On the afternoon of April 14th (Vietnam time), the remaining semifinal match of the LPL Spring 2022 took place, featuring a showdown between the “Royal Legion” Royal Never Give Up and JD Gaming. One side was a team that had garnered a lot of trust, with the DNA of champions, but key player Xiaohu was embroiled in backstage issues. Meanwhile, the other side, JDG, was performing exceptionally well, having just obliterated SofM’s Weibo Gaming in a completely dominant match.
In reality, the game state in the first two matches reflected the concerns of RNG fans as JDG faced little difficulty in annihilating RNG. However, when the “Royal Legion” narrowed the score in game 3, LPL viewers began to feel that “something was off.” And there was no doubt when the “comeback” script, reminiscent of the Victory Five – Top Esports match, was reenacted. RNG won three consecutive games, forcing JDG to drop to the lower bracket to face V5, just like Rookie and his teammates.
Witnessing both LPL Spring 2022 semifinals end in the same exact score and progression, the Chinese League of Legends community was extremely frustrated. Many viewers bluntly stated that the LPL organizers had “scripted” the matches to be more exciting, dragging out to 5 games to maximize viewership. Moreover, a conspiracy theory emerged suggesting that this semifinal had a “whitewashing mission” for Xiaohu, as “Little Tiger” was the standout player. JDG members seemed to switch to “choke mode” whenever they saw Xiaohu.
However, all analyses or comments from the League of Legends community remain at the level of speculation and conspiracy theories. RNG had a solid comeback in the recent semifinal, while JDG failed to showcase the prowess of a team that could challenge RNG’s throne. Yet, with the winner-loser bracket format, JDG still has a chance. The only issue is that in front of them is V5, who is also eager for victory after a heartbreaking loss to TES in the first semifinal.
As for RNG, they narrowly “escaped danger.” However, TES is also a team experienced in “turning the tables” and the match between these two teams, both coming off spectacular comebacks, will be highly anticipated, as players like Knight or Xiaohu shining could determine the outcome of the clash.
