Teams for the 2021 LPL Spring Split playoffs are locked in

The 10 best teams for the 2021 LPL Spring Split playoffs have been locked in and it’s looking like one of the most competitive playoffs in LPL history.  

After Top Esports and JD Gaming dominated the LPL in 2020, new contestants have come to challenge the throne this year. The teams aren’t exactly new, but instead old kings of China that are looking to ramp up once again. This has made the LPL very close during the regular split and that closeness is looking to continue into the playoffs. With 10 great teams fighting for the trophy, it’s hard to point out a clear favorite when it all kicks off next week. 

Before the teams hit Summoner’s Rift, it’s time to look at the teams fighting for the trophy and how the format will be. 

These are the 2021 LPL Spring Split playoff teams

As the only region in the world, the LPL will have a total of 10 teams in the playoffs. This is four more than the other three major leagues in the world, with the LEC, LCS, and LCK each only having six teams participate. 10 teams will make up for a much longer and more diversified playoff, and the LPL is the perfect region for that. 

With big names in the playoffs and no clear favorite, it’s looking like LPL might be the most interesting playoffs to follow this spring split. Last year, fans only got to see two different teams reach the final, but this year others are stepping up to the plate. 

The 2021 LPL Spring Split playoff teams are: 

• RNG
• EDward Gaming
• Top Esports
• JD Gaming
• FunPlus Phoenix
• Team WE
• Suning
• Rare Atom
• Invictus Gaming
• LNG Esports

The format itself will consist of two king of the hill single-elimination brackets until the fourth round. From that point, only four teams will remain in the tournament and will enter the double-elimination bracket that leads to the grand final. This is also where the first and second seed from the regular split enter the playoffs, meaning that RNG and EDG will skip the first rounds and the chance of getting directly eliminated. 

All matches starting from the first round are best-of-five, giving fans a lot of bangers to look forward to. 

Who is the favorite to win the LPL?

Predicting the winner of LPL is tougher than ever this split, with old kings RNG and EDG showing up big during the regular split. At the same time, last year’s champions Top Esports and JDG have started to ramp up during the final weeks of the split, making the playoffs look extremely close between the four teams. These four teams will all be able to go all the way, but RNG and EDG have the advantage as they won’t enter the playoffs before round 4. 

Looking right below the four giants, two other potential candidates are waiting. It’s the two former world champion organizations Invictus Gaming and FunPlus Phoenix. As if four teams going toe-to-toe with each other wasn’t enough, both iG and FPX are looking like solid contestants as well. These two teams are packed with individual talent but have been a bit more inconsistent than the others.

Only time will tell who wins the first LPL trophy of 2021 and a ticket to the Mid-Season Invitational. One thing is for sure though, it will be difficult to predict the outcome before the teams hit Summoner’s Rift. 

When is the 2021 LPL Spring Split playoffs? 

The 2021 LPL Spring Split playoffs start on April 1. It will start out with a best-of-five between iG and Rare Atom, concluding the first round of the playoffs the day after with LNG against Suning. From that point forward, the matches will only get harder and won’t include a lower bracket until the fourth round. The grand final will take place on April 18 and will conclude the first half of the 2021 LPL season.