Top Esports vs Royal Never Give Up

Whenever two LPL giants are scheduled to take the stage and compete in a five-game series, we ought to clear out our schedules and tune in; it's really that simple. And this particular Bo5 is no exception.

Top Esports taking on the perennial giants Royal Never Give Up is not only exhilarating but perhaps even *historic*. It's a big word, we know, one that is often being tossed around without much thought or care, but we really do mean it. Some of the very best players in the history of competitive LoL will duke it out for a shot at representing their region on the biggest of stages. That's no small privilege, all things considered, and both Top and RNG are well equipped for the task at hand.

And, frankly, the same holds true for a good number of their peers, too. The LPL cream of the crop is separated by astonishingly slim margins. They're all constantly trading blows and saying who's really better than whom feels nigh impossible — especially in a Best of 5 setting. So much has changed since the regular portion of the split that it would be ludicrous of us to make any kind of sweeping statement or to label our predictions as "safe bets."

There's no such thing in the LPL, least of all right now. Not in a meta as flexible as this one and in a region as chaotic as theirs. Both teams have a shot, and both are more than capable of "going the distance."

TES *do*, in all fairness, have a bit more momentum; whether that'll end up mattering still remains to be seen, though. In any case, their run through the upper half of the playoffs bracket has been absolutely incredible and they've also played more games than any of their peers which is no small benefit. Wins over Bilibili Gaming, LNG Esports, and Victory Five speak volumes.

And so now we are left to wonder: will they be able to add RNG to that list as well? There are never any guarantees, but they *have* done enough to earn our benefit of the doubt. So, TES it is.