LPL and LCK Picks, Predictions, Odds June 15

• Two major tournaments happen side by side this week, and some favorites will be in action
• All eyes will be on Victory Five on Wednesday as they kick off their summer season having finished third during the spring playoffs
• Kwangdong Freecs have a point to prove this season in the LCK

LNG

LNG vs Anyone’s Legend Predictions

As things stand, it is Anyone’s Legend who currently holds third place thanks to a 100% win rate after week 1. LNG, who also won their first series during week 1, sit in fifth place but with a win rate of 67% because their series involved three games as opposed to Anyone’s Legend’s two.

LNG Go In as Favorites

During the spring season, LNG finished in the top 6 – fourth place, to be precise – before falling away in the spring playoffs, where they ended up finishing in the 4-6 bracket. That seems to be the norm for them over the last few years, with the LPL Regional Cup finals and the Demacia Cups in 2021 being the last time that they had a podium finish.

There is plenty to sort out in that context for LNG, but for now, they will be quietly confident going in against Anyone’s Legend. During the spring season, LNG’s bot laner Light had a KDA of 7.77 – the highest in the league, with Weibo Gaming’s mid laner Angel second at 6.52. Expect him to make full use of some of the vulnerabilities in Anyone’s Legend’s armor.

Anyone’s Legend Have Started Well but New Roster Could Haunt Them

As far as starts to a tournament go, Anyone’s Legend could not have asked for a better one. They’ve won both their games, a series against Rare Atom last week, and their 100% win rate coming into the second week keeps them high up in the battle for the summer playoffs. Mid laner Forge and bot laner Betty have had particularly good starts to the season and were both easily among the top five players in week 1.

There isn’t anything that blatantly points at them not being able to keep that up this week as well, other than the part where they’ve had serious changes to their roster barely two weeks ago. Coach Water left – incidentally, to join Rare Atom – and so did bot laner ZWuJI, who had been around since AL’s Rogue Warriors days since 2018.

As a result, they had to rope in Harder as a substitute, as late as June 5, shortly before the tournament began. To their credit, it didn’t seem to play on their performance at all. But with stiffer challenges coming up, it will be a real test.

ThunderTalk vs Victory Five Pick

Victory Five

ThunderTalk vs Victory Five Predictions

ThunderTalk will be kicking off their summer season on Wednesday against Victory Five, and there are very few fixtures in the tournament that seem as lop-sided as this one. This was once a team that challenged all over the continent – back in 2019, when they were still called SinoDragon Gaming. They’ve since been Dominus Esports and now ThunderTalk Gaming, without having finished in the top 10 in any tournament barring a 5-15 slot at NEST 2021.

ThunderTalk Not fancied

They’ve had a host of big changes ahead of the tournament as well and now have two new top laners and one new jungler, all of whom have never played within this team before. There is a minuscule chance of such a radical move working out for a team at this level, and we wouldn’t hold our breaths on it happening.

Victory Five’s Form

After excruciating periods between 2020 and early 2022 where Victory Five seemed to hover around the mid-table spots wherever they participated, they finally managed to break through a barrier at the spring playoffs earlier this year when they finished in 3rd place to walk away with ¥500,000.

Prior to the playoffs, Victory Five had finished first during the league stages, and we expect them to rack up a 100% win rate to start off their summer league stage on Wednesday as well. They are in the running to be among the top three or four teams once again and barring an opponent here and there, this league stage should be a breeze for them.

They haven’t had any significant changes in roster. Mid-lander Dream, who had joined the roster in January before being moved into the academy, is back for a second spell with the senior team. Jungler XLB has been handed a contract till November 2024, while both laner Photic and support player ppgod have both been given extensions till November 2023. All of these are green flags and the sign of an extremely healthy team. Expect them to look that way in the face of an unsettled Thundertalk.

Kwangdong Freecs vs Hanwha Life Esports Pick

Kwangdong Freecs

Kwangdong Freecs vs Hanwha Life Esports Predictions

Kwangdong Freecs, who made it to the semifinals of the Spring season playoffs after finishing the league stage in 5th place, will be taking on Hanwha Life Esports, who finished dead last on the league stage standings in the Spring season. Kwangdong Freecs head into this match as the favorites.

Kwangdong Freecs Are the Heavy Favorites

Kwangdong Freecs weren’t amazing in their league campaign last season, winning eight and losing 10 of their matches, but their playoff run wasn’t too bad. They made it to the semifinals but were ultimately torn apart 3-0 by eventual winners T1. There’s no harm in coming short against such a difficult opponent but they’ll want to go into this season by being competitive in every game.

Key to that will be both laner, Teddy. He has averaged 3.9 kills, 1.58 deaths, 4.38 assists and a KDA of 5.24 this year. They aren’t heavily dependent on any one member, so the team will have to pull in the same direction.

Hanwha Life Esport Just Needs to Be More Competitive

Hanwha Life Esport endured a disastrous campaign last time around and will want to, at the very least, get more wins than last time around before even thinking of getting a playoffs spot. They only managed three wins from their 18 games last season. If they want to change their fortunes, it has to start from the very first game.

There haven’t been any changes to their roster and they’ll need every member to pull their weight. Bot laner, Sam D, is probably the most impressive player on the roster. He has averaged 3.1 kills, 1.92 deaths, 3.74 assists and a KDA of 3.56.

If they are to get something out of this game, every player will have to perform to similar levels or better. It is highly unlikely to be the case. Kwangdong Freecs have a great chance to start their season in the best possible manner. It’s in their hands and if they do the basic right, they should win this match. They are as safe a bet as they come.

Nongshim RedForce vs DRX Picks

DRX

Nongshim RedForce vs DRX Predictions

Nongshim RedForce, who finished in 8th place during the league stages of the Spring season, will be taking on DRX, who made it to the quarterfinals of the playoffs after finishing in fourth place during the Spring season. DRX head into this match as the favorites.

Nongshim Redforce Will Be Hoping to Make the Playoffs This Time Around

Nongshim RedForce were quite underwhelming last season with only five wins in their 18 matches and ultimately not qualifying for the playoffs. They’ll be desperately hoping that they can improve on that in the coming season.

Key to that improvement will be their Jungler, Dread. He has averaged 2.33 kills, 2.62 deaths, 4.82 assists and 2.73 KDA this year. These stats aren’t mightily impressive but there aren’t many in this side who have better numbers. This just goes to show that there’s a real lack of high-level quality in this team and they’ll have to punch above their weight for another season.

DRX Should Just Do the Basics Right

DRX will have been a bit disappointed to have lost in the very first match of their playoffs in a tightly contested 3-2 game against Kwangdong Freecs and be hoping to make a deeper run this time around.

They were quite impressive in the league stages with 11 wins and 7 losses last season. They’ll believe that they still have levels to go. One player who will be keen to show his prowess is mid laner, SeTab. He has averaged 4 kills, 2 deaths, 5 assists with a KDA of 4.5 this year. He’s by far their most prolific player and if he’s on song, DRX should win this match comfortably.

There isn’t enough evidence to suggest that the Nongshim RedForce will be capable of causing an upset here. We think that DRX should have enough in the tank to win this one. There’s no need for a brave punt in this match.

How to Watch LPL-LCK 2022