LPL 2022 Summer Split Weeks 1 & 2

The LPL is about to start up again. Not even two weeks after RNG’s win at MSI, the LPL 2022 Summer split week 1 about to be underway. While there weren’t too many changes, and nothing was too outrageous, it’s a fresh start for many teams. Every one of the 17 teams once again have a shot at making playoffs and, more importantly, Worlds. So without further ado, here are the first week of matches, covering the first three days of action from week 1 , and the first five days of week 2.

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 1: Day 1

Match 1: Invictus Gaming vs Weibo Gaming

Weibo Gaming and Invictus Gaming will get the Week 1 action going. While many might be excited to see TheShy against his old team, this is unlikely to happen as TheShy is probably in Korea right now, or in quarantine in China. So substitute top laner Decade is expected to start for WBG. Nonetheless, Weibo Gaming are the heavy favorites in this matchup. After all, Weibo Gaming finished in the top six in spring, while Invictus Gaming didn’t even make playoffs.

However, this is far from a done deal. Invictus Gaming have quite a young roster, with many players being possible future LPL stars. Especially their top side. Zika had a phenomenal Spring Split, and both Xun and Yuekai had a fairly solid split as well. While it might be an uphill battle to start the split off, it is possible that with TheShy missing and with a change in meta, Invictus Gaming could start off week 1 of the LPL 2022 Summer Split with an upset.

Prediction: Weibo Gaming

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Match 2: EDG vs FunPlus Phoenix

The second match of the day will feature FPX and EDG. EDG will look to start their split off with a positive result. This is especially important to them after the negative results last split. Despite coming into the Spring Split as the World champions, they had to play in round 1 of the playoffs, ironically against FPX. Despite dispatching FunPlus Phoenix, they were smashed in their next series against Weibo Gaming. So with that said and done, EDG will want to get their split started off on a positive note.

Meanwhile, FPX will want to repeat last split’s week 1 performance. For those who don’t remember, FPX took down RNG in week 1. While the rest of the split didn’t go as well as week 1, FPX did manage to make it into playoffs. And a large reason why they managed to resurge late in the split was with the addition of their new mid laner Care. While he was only able to start for the last 5 games of the round-robin, he lead FPX to four series victories, with their one loss being to Victory Five.

Prediction: EDG

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 1: Day 2

Match 1: Anyone’s Legend vs Rare Atom

Rare Atom and Anyone’s Legend will start off the action in day two. Rare Atom is a team that barely made playoffs in spring, and made no changes to their starting player roster. With only changes made to the coaching staff, Rare Atom will have to prove that a team that was a gatekeeper in spring can contest in summer. Rare Atom played a fast and loose game in spring, and it’s quite possible that they will bring that style back this summer.

Meanwhile, Anyone’s Legend also made basically no changes to their roster. The one notable change was the addition of Harder, from their academy roster. While he is an unknown quantity, since this would be his LPL debut, AL’s other mid laner Forge is known for being consistently inconsistent. It is quite possible that Anyone’s Legend will try out their new mid laner at the start of the split, and if things don’t work out, Forge returns to the mid lane.

Prediction: Rare Atom

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Match 2: JD Gaming vs Top Esports

The second match of the day could be a colossal one. Both teams ended in the top four in the Spring Split. JD Gaming ended up as the fourth team, while Top Esports ended in second place. Top Esports will want to get their split started off on the right foot, unlike last split where they had quite the negative start to their split. While it is uncertain if either Mark or Zhuo will start in the support role, Top Esports will want to dominate the early game and choke JDG out before they can even get started.

Meanwhile, JD Gaming will want to continue their form from spring. Despite a 0:2 start, JDG managed to bounce back early on. And even their 0:2 start was understandable, given that their opponents where EDG and RNG. After that, they went on a four series winning streak, which was curiously interrupted by Top Esports. Either way, this should be a thrilling match to end the second day of week 1.

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 1: Day 3

Match 1: Ultra Prime vs OMG

The first match of day 3 could decide the future of both these teams. Both Ultra Prime and OMG will likely be fighting for a spot in playoffs this split. While neither of them made it spring, OMG finished closer. Unfortunately for them, they stumbled at the final hurdle, losing a match to FPX, their direct competition. OMG made a few changes for Summer, most notably being purchasing a new support. While COLD is a veteran, he often gets outclassed by other LPL supports. Hopefully Jerry can hope shore up this weakness.

Meanwhile, Ultra Prime made a change in the top lane. After a few splits with Zs, UP decided to bring in a LPL veteran and legend in Zoom. This will change the way that Ultra Prime conduct themselves, suddenly having a much more solid top laner. It will also relive pressure around the bot lane, which was previously Ultra Prime’s sole win condition. Provided that both H4cker and Cryin don’t completely fumble the bag, Ultra Prime is a solid contender for playoffs.

