With this win, LNG Esports are confirmed to be LPL's third seed into Worlds.
LPL now has its third seed for the 2024 League of Legends World Championship, with LNG Esports securing the spot after a dominant 3-0 victory over Weibo Gaming in the Regional Finals on Saturday (August 31). This win not only guarantees LNG's place at Worlds but also serves as retribution for their earlier playoff defeat.
LNG Esports, a powerhouse in the LPL, wrapped up the regular season in second place, tied with Bilibili Gaming at 7-1 during the Rumble Stage.
Despite facing difficulties in the Playoffs—being swept 3-0 by Top Esports in the Upper Bracket Semifinals and then narrowly losing 3-2 to Weibo Gaming in the Lower Bracket Semifinals—LNG's consistent performance throughout the 2024 season earned them 70 championship points.
This was enough to secure their position in the LPL Regional Finals, placing them in third/fourth alongside Top Esports and Weibo Gaming.
Weibo Gaming, meanwhile, finished third in the Rumble Stage of the regular season, securing a Round 3 slot in the LPL Summer Playoffs.
In the Playoffs, Weibo Gaming began strong, defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas 3-1 in Round 3. However, their momentum was halted in the Upper Bracket Semifinals, where they were swept 3-0 by Bilibili Gaming, forcing them into the Lower Bracket.
There, Weibo showed resilience, edging out LNG Esports in a tense 3-2 series during the Lower Bracket Semifinals. They then pulled off a 3-2 upset against Top Esports in the Lower Bracket Final, earning a spot in the Grand Finals against Bilibili Gaming. Unfortunately, Weibo's run ended with a 3-0 defeat in the Grand Finals.
Weibo Gaming’s overall performance throughout the 2024 season earned them 130 Championship points, which qualified them for the LPL Regional Finals. However, their hopes of making it to Worlds were dashed in the Regional Finals against LNG Esports.
Here's a recap of the matches:
The first game of the series saw both teams on equal footing during the laning phase, with each side trading map objectives and kills. However, LNG began to pull ahead during team fights and skirmishes, gradually widening the gold and power gap. After a 28-minute game, with a 19-7 kill lead, LNG destroyed Weibo’s base, taking the first win.
LNG carried their momentum into the second game, dominating on all fronts. They controlled map objectives and consistently outplayed Weibo in team fights. Despite Weibo’s efforts to fight back, LNG found ways to shut down their opponents’ attempts to regain control. The game concluded in 28 minutes, with LNG securing a 23-8 kill lead and taking down Weibo’s base to reach match point.
In the third and final game, Weibo tried to keep up with LNG, managing to stay close in gold until the mid-game. However, during a crucial Baron fight, Weibo faltered, while LNG executed a decisive play that led to their victory in the team fight. LNG then cleanly aced Weibo and marched down to destroy the Nexus after a 34-minute encounter, finishing with a 20-10 kill lead.
With this commanding 3-0 victory, LNG Esports has qualified for Worlds 2024 as the LPL’s third seed, joining LPL Summer Champions Bilibili Gaming (1st seed), and Top Esports (2nd seed).
BLG have cemented their spot at Worlds by winning the LPL Summer Championship title. Top Esports, on the other hand, qualified by accruing the most championship points (aside from the Summer Split champion) at 150 points.
For Weibo Gaming, their season ends here, as they miss out on the chance to compete in the biggest League of Legends esports event of the year.
