HLE vs BLG – The Battle Between LCK and LPL Starts
Now that we are in the quarterfinals of Worlds 2024, we are set to see one of the best teams from each region go head to head: Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) and Bilibili Gaming (BLG). Both teams went into the tournament with huge expectations, both winning their domestic leagues and demonstrating great promise. Now they meet in what promises to be an exciting clash between LCK and LPL representatives in the tournament.
But the journey to this quarterfinals meeting has not been smooth for either of the two. HLE had a good beginning but stumbled against their regional competitor Gen.G, while BLG only barely made it through the Swiss stage with a 3-2 record, and the series was a heartbreaker for European fans.
As both teams are surrounded by question marks, it is high time to analyze the clash. Which team has the advantage to book a semifinals spot? Can BLG make a comeback to the LPL after the poor performance they recorded last year? Now let’s take a look at the factors that will determine this quarterfinal clash.
Match Breakdown
In order to identify what is at risk and which team has the advantage, we must look back at the teams’ Worlds performances.
Two things seem to have contributed to this as reasons why BLG has not been able to assert its dominance as many had anticipated. First, their first impression of the meta was not very good. During the early Swiss rounds, BLG struggled but they bounced back. Still, their main advantage – early game aggression and skirmishing – is not as appreciated by the current patch.
Patch 14.18 has brought back macro play where map control and objectives dominate the game. This is how teams are winning: They are picking off opponents and converting those small wins into objective control. Although BLG can perform this style, it is not their best suit. They have spent most of the year dominating the early game and fights, a pace that is not ideal for the slower and more tactical games at Worlds.
On the other hand, HLE’s style is quite good for the current meta, or the current state of affairs. They are best in the late game team fights and are good when games are stretched, which is in line with the slow scaling drafts that are being seen more often. HLE always picks champions that are strong in the late game such as Kai’Sa and Smolder, although they heavily depend on Smolder, which may be a problem due to his recent nerfs.
Another advantage of HLE is that they are not afraid of playing the meta champions. Zeka is great on picks such as Yone and Sylas, while Delight is amazing on engage supports. On the other hand, Doran’s versatility in the top lane is also beneficial for various situations, such as adapting to lane swaps or focusing on strong matchups. In HLE’s case, it will depend on their carries, Zeka and Viper, to shine at the right time.
BLG, on the other hand, will have to depend on the jungle-mid lane to dictate the pace of the game. If they can manage to extend their early-game advantages and snowball them through skirmishes, they would be able to disrupt HLE’s more methodical approach. However, if they cannot force the map early, BLG may not be able to stand up to HLE in the late-stage.
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