Prediction: Ultra Prime

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Match 2: LNG vs Bilibili Gaming

In the final match of week 1 in the LPL summer 2022, BLG will take on LNG. BLG parted ways with Uzi, who will return to streaming. However, the bigger change was the swap between them and RNG. Bin came to BLG, while Breathe went to RNG. This change might be a positive for both teams, as each top laner fits their current teams style better than the previous one did. And according to LNG’s mid laner, Doinb, BLG have become a monster since the changes. 

Meanwhile, LNG will want to recover after what can only be described as a disappointing spring. After being the last undefeated team in the LPL, LNG fell in multiple series in a row, forcing them to play in round three of the playoffs. Despite being the higher seed, LNG got crushed by Top Esports, sending a team that many had as a top 3 team, home in the top six.

Prediction: Bilibili Gaming

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 2: Day 1

Match 1: Invictus Gaming vs FunPlus Phoenix

Week two will start off with Invictus Gaming taking on FPX. While the first opponents of both teams are much scarier, this match features two teams that are pretty similar. While FPX should end up higher in the standings, both teams are expected to compete for the last few playoff spots. In the spring split, Invictus Gaming had quite a positive run in the middle of the split, picking up a few good wins before returning to their mediocre state. Similarly, FPX had a positive run, but only in the final week, which is when it mattered most.

Both teams also have an interesting mix of rookies and veterans. Both team’s solo laners had their rookie debuts this spring, with Zika being one of the more exciting top laners and Care being one of the more exciting mid laners. This mixture of players that are new to the LPL, like Care or Zika, alongside players with over two years experience, like Lwx or Wink, is what makes a positive environment for the team’s rookies to grow.

Prediction: FunPlus Phoenix

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Match 2: Weibo Gaming vs EDG

The second match of the day is a titanic one. Weibo Gaming and EDG were two teams that, at different points of the spring split, were viewed as a top two team. However, unfortunately for both, they stumbled outside of the top four. In fact, EDG stumbled over Weibo Gaming, in the second round of the playoffs. Weibo would fall in their next series, losing 3:2 to JD Gaming, who were the team to make it into the top four and the double elimination bracket.

However, this time, it could end up being different. And the main reason to suspect this is the likely lack of TheShy. While his current status is unknown, due to WBG promoting their academy top laner to their main squad suggests that he will me MIA for the first bit of the summer split. While against lower placed teams like IG, Weibo might be able to get away with a substitute player, against a team like EDG, it is unlikely.

Prediction: EDG

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 2: Day 2

Match 1: JD Gaming vs LGD

Day two of week 2 features two matches that should, on paper, be fairly one-sided affairs. The first of these will feature JDG and LGD. JDG kept the same roster that made it into the top four, and other than a massive underperformance from one of their key player, JDG are likely to at least return to playoffs. With Kanavi returning to his 2020 form and a promising, young bot lane, this split should be a promising one for JDG fans.

Meanwhile, LGD made plenty of changes, but few of them were actually significant. They brought in Chelizi from ThunderTalk Gaming, who probably won’t see time over Fearness. They promoted their academy mid laner, Haichao, who might be better than YeG, but isn’t likely going to be the massive upgrade they need. And lastly, they brought over Assum from WBG’s academy team. While this should be a big upgrade over Eric, their carry wasn’t necessarily their big problem in the bot lane. They needed to upgrade their support, which is still Jinjiao.

Prediction: JD Gaming

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Match 2: Top Esports vs Team World Elite

Top Esports and team World Elite will clash in the second match of the day. Top Esports will want to go back to the grand finals this split, but this time obtain a better result. They got so close to taking down RNG last spring, but they couldn’t quite do it. This time, with an entire split of preparation and warm up, Top Esports will want to book their spot earlier on in the split, instead of fighting through the playoff gauntlet. Top Esports look primed and ready to make their Worlds return.

Meanwhile, WE are likely going to have a much quieter split. Their main change was to bring in Smlz, a veteran bot lane carry. While this may not seem like a huge change, it is a solid start for a team that got a really bad rep in spring. For most of the split, they played with their substitute jungler, and still looked competitive against most teams, despite losing most of their matches. This time around, they look like they could fight for a playoff spot, but not much else.

Prediction: Top Esports

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 2: Day 3

Match 1: LNG vs Anyone’s Legend

LPL 2022 Week 1 Wednesday will start off with LNG and Anyone’s Legend. Anyone’s Legend will face one of the harder opponents for the start of the split. LNG have made no changes to their roster, and in the direct matchup between every player for every role, LNG have AL outclassed. Even in the bot lane carry role, where Betty is Anyone’s Legend best hope at winning games, he is up against Light, the most consistent and hardest to kill carry in the LPL.

