JD Gaming: The Rising Stars of the LPL
The LPL has seen a major shift this year, with emerging powerhouses like Invictus Gaming and Rogue Warriors taking the lead over traditional giants EDG and RNG. However, one team has surprised everyone by dominating the region – JD Gaming.
With an impressive 12-3 record in the fiercely competitive East Region, JD Gaming is just one match behind RNG and two behind league-leading IG. They have already secured a playoff spot and are now vying for a first-round bye.
The Redemption of Qiao Gu
While IG and Rogue Warriors have been steadily climbing to the top, JD Gaming took a different route. They acquired the struggling Qiao Gu Reapers and defied years of disappointment to finally achieve success.
Qiao Gu had initially shown promise more than three years ago when they performed well against top Chinese teams like EDG. However, consecutive playoff heartbreaks led to the team’s downfall in 2016, even forfeiting a playoff match.
In late 2017, JD Gaming took over the team and made a significant change by parting ways with Doinb, a skilled yet unfortunate mid laner. Although the team initially struggled, they eventually found their footing.
An Unexpected Dominance
Against all odds, JD Gaming has emerged as a dominant force this split. Their 12-3 record includes impressive victories over EDG, RNG, and Rogue Warriors.
JD Gaming plays a classic LPL style of constant skirmishing around mid lane priority. They have the most kills in the league, which is made possible by their talented mid laner, Yagao. His exceptional performance on champions like Zoe, Yasuo, and LeBlanc has contributed to the team’s success.
In a recent cross-conference match against Doinb and Rogue Warriors, Yagao displayed his strength by holding mid with an iron fist. His control over the mid lane provided his team with free reign over the Baron area, ultimately securing them the victory.
Can JD Gaming Sustain Their Success?
While JD Gaming made it to the playoffs last split, they were convincingly defeated in the first round. However, this split presents a different story. With Yagao’s consistent performance and strong contributions from the side lanes, expectations are higher.
Nevertheless, JD Gaming faces some challenges. Their aggressive teamfighting style can sometimes backfire, and they need to be cautious of their overconfidence. Additionally, they will have to prove themselves in the playoffs against the established powerhouse teams like EDG and RNG.
Only time will tell if JD Gaming can truly break the EDG-RNG stranglehold and usher in a new era in the LPL.
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