Notes for Tonight’s 4/9 LCK-LPL Slate
5 game slate tonight. Only 2 from the LCK this time around.
LPL
LGD (+425) vs RNG (-750)
RNG are about as safe a play as you are gonna get tonight. LGD is a lower table team with some skilled players, but they have some weaknesses. LGD haven’t been terrible recently, and actually have played pretty decent. RNG had won 4 in a row before losing to IG in a close 3 game series. They are a controlled team that play relatively objectively focused. Their games tend to go longer and it can lead to good scoring that way. LGD can make a good GPP option since when they win they have amazing scores, but I will side with RNG on this one. They care of business against weaker teams.
Players to watch (LGD): Peanut, Kramer, Yuuki
Players to watch (RNG): Langx, Betty, Xiaohu
LNG (+240) vs EDG (-345)
EDG are getting their normal starting lineup back. I would assume they want to stick with this roster and get some games in before playoffs since both Jinoo and JieJie haven’t played since before the hiatus, but there is no way to know for sure so they are still sub risks. LNG are still using Light instead of Asura and I am not quite sure why, Asura has shown he is the better player and more reliable. The subs that EDG are bringing in are good players, so I expect this version of EDG to be better than before. LNG are not a bad team, their top side of the map is actually quite talented. Potential rust in their first game together in a while may affect EDG negatively, but I still think they come out on top.
Players to watch (EDG): Scout, Hope, Jinoo
Players to watch (LNG): Maple, Flandre
JDG (+165) vs IG (-230)
This is an extremely close game between two good teams. It is very hard to make a call on who wins but this is how I see it. IG are the favourites and we all know they are extremely skilled but also very volatile. They can overreach and push too far forward, eventually leading to them falling behind and making it hard for them to fight out of it. The other option is IG just steamroll you. In a very close series against RNG there was a bit of both going on but in the end IG demolished RNG in the final game. JDG are one of the teams who have all the individual talent necessary to stand up to IG. Zoom is very close to TheShy in skill level, and Kanavi is better than Leyan. I give a slight edge to Rookie in mid and the bot lane is even. This game could go either way. I would say IG is a better cash play while JDG is my top GPP play on this slate. I think at the very least this series goes to 3 games.
Players to watch (JDG): Kanavi, Zoom, Loken
Players to watch (IG): TheShy, Rookie, Puff
LCK
T1 (-850) vs SB (+450)
T1 haven’t been exactly great in recent games, they got smoked by Damwon because they had poor drafts and have had multiple 3 game series recently. They may be trying to play against different strategies to practice for playoffs, but they are still an elite team and one of the best in the LCK. SB are still experimenting with rosters and not locked into their final starters at any point. They have some scrap to them but T1 should be able to control it. T1 might drop a game due to their current form but I expect them to win still.
Players to watch (T1): Teddy. Canna, Faker
Players to watch (SB): Route, Dove
GRF (-105) vs AF (-130)
Both these teams have been very poor. Afreeca have probably been the biggest disappointment in recent weeks as they have lost 5 in a row. Normally it would be easy to call this an Afreeca win and move on, but with Afreeca’s massive drop in form and Griffin’s improvement recently it is more of a 50/50 game. I would not touch AF in cash, strictly a GPP play. Griffin also make for an interesting GPP play as their gameplay has improved a lot recently. I want to say AF will win but with how they have been playing I would not be surprised at all with a GRF win.
Players to watch: (GRF): Viper, Tarzan, Ucal
Players to watch: (AF): Kiin, Mystic
Favourite stacks: EDG > RNG > T1 > IG > JDG > AF > GRF > LNG > LGD > SB