Top Esports Secure Quarterfinals Slot at LoL Worlds 2024 with Victory Over Dplus KIA

The League of Legends (LoL) World Championship 2024 continued with a critical match in the Swiss Stage, where Top Esports competed against Dplus KIA for a spot in the quarterfinals. Both teams entered the match with a 2-1 record, making victory essential to avoid a do-or-die match.

Top Esports, the second seed from China’s LPL, faced South Korea’s LCK third seed, Dplus KIA, in a tightly contested series. The stakes were high, as a loss would mean another match in the 2-2 pool.

In the first game, Top Esports managed to gain an advantage with two early kills during a skirmish, setting a modest lead. Although Dplus KIA managed to equalize over time, a pivotal battle over Dplus KIA’s tier-one botlane tower enabled Top Esports to surge ahead. With a growing gold lead, Top Esports capitalized on their dominance with aggressive plays, claiming objectives like Drakes, Towers, and even Baron Nashor.

Eventually, despite Dplus KIA’s efforts to deny the Hextech Dragon Soul, Top Esports secured an uncontested second Baron Nashor, which proved to be the final push needed to claim victory in the first game, setting the series advantage at 1-0.

The second game began with Dplus KIA’s botlane struggling once more, while mid-laner ShowMaker managed a solokill to balance the score. An intense fight over Voidgrubs ensued, ending with both teams taking three kills but leaving Dplus slightly ahead.

Dplus KIA maintained a slim lead for a period; however, Top Esports consistently found pivotal picks across the map. A successful contest by Dplus turned the Baron fight in their favor, granting them temporary gold parity. Nonetheless, a strategic misstep by Dplus KIA in the mid-lane allowed Top Esports to reclaim the advantage.

Seizing the moment, Top Esports forced yet another Baron Nashor, despite being initially at a disadvantage. With superior map control and sustained pressure, they completed the comeback, securing their place as the second LPL team, after LNG, to enter the bracket stage.

Dplus KIA faces another chance to advance, as they will compete in the 2-2 portion of the Swiss Stage for survival at the Worlds 2024 tournament.