill, TES players could take more minion waves and turret plates. Many viewers criticized WE’s tactical system for being too simplistic—after Monki’s system was cracked, they had no backup plan, which meant they couldn't even see TES’s base.

Finally, the host asked Tian which team in the LPL losers' bracket had the best chance to reach the finals, and Tian said BLG had the highest probability. To be fair, BLG is the strongest team on paper in the LPL, as each of their players has high ceiling potential. Previously, BLG faced WE and was overwhelmed by WE's reckless playstyle. Now that TES has successfully dissected WE's tactics, it seems BLG should find it easy to take revenge on WE in the future.

Conclusion

After WE lost to TES, most viewers were disappointed in WE, believing they would become 'ticket sellers'. Do you think WE can create a miracle and qualify for MSI in the future? Personally, I feel that WE's achievement of finishing top three in the playoffs already fulfills their goal, given that WE's investment is among the lowest in the league. The fact that WE surpassed top teams like JDG and AL is already a 'miracle'.