LPL

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	LPL
Occupation/Role	League of Legends competitive region and league
Status	Active
First Appearance	1

History

Pre-S7 decline

Before S7, the LPL endured repeated international failures, particularly against Korean teams. S6 was remembered as a “dark moment” that crushed much of the region’s confidence, while LPL top lane was widely regarded as an exploitable weakness rather than a carry position 9 38.

The prospect of the S7 World Championship being held in China intensified the region’s urgency. Clubs expanded their talent searches, while established figures such as Factory Director viewed Xu Cheng’s emergence as a potential answer to the LPL’s shortage of forceful top laners 9 38.

2017 Intercontinental Tournament

Twelve LPL clubs publicly united ahead of the 2017 Intercontinental Tournament, combining their team and player names into an Eastern Dragon poster and sharing the slogan “fight with one heart” 70.

The region’s campaign began disastrously. On the tournament’s second day, the LPL went 0–4, falling below the LMS and prompting a severe public backlash 70. EDG’s win over Flash Wolves in the semifinals restored morale, with Xu Cheng’s Darius twice solo-killing MMD’s Jayce within two minutes 75 80.

The LPL eliminated LMS 3–1 to reach the final, then defeated LCK 3–1. EDG’s victory over KT in the deciding fourth match secured the region’s first Intercontinental Tournament title 80 93.

S7 breakthrough

EDG entered the S7 World Championship as an uncertain representative after narrowly progressing from the group stage. In the quarterfinals, they swept heavily favored LZ 3–0; Xu Cheng’s top-lane victories over Khan became a defining moment of the event 134 139.

Following RNG’s semifinal elimination, EDG became the LPL’s sole remaining team. The region’s hopes shifted toward EDG as viewers and officials sought a team capable of reaching the Bird’s Nest final 140 141.

EDG ultimately won the S7 World Championship, ending the LPL’s long wait for a world title. The victory drove a surge in attention, investment, and commercial interest throughout the league 178.

2018 expansion and dominance

The LPL entered 2018 with greater resources, heightened viewership, and a broader field of competitive teams. EDG, RNG, and IG emerged as the region’s leading “3G Teams,” while the strengthened league was described as a contest among many contenders rather than a repeat of the prior year’s three-team landscape 211.

EDG completed an undefeated 19-match LPL Spring Split and later swept KZ 3–0 to win MSI in Paris 192 200. The LPL also fielded a national team for the Asian Games, marking esports’ formal inclusion as an official sporting event 196 211.

At the 2018 World Championship, EDG and IG reached the final—the first all-LPL World Championship final in league history. EDG defended its title, giving the LPL consecutive World Championship victories 260 318.

Competitive Milestones

Event	Result	Notes
2017 Intercontinental Tournament	Champions	Recovered from a 0–4 day-two record; defeated LMS 3–1 in the semifinals and LCK 3–1 in the final 70 80 93
S7 World Championship	Champions	EDG swept LZ in the quarterfinals and brought the World Championship to the LPL 139 178
2017 All-Star Event	Champions	The LPL Dream Team swept the LCK Dream Team 3–0 in the final 188 189
2018 LPL Spring Split	Champions	EDG finished the regular season undefeated with 19 consecutive match wins 192
2018 MSI	Champions	EDG defeated KZ 3–0 in the final in Paris 200
2018 World Championship	Champions	EDG defended the title against fellow LPL finalist IG 260 318

Member Clubs and Representatives

The LPL’s major teams include EDG, RNG, WE, OMG, and IG. During the 2017 Intercontinental Tournament, four LPL representatives competed under a regional format, while non-participating clubs assisted with strategy-sharing and practice 69 70.

By the 2018 Spring Split, fourteen LPL teams were represented in the season-opening ceremony 191.

Notable Regional Figures

• Xu Cheng / Murder — EDG top laner whose rise reshaped expectations for LPL top laners; his international success made him a central symbol of the region’s resurgence 81 94 204.
• Ming Kai / Factory Director — Veteran LPL figure who identified Xu Cheng’s talent, mentored him in macro play, and helped recruit him to EDG 19 21 244.
• Uzi — Prominent LPL AD carry; represented the region on the 2017 All-Star Dream Team before joining EDG for the following season 183 189.
• Meiko — EDG support and member of the 2017 LPL Dream Team; participated in the All-Star title run 183 189.
• Xiye — WE mid laner and LPL Dream Team member; assisted in Xu Cheng’s early training and later represented the region internationally 21 183.

Regional Identity

The LPL’s international identity shifted from a region associated with conservative top laners and repeated disappointment to one defined by aggressive individual play and increasingly coordinated teams 38 187.

Xu Cheng’s performances were especially tied to this change. His Darius, Camille, Jayce, Riven, Lucian, and other carry picks demonstrated that an LPL top laner could contest and defeat elite opponents from LMS and LCK 75 85 125 239.

The back-to-back World Championship wins transformed the LPL into a global esports phenomenon. EDG’s 2018 title defense generated overwhelming social-media traffic, with its championship discussion surpassing 63 million searches on Weibo 323 324.