FunPlus Phoenix has concluded the group stage of the LPL Summer 2021 in first place, and they currently have the best chance to secure a spot representing the LPL at the World Championship. Besides being a championship candidate, FPX can also qualify for the Worlds by accumulating Championship Points.
In fact, with their performance this season, there is no doubt that FPX will be a top contender for both the LPL and World Championship titles. However, according to expert analysis, this team still has certain weaknesses, one of which is… Nuguri.
According to an analysis from New.qq, during the recent group stage, FPX’s First Blood rate was only 43.6%, placing them 11th out of 17 teams. This means that the team had a 56.4% rate of opponents securing the first kill, and this primarily occurred in the position of… Nuguri.
In the post-match analysis after the last match of the group stage, the LPL analysis team pointed out an issue that Nuguri, despite having a fairly comprehensive skill set and being considered one of the top three top laners in the LPL, often dies alone. In the last 15 games, he has been solo-killed 16 times.
Experts believe that Nuguri’s playstyle bears considerable resemblance to TheShy, especially in the connection between him and the mid-laner – Doinb, much like the case of TheShy and Rookie. During the recent group stage, FPX’s top laner has not shown many “carrying” moments as the audience expected, and the Flaming Phoenix has seemingly maintained the habit of “living off Doinb’s breath”.
FPX’s top finish in the group stage has been heavily influenced by Doinb, as in many matches, the “Clown Prince” has been the one to handle all the toughest tasks for the team to secure victories, notably during the nail-biting win against Suning.
Nuguri, with his perfect skill set, always shows a strong ability to dominate most other top lane matchups. However, he often gets caught up in unnecessary skill trades, which are high-risk and high-reward. Nuguri’s solo-kills, if successful, would increase FPX’s advantage, but if they fail, it disrupts the team’s strategic direction unexpectedly.
LPL commentators opine that Nuguri has yet to show a difference within the FPX roster, as he tends to shine when the whole team plays well, rather than showcasing the ability to turn the tide of the match like Doinb.
The reality is that Nuguri is still performing adequately, but much of the reason comes from the excellent support provided by Doinb. While it’s true that FPX’s captain shows his “versatility”, it should be noted that FPX was the team that unraveled TheShy at the 2019 Worlds, utilizing a top laner with a heavy control-oriented playstyle like GimGoon, and taking advantage of IG spending most of the early game in the top half of the map to devise a counter strategy.
If FPX encounters a similar situation, allowing Nuguri to play a carry role in the top lane, then at the very least, this player must ensure that he does not get caught in unnecessary solo engagements and lose health unnecessarily; otherwise, FPX may pay the price for this weakness, even though Nuguri remains a star they are proud to have.