LNG Esports run over Weibo Gaming to qualify for Worlds 2024

LNG Esports will represent the LPL as the region's third seed at the Worlds 2024 after handily disposing of Weibo Gaming in the LPL Regional Finals.

Weibo, in turn, will still get one more shot at making Worlds. With their opponent yet to be decided, the team will need to sharpen up their play, and do it quickly, before what could turn out to be their last match of the year.

LNG burst their way to Worlds

Game 1

The first game of the series was marked by Scout going 11/3/4 on Smolder. After grabbing several early kills, all of which came at the mercy of a Tarzan who was unable to find his footing in the early game on Zyra, as he kept getting picked all over the map.

Ultimately, WBG was unable to deal with a fed Smolder pick that never ceased to ramp up in power and even picked up a late quadra kill to end the game.

Despite Scout's antics, however, it was ADC Gala who deservedly picked up the game MVP for his razor sharp Ashe arrows all game long, which served as the perfect facilitator for Scout's Smolder to take over.

LNG Esports' ADC Gala helped the team secure the first map with a 2/1/9 KDA performance (credit: LPL)

Game 2

In game 2, WBG seemingly lost their bearings after falling slightly behind early. Constantly forcing the issue when at a numbers disadvantage, Weibo’s lack of a cool head quickly became their downfall.

With their pray reeking of desperation, LNG let the bloodhounds loose on WBG, taking fight after fight after fight to end the game with a 23-8 kill scoreline after 28 minutes of play.

LNG's top laner Zika was particularly impressive on his Gnar pick. Not only did Zika solo kill Breathe in lane to extend his team's lead, but his multiple-target Gnar ultimates in team fights ended up being the game's the deciding factor.

Zika's Gnar dominated the top lane in Game 2, securing match point for LNG Esports (credits: LPL)

Game 3

Weibo Gaming showed up to game 3 with an interesting team comp that traded very little front line for loads of both magical and physical damage. Despite putting up a commendable mid-game performance that made up for the team falling behind early, WBG ultimately paid the price for their greedy draft.

While setting up for dragon in the 22nd minute of the game, Xiaohu was forced to facecheck into a bush on Corki due to the team’s shortage of front line. Xiaohu vulnerable position was immediately punished by Hang's Rakan, with LNG picking up two kills and the dragon afterwards.

From then on, LNG was able to leverage the small gold lead they had acquired into several objectives.

WBG, however, were not to go down easily. The team managed to find excellent timing to rush a baron that would give them some much needed breathing room.

And yet, when push came to shove, Weibo's choice of team composition came back to bite them.

With Crisp attempting a flank on Alistar, the rest of WBG was unable to follow up from the front due to having no sturdy initiator with them. Once WBG’s only front line was down on the other side of the fight, LNG quickly burst into the other four members of Weibo, all of which swiftly fell likes flies.

LNG Esports closed the series 3-0, with Hang's Rakan named the 'Player of the Game' for the final game (credit: LPL)

Result: LNG Esports 3 - 0 Weibo Gaming

Time for WBG to find their game

With the win, LNG becomes the third team from the LPL to be attending this year’s League of Legends World Championship in Europe.

As for Weibo Gaming, they will have one more shot at qualifying for Worlds. The team is set to face the winner of NiP vs JDG on Monday (September 2nd) for the last remaining LPL spot at Worlds.

After getting clean swept in the finals of the LPL Summer Playoffs by BLG just the day before, WBG have now gone 0-6 in games over the course of the last two days.

While the team’s confidence may be at an all-time-low, WBG has enough experience on their roster to know these are exactly the kind of circumstances where champions are forged.

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Image source: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games

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