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The biggest regional league in modern League of Legends continues. Watch the group stage of LPL Summer 2023 where 17 teams continue to battle it out for 10 play-offs in the $600,000 tournament, while fighting for 2 spots at Worlds 2023.
Next up is a match-up between Royal Never Give Up and Ninjas in Pyjamas on Day 2 of Week 6. The temperature rises with every episode, so we'll see some hard fights at high speed.
However, it's clearly not worth overdoing it. The two teams are not exactly top LPL participants and you can expect different things from their games. Nevertheless, both clubs are now in the top 10 and nominally qualify for the championship play-offs. This is an argument in favour of "The International heresy" of the match.
We'll try to find out which team will be stronger, how the match will end, and which side will pick up the important points before the LPL summer split continues.
Let's go.
Royal Never Give Up form
We open the match analysis with an analysis of Royal Never Give Up's form. In this 'match', the Kings will perform as favourites.
The bookmakers are on the side of the RNG, as you can see from the odds. The odds of Royal Never Give Up winning are estimated at around 1.5.
Although the figure gives an idea of what's to come, it still doesn't guarantee an easy walk for RNG. In the LPL group stage, one and a half on the favourites is more indicative of a minimal advantage than the other way round. Royal Never Give Up, however, is far more status-oriented than its future rival, there's no arguing with that.
Royal Never Give Up were a serious force in 2022. Last year RNG won LPL Spring 2022, then triumphed in the MSI 2022 Finals, and went on to qualify for Worlds 2022 where they finished in the Top 8.
In the new season, however, Long Corner was worse than before. In the first LPL regional round, LPL Spring 2023, RNG finished in the top-8.
- RNG's line-up: Breathe, Wei, Tangyuan, LP, LvMao .
So far, RNG are moving towards repeating the history of half a year ago. They need to press on and improve their standing in the standings, then they can automatically avoid the top-8.
Prior to the Long Sognega matchup, RNG have a 6-5 series record and a 15-11 mark in mapmaking. The team is in a borderline 7th place, but clearly want to get into the top 6 to Long Converge to play-offs from a nicer seed.
Royal Never Give Up's most popular champions
Top picks are KSante (4 games, 25% wins), Renekton (3 games, 66% wins), Jayce (2 games, 0% wins).
From Foresters: Maokai (3 games, 33% wins), Sejuani (3 games, 0% wins), Graves (2 games, 50% wins), Poppy (2 games, 0 wins) and Wukong (2 games, 50% win rate).
In the midrange a classic situation: Azir (2 games, 50% wins), Akali (1 game, 0 wins), Ryze (1 game, 100% wins).
On the shooters too, it's pretty usual, except for ignoring Lucian-a. The most selectable champion is Zeri (4 games, 75% wins). There were Caitlyn (3 games, 33% wins), Ziggs (2 games, 0% wins) and Varus (2 games, 0% wins).
Heimerdinger (2 games, 50% wins), Yuumi (2 games, 50% wins).
NiP Form
We continue the match analysis with an analysis of Ninjas in Pyjamas' playing form. In this match, they play the second number one.
The bookmakers confirm the pre-match position. The odds of Ninjas in Pyjamas winning this match are priced at around 2.4.
Let me reiterate, 2.4 in the LPL would be a very good bet. It's silly to argue that Ninjas in Pyjamas are underdogs, though: The team has actually just begun its development as a top club and LPL Summer 2023 could be the starting point. Prior to that, NiP have not had much success.
And it is not surprising. LPL Summer 2023 is the second split club since its relaunch on the professional League of Legends scene.
The first tournament for the Ninjas was LPL Spring 2023. There, NiP finished in the Top 13, which is not a bad result for a debut.
- NiP: invincible, Shad0w, Angel, Photic, Zhuo.
After the Top 13 at LPL Spring 2023, Ninjas in Pyjamas have resorted to stand-ins. They touched both the management and the playing squad.
In the active player roster, mid laner was changed. In the centre-back line-up Angel, the Worlds 2020 Worlds silver medallist with Suning, was brought in. He's playing his best so far.
NiP are now 3-3 and have a good chance of making the play-offs. However,
The current LPL split is shaping up better than ever for Ninjas in Pyjamas. Before the game with RNG, NiP's stats are only slightly worse than RNG's. The team has 5 wins and 6 losses, making it into the top 10.
The most popular Ninjas in Pyjamas champions
NiP's top line takes on Jax (3 matches, 33% wins), Gwen (2 matches, 50% wins), Gangplank (2 matches, 50% wins), Jayce (2 games, 50% wins).
In the woods, Maokai (7 games, 42% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 25% wins), Vi (3 games, 66% wins) were unchallenged.
The centre line was most often occupied by Sylas (5 games, 40% wins), Ryze (3 games, 100% wins), Akali (2 games, 0 wins).
Zeri and Sivir were equally frequent picks for the shooter position. Both heroes appeared 4 times, but the former won all his games, and the latter won none.
Ashe appeared the most often in the shooter's position. The archer was chosen 5 times and won 2 games. Yuumi (4 matches, 75% wins), Heimerdinger (4 matches, 25% wins) were also frequent.
History of head-to-head encounters
The teams previously played each other in LPL Spring 2023. Notably, Ninjas in Pyjamas won then.
The outcome of the match
In this match I do not expect a repeat of the history from the past LPL Spring 2023. As far as I'm concerned, RNG look more serious now and are ready to take this series. My bet is on an RNG win, but I don't rule out a NiP maps takedown.
Bottom line: victory for Royal Never Give Up.
