Foreword: The S16 season has officially started, and I’m sure the vast majority of players are keeping a close eye on the recent games. The playoffs are extremely intense. Currently, only three teams are left to fight for the ultimate title: TES, already in the finals, along with WE and BLG in the losers' bracket. The upcoming match will be crucial, as the winner will directly secure the LPL's MSI slot. BLG's players were confident before the match, stating they would sweep WE 3-0. If things go as expected, WE will recreate the classic scene, once again becoming the "ticket seller." Back then, it was four Worlds tickets; this time, it's two MSI tickets.

The strongest LPL ticket seller is born

I believe most players are familiar with WE. As a former powerhouse in the LPL, their overall popularity and hype have declined rapidly. This season, they even finished last in the regular season. However, unexpectedly, their form in the playoffs has become increasingly stable. They have defeated several top-tier teams. In the winners' bracket finals, TES easily swept WE 3-0. It feels like the dopamine rush from earlier has worn off. WE played without any structure, and their key jungler, Monki, couldn't drive the pace. It seems their trial period has expired.

The losers' bracket matches were exceptionally intense. No one expected the result of the BLG vs. AL series. These two teams were considered the top dogs of the LPL, yet the match turned into a one-sided stomp. Three games with no suspense—BLG swept through. After the match, AL's head coach took full responsibility, saying it was a pity they couldn't win the games they should have. Their draft in disadvantageous situations was poor, and the in-game execution was also lacking. BLG is a very strong opponent, and stopping here is my fault. It seems the players' champion pools limited the team. AL has five individuals, but their synergy this season has been too poor.

After the match, many BLG players were ecstatic. Coming up from the losers' bracket, they have defeated several strong teams, including JDG and AL, both of which had already qualified for EWC. Top laner Bin even flexed his arm muscles on stage. The confident Bin is back. In an interview, Viper stated that they would sweep WE 3-0 in revenge. The team that is probably feeling miserable now is WE. Their form has fully recovered, but if nothing unexpected happens, they will once again become the "ticket sellers" in this postseason.

In the previous winners' bracket finals, WE sold the first MSI ticket to TES. Now, the match against BLG will determine the second ticket for the LPL. Their chances of winning are very slim. In the second encounter, BLG will be even more cautious. Back in S11, WE had a similar dark history. That year, they went on a Cinderella run, winning four straight series to reach the winners' bracket finals, only to lose the next four crucial BO5s and ultimately hand over all four Worlds tickets to their opponents. At that time, they earned the nickname "ticket seller." It seems very likely that they will be crowned the "ticket seller 2.0" this time around.

In my opinion,

This time, WE burst into the winners' bracket finals at an extremely low cost. Their form and rhythm were undeniable. If the subsequent matches had been played continuously, they might have had a chance to fight for the MSI spot. However, after the adrenaline subsided and a few days of rest, their momentum was bound to break. TES's 3-0 sweep says it all—the players' excitement has faded. But even if WE becomes the "ticket seller" this year, fans probably won't criticize them. They have already done more than enough.

What do you, the audience, think about this?