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LPL Summer 2023 - the biggest regional tournament in the League of Legends ecosystem continues. The championship continues with regular stage matches, i.e. the group stage.
We are in the 7th week of confrontations and there are very few matches left. Almost all of the LPL Summer 2023 play-offs have already been decided. But not all of them.
Today we're talking about the match between FunPlus Phoenix and Ninjas in Pyjamas, and this is the central confrontation of the day, if not the week at all. The fact is that the final play-offs of the tournament are at stake.
We already know the 9 teams who will compete for the LPL Summer 2023 title and two more for the Worlds 2023. Ninjas in Pyjamas is one of the contenders to make it to the main stage.
Let's find out who will be the stronger of the two in this match and if NiP will continue the fight for a place in the play-offs of LPL Summer 2023.
Let's go.
Ninjas in Pyjamas form
We open the showdown with an analysis of the Ninjas in Pyjamas' form. They will play as favourites in this encounter.
The bookmakers confirm the pre-match position. The odds on NiP to win are around 1.6.
It's good to see NiP as favourites, because the team has come a long way for that. Before Long Songpega of the LPL summer season I did not take them seriously, and the maximum I bet was in the region of top-12, but now everything has changed and NiP are claiming a passage to the main stage with a chance to show results already there.
The first tournament for the ninjas was LPL Spring 2023. There, NiP finished in the Top 13, which is not a bad result for a debut.
- NiP's line-up: invincible, Shad0w, Angel, Photic, Zhuo.
After the Top 13 at LPL Spring 2023, Ninjas in Pyjamas have resorted to stand-ins. They touched both the management and the playing squad.
In the active player roster, mid laner was changed. In the centre-back line-up Angel, the Worlds 2020 Worlds silver medallist with Suning, was replaced by Dream. He's playing his best so far.
NiP continue to hold on to their borderline 10th position in the standings. The team has 7 wins and 7 losses and not a slim chance to catch the top 10, as the gap from the pursuer in the face of ThunderTalk Gaming is 2 series.
The most popular Ninjas in Pyjamas champions
The top NiP take on Jax (3 matches, 33% wins), Gwen (2 matches, 50% wins), Gangplank (2 matches, 50% wins), Jayce (2 games, 50% wins).
In the woods, Maokai (7 games, 42% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 25% wins), Vi (3 games, 66% wins) were unchallenged.
The centre line was most often occupied by Sylas (5 games, 40% wins), Ryze (3 games, 100% wins), Akali (2 games, 0 wins).
Zeri and Sivir were equally frequent picks for the shooter position. Both heroes appeared 4 times, but the former won all his games, and the latter won none.
Ashe appeared the most often in the shooter's position. The archer was chosen 5 times and won 2 games. Yuumi (4 matches, 75% wins), Heimerdinger (4 matches, 25% wins) were also frequently played.
FunPlus Phoenix uniforms
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of FPX's playing form. In this match, the team will play in the status of the outsider.
Bookmakers do not particularly believe in the success of FPX. The chance of the once great club winning is estimated at odds in the region of 2.5.
It is very difficult to disagree with such an assessment from bookmakers. FPX have flopped the season, as they have been doing for the last few years.
Since their triumph at Worlds 2019, FPX have been unable to return to the podium in any way. There was an attempt in 2021 when FPX made it to Worlds 2021, but beyond that, sadness.
FPX's last result was top-15 at LPL Spring 2023. The group stage of the Spring Split was lousy: 4-12 and it's not much better now.
- FPX: Xiaolaohu, Bonnie, Care, Lwx, Qiuqiu.
There were no special rearrangements of the tournament. There were personnel decisions on management, but it does not affect the results.
Nothing has helped FPX improve since LPL Spring. In the summer split, the Phoenix are in 14th place with a score of 4-10. They can improve, but they will never make the play-offs.
Most popular FunPlus Phoenix champions
KSante (6 games, 33% wins), Gwen (5 games, 0% wins), Jax (2 games, 100% wins) are among the most popular champions.
Jungle takes Vi (3 matches, 0% wins), Maokai (2 matches, 100% wins), Lee Sin (1 match, 0% wins), Wukong (1 match, 0% wins).
Kassadin (3 matches, 100% wins), Akali (2 matches, 0% wins), Syndra (2 games, 50% wins) occupy the centre line.
On the shooters, the much-abused Zeri (5 games, 40% wins), Sivir (3 games, 33% wins), Lucian (2 games, 50% wins).
Kicking Zeri and Sivir, Yuumi is also sure to get picked. The magical cat has appeared in spades 8 times and has a 37% winning percentage.
History of head-to-head encounters
The teams previously played each other in LPL Spring 2023. The win went to FPX and they won cleanly, 2-0.
The outcome of the match
In this encounter, there are chances to see a not-so-expected result. Given the experience of face-offs, FPX could clinch the series, but I don't want that. FPX are bad and they need another, drastic change.
I believe in a NiP win and their first LPL play-offs since returning to the professional League of Legends scene.
Bottom line: NiP win.
