OMG has been the favorite to win almost every Chinese League of Legends event since World Elite’s decline in early 2013. But because of their instability in the support role and the rise of Edward Gaming, StarHorn Royal Club, and LGD Gaming, OMG could well be the first team to lose two best of fives in a row and find themselves in last place.

While all four teams will have a spot in the 2014 Regional Qualifier regardless of their placement, this Playoffs event represents our first real look into who might represent China at the 2014 World Championships. With a grueling best-of-five, double elimination format and four closely matched teams, surprises are ensured. We have the breakdown, but it’s up to you to catch the action.

THE FORMAT

A few Chinese analysts have focused on an inexperience with best of fives as a glaring weakness of LPL teams looking to compete in international events. This led Tencent to change the format to a best of five, double elimination bracket for 2014 LPL Summer Playoffs that will give even the fourth place team practice in two best of fives at the highest level of competition China has to offer.

Four teams will compete in a total of six best of fives starting August 19th at 1:00AM PST. One best-of-five a night offers plenty of action for spectators to see who sinks or swims when fast adaptation and endurance is required to be the best.

THE TEAMS

Edward Gaming

As the reigning LPL champions, EDG’s presence in this tournament guarantees that all four participants have a spot in the 2014 World Championship Qualifiers, as they have already ensured themselves a place. They ended the LPL regular season in first, taking the title from OMG’s clutches, after a split of on-again-off-again performances in the early game.

Ming “Clearlove” Kai, the team’s jungler and MVP point leader for the summer split, either finds the perfect ganks or struggles to impact the game, and Ceng “U’ Long’s roam as a mid laner has been lacking. A high level of kill participation across the team both suggests a great degree of skill in the team fight and a lack of individual play-making. If some of the more aggressive teams can punish EDG’s early indecision effectively, they could pull an upset, but EDG’s strong team fighting and ability to adapt after a single game loss won’t make it easy.

OMG

OMG probably has the strongest solo laners in China, but the instability in their support role has been crippling. San is an AD carry who is very dependent upon his support player, and struggles with Cloud’s attitude have forced OMG to start Dada7. Dada7’s lackluster performances both in team phase and in lane have upset OMG’s synergy, forcing them to revert back to their early season style. They lack wards and recently got out-rotated by Young Glory, the seventh place LPL team.

If OMG wants to climb back to the top, they have an uphill battle to fight. They’ll have to pull double duty in scrims to regain their synergy and compensate for the playmaking hole Cloud left behind. Historically, when we’ve mistakenly counted OMG out based on a roster move, they’ve surprised us and rocketed to the top. If they can pull it together again, they can make waves in the playoffs.

StarHorn Royal Club

At the start of the split, StarHorn Royal Club focused too much attention on their star bottom lane. Putting most of their gold on Uzi got SHRC in trouble when he over-extended. A shift in the metagame to 2v2s has freed up inSec’s jungle pathing and allowed better synergy with their mid laner. The team is now more in sync, and when Uzi and inSec over-extend, the entire squad follows and makes the best of it.

Strong vision control or forcing a 2v1 might put SHRC onto the back foot. InSec has a tendency to dive in a 2v1 situation, and a smart teleport or a countergank lying in wait can ruin SHRC’s day. SHRC also hasn’t been tested as much in best-of scenarios as some of the other teams in the tournament, and the new format could cause them to trip on the way to the top.

LGD Gaming

LGD Gaming’s rise to Playoffs can easily be described as a cinderella story. Pyl, the support and captain, has been a figure in the Chinese LoL scene since 2011. Both their AD carry, XQ, and mid laner, We1less, are new to the team as of this split, but they’ve proven themselves potent carry forces. We1less’ roam presence is a boon when their jungler, Quan, fails to perform, and XQ is part of a new generation of leaders in the ADC role.

LGD falls when it comes to inexperience and control of the top side of the map. 17 and Quan don’t have the skill to hold off against some of the monster top and jungle duos in this Playoff tournament, and they’ll struggle without We1less’ help. The team is creative and has a powerful grasp of macro strategy, but there’s only so much they can do against the team fight prowess of EDG or the meshing talents of SHRC.

Regardless of who is crowned victorious, this playoffs event is sure to test endurance and to give viewers some much-needed insight going into the World Qualifier. Clear your schedule for the first best of five between LGD Gaming and Edward Gaming on August 19th at 16:00 China Time or 1 am Pacific TIme / 10:00 Central European Summer Time.