JD Gaming vs Rogue

Yet another spectacular clash between two very talented teams: JD Gaming vs. Rogue. Still, despite having stacked line-ups, there’s quite a wide chasm between them, as one would expect. JD Gaming is one of the best teams from the LPL, whereas Rogue — talented though they are — is still a young, relatively inexperienced line-up. Regardless, they’re a fiesty bunch and are graced with a lot of grit, so don’t expect them to roll over and surrender any time soon.

The reason why this match-up is so exciting is because Rogue, in theory, might even stand a chance of getting the win. JD Gaming simply didn’t look good in their first outing against DAMWON Gaming, which seriously affected their stock. Granted, they were up against one of the biggest tournament favorites, but they should’ve still been able to put up a much bigger fight, seeing how they’re widely considered as a Top 3 contender. But despite their talent, they were unable to mount much of an offensive against the LCK champions. A nice rebound against PSG Talon made things a bit less sour, but given how Rogue already dismantled PSG in one-sided fashion, JG’s win isn’t worth all that much.

This clash is basically going to determine who’s going to lock in second place. JD Gaming is obviously favored, but not by a considerable margin — at least not until they’ve proven their worth. They’re not playing with a lot of confidence, whereas Rogue is reveling in their underdog status. They have nothing to lose, after all, and they’re leaving it all out there on the Summoner’s Rift. They know no one’s giving them much of a chance, and they don’t mind one bit. In fact, they prefer this kind of context, as it’s freed of any pressure to perform. They’re deceptively dangerous, especially when they get their comfort picks and start off on the right foot. Larssen and Inspired are a force to be reckoned with (on a good day), and Hans Sama and Vander have more than enough experience and mechanical talent to trade blows with the best bottom lanes out there. Whether they’ll all sync up and put their best foot forward still remains to be seen, but they’re not the kind of team that’s going to implode and then subsequently surrender. Instead, they’ll fight for every inch and if they’re going to lose, at least they’ll try to do as much damage as possible.

Naturally, we’re siding with JD Gaming on this one as it’s the only option that makes sense, but Rogue care little for what the oddsmakers have to say. As a result, expect an absolute barnburner from start to finish!