The LPL Demacia Cup’s third stage quarterfinals have wrapped up. On the previous day, LGD and AL clashed in the lower bracket. With AL’s first team training in Korea, only their second squad competed. These young players faced an LPL team for the first time, and unsurprisingly, LGD swept AL 3-0, securing the last semifinal place alongside IG, LNG, and JDG.

Although AL’s loss was expected, no one anticipated they’d be so thoroughly dominated by a struggling team like LGD. This was the only BO5 in the playoffs that ended with a 3-0 sweep, lasting just 92 minutes. Calling it a “human vs. machine” match isn’t an exaggeration. The gap between AL’s second team and LGD’s main roster is quite significant; even a weak team like LGD is hard to contest because their teamfight coordination is on a completely different level.

In the first game, AL’s second team held up decently in the laning phase — except for top lane, mid and bot farm were on par. But once small skirmishes began, things went wrong. At the 15-minute Rift Herald fight, AL initiated on the enemy tank, but their two carries got stuck on the flank and couldn’t deal damage. LGD capitalized with a 1-for-4 trade, effectively ending the match. They then pushed towers easily to close out the game.

In game two, AL again prioritized a strong AD carry, protecting Aphelios. Although their two carries were pressured early and behind in farm, AL managed to secure some kills mid-game and even gained a slight lead on the dragon. However, the economy remained even. In late teamfights, AL suffered from the same problem: players fought individually rather than as a unit. LGD picked them off one by one. Even with the dragon soul buff, AL couldn’t match LGD’s synergy. After 35 minutes, LGD claimed match point.

In the final game, AL’s second team mid laner stood out, solo-killing Tangyuan in lane and having over 30 CS lead at 11 minutes. The other lanes were also relatively even. But once teamfights started, the pattern repeated: LGD’s superior coordination pulled AL apart. Tangyuan, who had been solo-killed earlier, began roaming ineffectively during fights. The match ended at 30 minutes with Tangyuan posting an impressive 14-2-7 score, earning MVP for the second consecutive game.

Even Tangyuan could dominate and earn back-to-back MVPs, highlighting how weak AL’s second team is. The nickname “Training Match God” seems well deserved—Tangyuan performs wildly well against weaker opponents. Unfortunately, few LPL teams are weaker than LGD, or else Tangyuan might have had a chance to redeem himself. But dominating a second team isn’t much to brag about, especially since they’re all rookies.

If AL had fielded their first team, LGD would likely have been the ones swept. The upcoming semifinals will be offline matches, with two teams switching brackets: IG from the upper bracket will face LNG, while LGD from the lower bracket will play JDG. None of these four teams are particularly strong. JDG is arguably the strongest, but their earlier performances were inconsistent, so it’s not guaranteed they’ll beat LGD.

In the lower bracket, IG and LNG have been the dark horses of this Demacia Cup and will likely go the distance in a BO5. Their teamfight coordination is much better than BLG and WBG (at least in this cup). IG’s top laner and LNG’s jungler, both new Korean imports, have performed well. If they review and fix their issues after this, I believe the winner between IG and LNG could take the Demacia Cup title.

In summary:

AL’s second team players performed reasonably well in laning but are all rookies lacking teamfight experience. They struggled with timing engagements, positioning for their two carries, and top lane support. However, after this Demacia Cup, they should have learned valuable lessons. Their strength might even surge when returning to LDL, boosting AL’s second team significantly.

So, who do you think will win this Demacia Cup?

Feel free to leave your thoughts and join the discussion!