2019 LPL Spring Split Primer and Power Rankings

#13 – LGD Gaming

Roster:

🇨🇳 Guo “Lies” Hao-Tian (Top)
🇨🇳 Xiang “Condi” Ren-Jie (Jungle)
🇨🇳 Xie “Eimy” Dan (Jungle)
🇰🇷 An “Ian” Jun-hyeong (Middle)
🇨🇳 Hu “Yuuki” Hao-Ming (Middle)
🇰🇷 Ha “Kramer” Jong-hun (ADC)
🇹🇼 Liang “RD” Teng-Li (ADC)
🇨🇳 Chen “Pyl” Bo (Support)

Week 1 Games:
vs Bilibili Gaming (15th of January) (Hangzhou)

LGD is one of the teams with the highest variance in the LPL. I think they could finish anywhere between 8th and 14th. I have them 13th because I expect this roster won’t be able to make full use of their talent due to inevitable communication and synergy issues that arise from having different languages on the team.

Lies was one of the top laners for a strong TOP roster last split. He was the less successful of the top lane trio but he’s still shown himself to be a competent player in the LPL which is more than we can say for a lot of players that have been picked up this split. LGD would much rather have kept Jinoo who they lost to V5 but they’ll have to make the best out of Lies who is their sole top laner for now.

LGD have picked up a pair of junglers in Condi and Eimy. Condi was once one of the best junglers in China, he was nicknamed “Son of Baron”, but he’s fallen from grace much like the rest of his former teammates on WE. If he doesn’t succeed this split on LGD then I don’t imagine many teams will be willing to pick him up if LGD decides to move him on. Eimy has been retained by LGD and will likely remain the starter, he’s a very average player but has shown himself to be a lot more consistent than Condi.

Ian has been imported from an MVP side that weas relegated in the LCK. He struggled against the stiff competition in the LCK and the LPL will offer him no respite. Not to mention that he doesn’t speak Chinese which is sure to cause some communication issues with his jungler. I think it’ll be a tough adaptation to China for Ian and this will hurt LGD’s initial results. Their regular mid laner Yuuki has also been kept on the roster, LGD clearly struggled with him last season so I imagine Ian will be getting the lion’s share of games unless it starts going very poorly.

Kramer is the best acquisition for LGD this offseason. The accomplished ADC reached the semi-finals of Worlds with Afreeca Freecs after some strong play in the LCK. He’ll have the same communication teething problems as Ian but he has a lot more upside in terms of skill than his mid laner. He may very well be a top half AD carry in China but his performances may be muted by a questionable roster around him. RD was a substitute player for JDG before joining LGD, he’s a veteran of the scene but likely won’t see much game time ahead of their star signing Kramer.

Pyl has played with LGD for over six years and will continue to do so for Spring. He’s been an exceptional support in the past but his power level has deteriorated in recent times. He’s a natural choice for LGD and he’s going to have to lead this team if they want to see an improvement in results this split.

They are likely to lose to Bilibili in their home stadium in Hangzhou but maybe the home crowd can spur them on to victory, stranger things have happened.