Suning Gaming vs JD Gaming

For our second quarterfinal clash of the week we have a very fascinating skirmish between JD Gaming and Suning. This, in short, is an absolute must watch even if you’re not particularly fond of the LPL. Simply put, a fight between the second and third best teams from China simply has to deliver. And the fact that it’ll all go down in the oh-so-exciting Best of 5 format is even more reason to prepare some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the show.

If you’re after the best, cleanest, and most commanding League of Legends (or, conversely, the most insane fiestas), then you can’t go wrong with JDG and Suning. This, in short, is absolute madness gameplay-wise. Non-stop skirmishing, a ton of bravado, and ten players who will not back down no matter the odds. What’s not to like?! The fact that it’s LPL v LPL makes it all the more exciting and fascinating. These teams know each other inside and out, and while that isn’t necessarily all that impactful in today’s volatile and flexible meta (i.e. things change quite quickly and teams adapt and evolve), it does mean they know whom they’re up against and how to best prepare. JD Gaming, in short, is better than Suning in almost every conceivable way, but they didn’t look all that hot during the Group Stage. Sure, they had a couple of standout moments, a few flashes of brilliance here and there, but it wasn’t as dominant as most of us expected. Their final game against DAMWON does instil us with a bit of confidence, though, and that’s important. They fought tooth and nail and actually managed to get a win over the biggest tournament favorites. That, of course, means very little seeing how it was just one game, but that’s all they need. That, in short, is the ultimate confidence boost.

It’s also a reminder that they definitely have what it takes to go deep into Worlds. They’re tied with Top Esports with five wins apiece and can rightfully be deemed as one of the best teams that have ever stepped foot on the Worlds stage. Still, their inherent volatility and sheer aggression don’t always pan out, and it’s hard to predict which shade of JDG will come out and play.

Suning, in that regard, isn’t much different. You can’t be insanely aggressive and not make an egregious mistake from time to time, although they did, to be fair, improve as the Group Stage went along. So much so, in fact, that they outclassed G2 Esports — the former World Championship finalists — with relative ease. It was an insanely competitive affair, but they found a way to win and that’s the only thing that matters. SofM, in particular, has been dominating beyond measure and is rightfully considered as one of the best, most creative and cerebral junglers in the world right now. His impact alone makes Suning an incredibly dangerous contender.

Still, they’re up against a team that’s stronger in every way, shape, and form, even though they might not always show it. JDG know what Suning brings to the table and if they prepare accordingly, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be able to emerge victorious. It’s not going to be easy, but they have all the right tools to get the win and advance further into the semifinals.

In any case, regardless of the final outcome, we should be in for one heck of a ride! Make sure not to miss it, as a clash between two LPL behemoths always ends up being a sight to remember. This Best of 5 should be no different.