The highlight match of Week 4 of the LPL Spring 2022 was the showdown between Weibo Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix. This was also a challenge that could be considered “tough” for WBG and a pivotal match before SofM and his teammates face the more difficult challenge against the defending LPL Summer 2021 champions – EDward Gaming.
In Game 1, TheShy made a rather “strange” pick with Malphite, a champion that has been out of the meta for quite some time. However, Malphite in TheShy’s hands proved to be surprisingly effective. SofM’s Viego and especially Angel’s Orianna performed exceptionally well with multiple shockwave combos hitting 3 to 4 targets. TheShy’s Malphite was incredibly frustrating for FPX, leaving them with no favorable angles to execute their strategy. WBG easily took a 1-0 lead in the epic battle.
Moving to Game 2, TheShy was banned from his comfortable tank champions while SofM also couldn’t get Viego. FPX had more precise picks compared to WBG. During the laning phase, FPX players showed complete superiority across all lanes. SofM and TheShy were continuously exploited, making it difficult for WBG to execute their gameplay smoothly. FPX easily equalized to 1-1, leading the match to Game 3.
In the deciding game, TheShy played Kennen – a champion known for initiating fights, which was a hot meta pick in the 2021 World Championship. The WBG players executed the match better than in Game 2, and both teams had some high-ping plays. The game remained balanced at all times. However, WBG’s difference came from TheShy’s precise slicing maelstroms as well as timely performances from Angel and Huanfeng. WBG lost the Dragon Soul but Huanfeng was able to deal damage. WBG won the decisive team fight and wrapped up the match.
With the victory over FPX, WBG once again proved their mettle in major matches, while still maintaining a playstyle that keeps fans on the edge of their seats. However, this will serve as a good psychological boost for the team before facing the tough match against EDG. As for FPX, this marks their third consecutive loss, causing the Phoenix to fall to the lower half of the standings and experiencing a rocky start to the new year.