The LCK 2021 Summer Split has hit the mid-way point. With four weeks left, let’s take a look at what has happened so far and make a brief recap with some of my considerations.
DAMWON KIA are not the LCK kings anymore
The signs of struggles were already visible during MSI, as support player Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee had a string of poor performances, which almost got DAMWON KIA eliminated early on. We previously covered how the team had been performing below the standards we were used to. Despite fixing some of the issues, DAMWON KIA have not been as dominant as the previous splits. The team’s flaws (both players’ mistakes as well as suboptimal drafting) are taking a toll on the overall performance, and it feels other teams have closed the previously existing gap.
DAMWON KIA’s inconsistent performance is a looming question in this split. It’s hard to gauge if they have been poor, or others have improved significantly. Currently, DAMWON KIA are clearly a shell of their former self, and the team needs to make major strides to reach its true potential. That said, they boast one of the most talented rosters and can defeat anyone when at their best.
It will be hard for DAMWON KIA to defend the LCK title, let alone recapture the Worlds trophy. They are still decent but clearly far away from being the undisputed kings in Korean League of Legends.
Nongshim Redforce: the dark horse of the LCK
The surprise of this Summer Split so far has been Nongshim Redforce. In a region where the same few teams dominate every season, it’s always exciting to see a new competitor rise from the mid-pack.
Their sudden growth has caught both fans and pundits off guard. That said, there are two main reasons for their success in this split. The first and most important one is the addition of mid laner Kim “Gori” Tae-wooto to the roster. A former substitute for Edward Gaming, Gori has convinced everyone that he’s worthy of a starting spot. He has been a consistent performer for NS and boasts a wide champion pool. In a nutshell, he is the exact opposite of NS’s former mid laner Park “Bay” Jun-byeong, who struggled heavily in the previous split.
The other reason for NS’s newfound success is the resurgence of Han “Peanut” Wang-ho’s in the Jungle. His recent performances are reminiscent of days when he used to play for SK Telecom and dominate the league. After a string of disappointing few splits, it seems like he has regained his mojo. Furthermore, the current meta favors early-game junglers, which is a category he excels in. Elise and Lee Sin used to be his go-to pick when he was with SKT T1, and fortunately, this has again been the case this split.
Now that NS is sitting in 2nd place, behind Gen.G Esports, it’s logical to put them into contention for a spot to Worlds 2021. It would surely be exciting to see a new face at Worlds 2021, and considering DAMWON KIA’s struggles, it could easily come to fruition.
Chovy and Pyosik woes continue
Speaking of teams underperforming, Hanwha Life Esports and DRX have been the big disappointments of the LCK so far.
After placing third in the last split, expectations were high for HLE this summer. Instead, HLE is struggling and cannot even make the top six. They are currently in the eighth position, with a poor 4-7 record. With only seven games left, their chances of making the playoffs are getting slimmer.
However, Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon is still playing exceptionally and has been the sole shining star for HLE. The prodigy mid laner is considered to be one of the best in the world, and this is evident in HLE games as he does the majority of the heavy lifting. Chovy’s valiant efforts are going in vain, which has been disheartening to see. After leaving DRX due to a poor Worlds 2020, Chovy was hoping to get a better shot with HLE, but a spot in Worlds 2021 seems like a pipe dream now.
Chovy is not the only player that is part of an underperforming organization. Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon has been a lone warrior on the struggling DRX roster split. After an impressive previous split, DRX decided to build a new squad with Pyosik as the primary carry. The plan, however, has not worked out for any party as DRX are currently sitting at the bottom of the points table.
After a decent Spring Split, where DRX finished 5th, things have gone south for the team. They are currently last in the standings, with only one win to their tally. The strategy of scouting new players with the hopes of finding another Pyosik is not succeeding as of now.
The abysmal performance is also taking a toll on Pyosik’s gameplay. Junglers heavily rely on teammates to win the game, and Pyosik has not been able to do much except watch due to their poor performances. This could be detrimental to his confidence and overall worth if he decides to switch rosters in the future.
