LPL Playoffs: Previewing the Spring 2020 Playoff Matches
By s. samek
Here’s our preview of all the action and potential matchups in the LPL playoffs as they prepare to crown their 2020 Spring Split champion!
The LPL regular season only concluded earlier in the week but the playoffs are already underway! Here’s a preview of which teams will be participating in the tournament and what we can expect from the LPL playoffs:
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The top eight teams from the regular season qualify for the playoffs and are seeded based on their final standing from the Spring Split. Seed 1 and Seed 2 receive a bye to the semi-finals while Seed 3 and Seed 4 head straight through to the quarter-finals.
Outside of that, the playoffs play like a regular knockout bracket with a third-place game to decide championship points. The LPL playoff champion will receive 60 championship points and a spot at the 2020 Mid-Season Invitation.
8) Team WE
Team WE are the eighth seed in the bracket. They finished 8-8 with a record of 20-21 in individual games. This split marks their first appearance in the LPL playoffs since the 2019 Spring Split.
7) Royal Never Give Up
The seventh seed is Royal Never Give Up at 8-8, 20-18.
RNG are a strong team but usually struggle to find their Summer Split form earlier in the year and Uzi won’t be taking part in the Spring playoffs either.
It is worth noting, however, that RNG have a 5-2 head-to-head record against their playoff rivals during the regular season, only dropping games against FunPlus Phoenix and Invictus Gaming.
6) EDward Gaming
The sixth seed is EDward Gaming at 9-7,23-18. Their head-to-head record against the other teams in playoffs is 2-5 including a loss to RNG, their first-round opponent.
5) eStar
The new kids on the block, eStar, had a solid regular season finishing in fifth place with an 11-5, 23-14 record.
Despite their low seed, eStar have wins over both former World champions FunPlus Phoenix and Invictus Gaming so far this split that will fill the players with confidence heading into playoffs.
eStar are certainly a team to watch in the LPL playoffs.
4) Top Esports
The first team to earn a bye is fourth place Top Esports at 11-5, 23-14. Top is an organization on the rise in the LPL the past two seasons, as they just missed out on making Worlds in 2019 after losing to Invictus Gaming in the regional finals.
With a roster including Karsa, knight and JackeyLove this team as plenty of talent to cause some of the top teams some trouble.
3) FunPlus Phoenix
The third place team is defending world champions FunPlus Phoenix at 12-4,27-13.
Since their 2019 triumph, the organization have added Khan to the top lane and brought the full Worlds winning squad back for the 2020 season.
It’s worked well as they have achieved a bye into the playoff quarter-finals after an impressive third-place finish in the regular season. FPX are in an excellent position to defend their LPL title in the Spring Split.
2) JD Gaming
JD gaming finished in second place at 12-4,27-13.
JD made quite the playoff run a year ago as the eighth seed, going all the way to the final before finishing as runners-up and a rematch of last year’s final is possible if both they and Invictus win their semi-final matchups.
With seven consecutive match wins heading into the playoffs, JD currently have the best winning streak in the LPL. This roster might just be peaking at the right time.
1) Invictus Gaming
Placing at the top of the bracket is Invictus Gaming at 14-2, 28-11. After a strong regular season, they sit as the number one seed, and with four match wins in a row they seem to be entering the playoffs on a high note.
However, JD Gaming did best them the last time the two played, as did eStar, so IG isn’t completely invincible. But it’s always hard to count the 2018 World Champions out.
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