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Bilibili Gaming eliminate Weibo Gaming to reach Worlds 2024 Grand Finals
Bilibili Gaming (BLG) are the first team to cross the threshold to the Worlds 2024 Grand Finals, after exacting revenge for Worlds 2023 on LPL sparring partner Weibo Gaming (WBG) in the first semifinals of Worlds 2024. Their victory also denies a back-to-back Worlds Grand Finals appearance for Weibo Gaming.
In what could be described as a clinical treat, BLG displayed superior teamfighting and understanding of their win conditions across the board, as they also showcased why they came into this tournament not only as the LPL’s no.1 seed, but also one of the favorites to take the whole tournament.
For the LPL, and for Legacy
In 2023, WBG ultimately beat BLG in a Bo5 series that went the full distance, eliminating the latter from Worlds in the semifinals. The result of that series, for many, was the biggest upset of the tournament and went on to help shape the final outcome of the tournament in the form of T1’s opponent.
Otherwise, T1 would have had to face off against the LPL 2nd seed in the finals instead. Hence, BLG’s victory in this series not only carried symbolic weight, but it was also a monumental achievement for the roster’s members.
Let me quickly put it into context. The only member of this BLG lineup to have made it past the semifinals of Worlds - is Chen “Bin” Ze-Bin. And that was back in 2020 with Suning, where he lost 1:3 to Damwon Gaming.
Yan “Wei” Yang-Wei, never made it past quarterfinals. Peng “Xun” Li-Xun, semifinals. Zhuo “Knight” Ding, semifinals. Zhao “Elk” Jia-Hao, semifinals. Luo “ON” Wen-Jun, semifinals.
Moreover, for 3 of the members, Xun, Elk, and ON, last year was their first year at Worlds and they made the semifinals. This year, their second year, they’ve managed to secure top 2.
BLG Seek to Make History
“This time, I’m going to be the one to hold this responsibility, to represent the LPL for the trophy” - BLG Bin
BLG entered into the global power conversations in 2023 with an incredible lineup. While they were still behind, at the time, super-team JDG, they were a close second and even managed to make the finals of MSI. Despite all that, they lost to WBG during the latter’s dream run that culminated in T1 lifting the organization’s 4th Worlds trophy.
Heading into 2024 then, BLG’s core merged with JDG’s star mid laner, Knight, who himself had a disappointing end to his 2023 season after facing T1 in the semifinals. BLG dominated the LPL in 2024 and lifted both the Spring and Summer championships domestically. While they fell short on the MSI stage after losing to Gen.G in the Grand Finals, they are now poised for the final contest for the Summoner’s Cup.
A Show Stopping Performance from knight
A matchup very much between David and Goliath in terms of form for the year, there was still a great deal of excitement and hope, especially for the WBG side, given that BLG’s form throughout Worlds 2024 has not been their usual incredible level and WBG had been punching above their weight with some world-class performances.
The draft of the opening game saw WBG open with a gambit to leave Yone open. The samurai currently boasts a mental 63% winrate in the tournament with a 45% banrate on Red Side and has been a dominant pick for the Worlds 2024 meta.
However, BLG was prepared for it and counter-picked the Smolder into Yone, a proven matchup that heavily favored the Smolder. Moreover, BLG made sure Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao had no access to Aurora, a champion he has found great success on in this tourney.
The key decider in this series ended up being Knight, who was allowed to scale into the late game on the Smolder, deleting WBG’s composition that excels at closer ranged skirmishes.
In Games 2 and 3, the same pattern emerged. Jax and Skarner continued to be secured by BLG, given over by WBG, who took Blue Side all 3 games. A Maokai flex in game 2 along with a Xiaohu Lucian was no match for Knight’s signature Syndra. In Game 3, he pulled out the Akali against Xiaohu’s Yone.
In this series, he delivered in true star player fashion, finishing with a whopping 19/1/18 scoreline across the three games he played in the semifinals. This marks the first time Knight will step onto the Grand Finals stage of Worlds. He’s won the LPL, he’s won MSI. Now, he’s a step from Worlds glory.
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Featured Image Source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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