Meanwhile, LNG will want to avoid any unnecessary slip ups. This early on in the split, LNG should have every advantage coming into this match. With better and more experienced players, LNG should, in theory, have a better read on the games current state. With the mid-season patch adding to champion’s durability, it is likely that the meta will change drastically. This is something that LNG should be more than able to take advantage of, and close out a clean series against Anyone’s Legend.

Prediction: LNG

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Match 2: ThunderTalk Gaming vs Victory Five

The second match of the day should be even more one-sided than the first one. ThunderTalk Gaming made a whole host of changes, and while many of them could be positive changes for the future of the team, none of them should be impactful from day 1. Rookies like Beichuan and Kepler could become star players in the future, but they will need time and development beyond a few weeks of scrims and training.

Time that Victory Five is unlikely to give them. Despite probably missing their star player in Rookie, the rest of Victory Five should be enough to close the match out. Even then Dream was solid when he played for V5 in the past. Provided nothing else goes wrong for the side of Victory Five, this should be a fairly one-sided affair.

Prediction: Victory Five

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 2: Day 4

Match 1: Rare Atom vs OMG

LPL 2022 Week 1 Thursday will start off with another interesting match. Rare Atom will want to start their split off by going 2 and 0. This would be an amazing start to Rare Atom, especially considering that they are likely to fight for the final spots in playoffs. Momentum is everything in the LPL, and a weaker team that has momentum on their side can end up taking down a much stronger team. Rare Atom could end up being that thorn in the side of stronger teams, much like they were in Spring.

Meanwhile, OMG will want to avoid starting their split off 0 and 2. As mentioned above, momentum is key in the LPL, but it also works both ways. OMG already have an uphill battle ahead of them this split, wanting to make playoffs but they aren’t the favorites. If they start their split off going 0:2, and against teams that will be in direct competition with them, their split could be over before it even really starts.

Prediction: Rare Atom

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Match 2: Ultra Prime vs Bilibili Gaming

The second match of the day features BLG and Ultra Prime. Bilibili Gaming will want to get their split off to a positive start. One of the most hyped teams in the Spring Split, BLG fell flat, struggling to even confirm their playoff spot and being eliminated in round 2. They will want to change their fortune around and start their split off well. Should they start their split off with a 2:0 start, with wins over LNG and Ultra Prime, BLG could have enough momentum to carry over to the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, Ultra Prime have a great opportunity themselves. While many are commenting on their improvement from their spring roster, this is a chance to push that envelope even further. While many are expecting UP to do better, no one is really rating them that high up in the standings. However, a solid victory over a team like BLG could change people’s minds over how strong this new Ultra Prime truly is.

Prediction: Bilibili Gaming

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LPL 2022 Spring Split Week 2: Day 5

Match 1: EDG vs JD Gaming

Friday’s first LPL 2022 Week 1 match should be an amazing one. EDG will want to get their split off to a positive start, much like they did in spring. Curiously enough, they also faced JDG early on in spring, where EDG completely dominated the map. However, EDG’s good form would soon falter, and they fell out of the top two, than top four, and finally they fell out of the LPL top six. For a team who is currently the defending world champions, this is unacceptable.

Meanwhile, that loss to EDG seemed to positively affect JDG. They learned from their mistakes and looked to improve on them. By the end of the split, JDG were one of the more menacing teams in the LPL. Few had their doubts that if EDG vs JDG happened during week 9 instead of week 1, JDG would have won it. At the end of the day, this match will come down to which team shows up to the occasion.

Prediction: JD Gaming

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Match 2: RNG vs FunPlus Phoenix

The final match of today’s article features RNG and FPX going head-to-head. In the spring split, this match happened in week 1, where FPX managed to pull off a miraculous upset. They will, of course, want to repeat this upset and go 2:0 against RNG this year. That would be a feat in of itself. But, as mentioned above, FPX will need momentum on their side this split, considering they will likely fight for their playoff spot. And if they manage to take down the current MSI and LPL champions, momentum is surely to be by their side.

Meanwhile, RNG will want to avoid what happened last year. After winning MSI, they had a awful return to the LPL. For the first few weeks, RNG looked lost, both meta wise and map wise. Their weaknesses were exposed and they lost silly matches. This cost them in the long run, sending them to the regional finals instead of going to worlds as a higher seed. With their return to the Worlds’ stage already being likely, they just need to avoid making the same mistakes they made last year.

Prediction: RNG

And that concludes the preview of week 1, as well as the first five days of week 2 Be sure to come back next time, to read about the last matches of Week 2 as well as the first few matches of Week 3.

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