A few days ago, in the opening match of week 2 of LPL Summer 2022, Weibo Gaming suffered a defeat against EDward Gaming – the reigning 2021 World Champions. Although EDG is a strong team, the way WBG lost was something fans found hard to swallow. Notably, EDG was previously WBG’s nemesis during Spring 2022, having lost all three encounters. Hence, SofM and his teammates’ loss has sparked a lot of controversy.
There are three reasons that the League of Legends community in China, the media, and some experts have listed as the main factors leading to WBG’s defeat.
The calling ability of the players
This is the biggest weakness that has persisted throughout many seasons for WBG, ever since SwordArt left. Currently, there is no real leader in WBG. In fact, many teams no longer follow the formula of “one main caller and other members follow.” However, there will always be someone decisive who makes the final decisions during critical moments in the game.
This is a shortcoming for WBG. When the team operates smoothly, everything is fine. But when faced with emergencies that require sound or spontaneous decisions, WBG struggles. The players are often indecisive in various situations. When they need to speed up the pace of the game, they still play sluggishly. And when they need to retreat due to being unable to engage in fights, they hesitate and get caught out by their opponents.
The players’ form
In recent matches, it seems the WBG players have not been in their best form. TheShy unexpectedly experimented with Anivia, and even when playing Kayle, he didn’t always perform at his best. Support ON remains inconsistent, while Angel, after shining with Ahri, continues to show weaknesses with Orianna – a champion he was once considered proficient with. Even in team fights, Angel does not deliver the explosive plays needed, and the nature of his champion further exacerbates WBG’s struggles.
The players’ mentality
In critical situations, WBG members exhibit a lack of calmness and unnecessary impatience, exemplified by Huanfeng. This is somewhat related to WBG not having a true leader to stabilize the team’s spirit. This role was previously filled by SwordArt. However, without a true leader like SwordArt, things have become more challenging for WBG.
Conclusion
WBG’s journey in LPL Summer 2022 is still long. However, SofM and his teammates need to make adjustments quickly if they do not want to spend another season watching the World Championship from home.