After a brief hiatus from the League of Legends Pro League because of COVID concerns in China, we are finally getting into our upper-bracket part of the tournament! For Royal Never Give Up, JD Gaming, TOP Esports, and Victory Five all have the opportunity to make a second run if they lose a series between now and the finals. We have actually seen the last two LPL winners making a run to a championship after a first series in the upper bracket playoffs. Watch out for some possible upsets and huge performances from new faces and veterans alike. Let’s dive in! Note that the DraftKings slate locks at 4:45 AM ET on Tuesday, April 12th.
 

League of Legends Pro League

2022 Spring Split Upper Bracket Playoffs (April 12, 2022) 

  • (-155) Victory Five v TOP Esports (+118)
  • (-130) Royal Never Give Up v JD Gaming (EVEN)

 

 

 

Fantasy Value Breakdown
 

Series #1: Victory Five vs. TOP Esports 

Game Breakdown: This should definitely be the more explosive of the two series. V5 led all LPL teams in kills and TES was only about five teams behind them. Both teams like to give agency to their bottom lane carries (Photic and JakceyLove) which should mean that both Karsa and Tian will make their way many times throughout the series. I fully expect TES to push V5 to their limit at points during this series, their wild and explosive playstyle will do that to any team. In the end, though, the stability through the play of a Photic/Rookie as the carry just seems too good to pass up.  

Favorite Picks: Photic (V5: $11,700/$7,800), Rookie (V5: $11,100/$7,400), Karsa (V5: $7,000), Ppgod (V5: $5,400)

Value Picks: JackeyLove (TES: $7,400), Mark (TES: $4,800), Knight (TES: $7,200)

Cann’s Match Pick: Victory Five (3-2)  
 

Series #2: Royal Never Give Up vs. JD Gaming

Game Breakdown: This will be the series, in my opinion, that will determine a ton of lobbies. RNG is pretty heavily favored but I don’t see too much of a gap between these two teams. JDG will have to rely on Hope, just as they have in nearly the entire Spring Split now. They do have a pretty big glaring weakness and it is Yagao in the middle lane. Yagao was in the top ten mid laners in the death category (73) and only produced 124 kills for his effort. RNG’s Xiaohu is top two in KDA (6.0) and has 170 kills on the season. RNG will need to play through this advantage if they want to take the series, but I think their slower playstyle will prevent them from snowballing any Xiaohu leads. Gala needs far too many resources in team fights to produce while we have seen Hope make advantages out of nothing. This series will be a bottom lane difference, and that difference is Hope. 

Favorite Picks: Xiaohu (RNG: $11,400), Gala (RNG: $7,600), Wei (RNG: $7,200)

Value Picks: Hope (JDG: $10,800/$7,200), Kanavi (JDG: $6,800), 369 (JDG: $6,000), JD Gaming ($4,600)

Cann’s Match Pick: JD Gaming (3-1)  

 

Cann’s Example Lineup

DraftKings Classic – $50,000 Salary Cap
 

Captain (x1.5): Photic (V5: $11,700)

Alternate: Rookie (V5: $11,100)

Top: Wayward (TES: $5,800)

Jungle: Karsa (V5: $7,000)

Alternate: Kanavi (JDG: $6,800)

Mid: Rookie (V5: $7,400)

ADC: Hope (JDG: $7,200)

Support: Ppgod (V5: $5,400)

Team: JD Gaming ($4,600)

Alternate: Royal Never Give Up ($4,800)

 


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