The LPL will now have two teams in the bracket stage after Bilibili Gaming defeated Golden Guardians.
Image courtesy of LoL Esports.
Bilibili Gaming has become the first team in the Mid-Season Invitational 2023 play-in stage to secure its spot in the next round. This comes after BLG secured a hard-fought victory over the LCS' Golden Guardians. BLG's 2-1 win was the tournament's first series to go to all three games with GG being sent to the lower bracket for one more chance at making it to the bracket stage.
This win now puts both LPL teams into the bracket stage, further increasing the region's chances of lifting yet another MSI trophy. As for GG, their journey isn't over yet with the lower bracket still to play for. Although, they will have to play an additional best-of-five to get to the bracket stage, provided they win their next best-of-three first.
Bilibili Gaming
vs
Golden Guardians - Game 1
Heading into game one, BLG started the series on the front foot with Chen "bin" Ze-Bin getting two quick kills in the top lane. BLG would go on to pick up more kills as the early game progressed, but GG would respond with some kills of their own with Kim "River" Dong-woo picking up the first two kills for the team.
But as soon as GG would find their momentum to try and steal the rift herald from BLG, it spelt disaster with bin taking the plaudits for an inch-perfect initiation on his Gnar. This also gave Ceng "YaGao" Qi and Zhao "Elk" Jia-Hao the chance to grab double kills of their own to team wipe GG. From that point on, BLG would push the advantage by taking out multiple lane turrets, including the midlane inhibitor turret under 20 minutes.
GG would try to steal a dragon from BLG soon after and they were successful, but not without losing two members in the process. And given that risky play, this opened up the doors for BLG to take the baron without any contest. From there, they would go on to finally break the midlane inhibitor and then go back for a second baron just a few minutes later. With GG not fully contesting it, BLG took it as an invitation to try and end the game.
BLG's decision to split-push both the top and middle lanes proved to be a smart play, stretching GG's defences thin and knowing they can't defend both sides at once. And once BLG were fully in GG's base, it was only a matter of time before bin found another perfect initiation to start the teamfight while also picking up a triple kill to end the first game.
Bilibili GamingvsGolden Guardians - Game 2
Given how well Gnar, Vi, and Ahri worked for BLG in game one, they decided to go for the same three picks in the second. As for GG, they went with a totally different composition to throw BLG off. And it didn't work out for them with BLG taking two quick kills along after an overextension from GG. Elk would go on to cause further misery for Trevor "Stixxay" Hayes after the first blood by getting two more kills on him in the first five minutes.
However, Choi "huhi" JaeHyeon did manage to shut down Elk while also putting GG on the scoreboard. A couple of minutes later, it was Peng "XUN" Li-Xun's turn to get in on the action with a double kill of his own in the top-side river. He would soon be put down by Eric "Licorice" Ritchie, who also got dropped by YaGao almost immediately after. While the early game was mostly going BLG's way, GG would still somehow manage to find pick-offs to keep themselves in contention.
Even with BLG building a strong lead in kills, GG managed to stay close behind in terms of gold and experience, something they couldn't in game one. GG's ability to find key BLG members out of position and burst them down in seconds was tantamount to the LCS team's ability to bounce back from a bad start to the early game. But heading into the mid-game portion, BLG was able to find their groove with some good pick-offs of their own to maintain their lead.
But when Elk took out River to start a five-versus-four teamfight, it was GG who came out on top in the end with some good play from Kim "Gori" Tae Woo, Licorice, and Stixxay, taking out three from BLG. With the game now firmly even at all odds, GG looked to take baron from under BLG's noses, who ended up contesting as well. But a good initiation once again from Licorice, this time on to Elk, gave GG the perfect window to burst him down.
This opened the floodgates for GG as they ended up taking two more to their graves, along with the baron for good measure. And now with their backs firmly against the wall, BLG would once again go for a five-versus-four teamfight against GG for the drake. Sadly, it all ended in disaster with the LPL second seed losing all five members in a flash with Stixxay and Gori picking up double kills along the way.
Even with the lead GG had, they still couldn't fully push into BLG's base, who held their ground well. BLG even managed to corral GG into a chokepoint, which was the opening Elk needed to unload with his Jinx to secure a triple kill while Licorice got shut down by XUN. But as the game wore on into the later stages, BLG could not keep up against GG, who would eventually force their way into the base and end it there and then.
Bilibili GamingvsGolden Guardians - Game 3
With the series now tied, game three was what settled it and BLG stuck by their guns to pick Vi for a third straight game. On the other hand, GG would go on to pick Vi for the second time in three games. And like in game two, Elk would get the first blood on Stixxay once more after a good rotation from XUN, who ended up taking out huhi as well. A few minutes later, Elk takes out Stixxay yet again, thus proving that BLG's early-game dominance is nothing to scoff at.
Then again, GG has proven to be able to bounce back from early setbacks and they did just that in game three as well. But there were early warning signs for GG that it was going to be a tough fight after losing a five-versus-four yet again with Licorice and Gori paying with their lives. As game three wore on, it was clear BLG was on another level with their coordination and timing, putting GG in uncomfortable situations throughout the game.
Battles were constant in this series and game three was no different with both teams going at each other multiple times. One fight in particular right before the 20-minute mark broke out saw seven casualties from both sides; three from BLG and four from GG. The LPL side would soon go on to show further dominance by expertly pushing down GG's lanes without much trouble, taking out two inhibitors by 25 minutes.
Two minutes later, BLG would walk into GG's base once again, this time through the top lane. Bin played his part to perfection, standing in the front lines and tanking all of GG's damage without breaking a sweat. And with a good support system of XUN waiting in the rear when needed, there wasn't much else GG could do except call the game.
