Match Prediction: Hanwha Life Esports - DRX | LoL
LCK Spring 2024 - Group StageWelcome to EGamersWorld.
We continue to traverse the League of Legends competitive scene with regular season matches of the strongest league in professional LoL. We are already talking about the third game day of the group stage.
It will be opened by DRX and Hanwha Life Esports. Although not the most high-profile matchup, it's definitely worth watching.
We'll see which team will be stronger and earn the win. By the way, this will be the second match for DRX, while HLE will be making their debut at the tournament.
Watch.
HLE uniforms
Let's start the analysis of the match with the analysis of HLE form. In this match, the team plays the first number one, with odds to win at around 1.1.
HLE, being a solid mid-table side, can reach the late stages of the regular split. And it started to happen only in 2023. Before that, in the 2022 season, HLE were the worst team in the race, twice finishing in the top 10 in regular splits.
They managed to improve by 2023, after a major Reshuffle. Two reigning world champions joined the HLE roster, which strengthened the club considerably.
- HLE roster: Doran, Peanut, Zeka, Viper, Delight.
With the addition of Zeka and Kingen to the HLE lineup, it was clearly more vigorous. So much so that they made it to the top 4 of LCK Spring 2023. The latest addition to HLE is Grizzly, a jungler who got promoted from the academic roster.
It seems to be working out pretty well. HLE finished in the top 3 in the regular season, which with teams like Dplus, T1 and other top teams is pretty good.
In the first play-offs match HLE warmed up against DRX. Nominally reigning world champions couldn't do anything against their visions and HLE easily closed the match with the score 3-0.
Then the situation was not so rosy: HLE ran into Gen.G and fell 0-3. The favour went to the bottom set of play-offs, but it did not save them for long.
Hanwha Life Esports faced KT Rolster in the first match of the last chance grid. The pressure was too hard and HLE was washed away: 0-3 and a play-offs exit, and at the same time not a pass to Worlds 2023.
They tried to make it to the Worlds in the regional finals, but again failed. They finished the final LCK tournament of the season in the top 3, failing to use either of their two attempts to qualify for Worlds: they lost first to KT Rolster 1-3 and then to Ledge or DPlus KIA with the same score.
Hanwha Life Esports Champions
HLE utilise a wide pool of characters for the top line. The most popular are Gnar (12 matches, 75% wins), KSante (5 matches, 40% wins), Ornn (4 matches, 75% wins), and Sion (4 matches, 50% wins).
Sejuani (9 matches, 11% wins), Vi (7 matches, 85% wins), Elise (4 games, 75% wins) appear most often in the forest.
Azir (9 games, 55% wins), Sylas (5 matches, 80% wins), Kassadin (5 matches, 80% wins), Akali (4 matches, 100% wins) appear on the centre line.
Shooters are chosen as standard: Zeri (11 matches, 63% wins), Varus (7 matches, 42% wins), Caitlyn (7 games, 57% wins), Lucian (5 matches, 80% wins).
Supporting heroes are Lulu (10 games, 70% wins), Heimerdinger (7 matches, 42% wins), Lux (6 matches, 66% wins), and Nami (4 matches, 75% wins).
DRX Form
Let's continue the match review with DRX form analysis. In this match, the team is playing as the number two, with odds to win at around 7. An extremely critical gap.
The team had a mediocre 12th season in the South Korean LCK. From the achievements: 5th place at LCK Spring 2022 and 6th at LCK Summer 2022. By any means necessary, the team made it to Worlds by finishing 2nd place at LCK Regional Finals.
Such a poor performance during the competitive year led DRX to Play-In Worlds 2022. DRX travelled the longest road to the finals of all time. They started the World Championship from the Play-In stage.
After making it to Group B at the Play-In, the team had to go through clubs like Royal Never Give Up, MAD Lions and others.
Although DRX performed in the status of a contender for passage, it was difficult to single out the collective as the sole winner. However, that's exactly what happened: DRX took the first stage of the Worlds without a hitch, coming out of their group in first place (5-0).
In the group stage, DRX shared the lead with Rogue. What followed was a true Cinderella story.
In the quarterfinals, the team outplayed the reigning World Champions, and outplayed them. The team did a Reverse Sweep, which is rare at this level of competition. Next, The International was even more interesting: victory over LCK Summer 2023 Gen.G champions LCK Summer 2023 followed by an incredible win in the grand final against T1.
After an unimaginable triumph at Worlds 2022, DRX's fame quickly faded. First the team failed at LCK Spring 2023, finishing Top 9, then Top 6 at LCK Summer 2023 and Top 4 at the Regional Finals, ultimately failing to attend Worlds 2023.
- DRX lineup: Rascal, Sponge, SeTab, Teddy, Pleata.
The main bet for the new season is Teddy. Let's see if the big name Korean can help DRX regain its former glory.
For DRX the game against HLE Stunet will be the second match within LCK Spring 2024. DRX will debut with a match against Nongshim RedForce, where I expect a full-fledged bo5.
The most popular DRX champions
In the top most often played on Aatrox (4 games, 75% wins), Camille (3 matches, 66% wins), Ornn (2 matches, 100% wins), Fiora (2 matches, 50% wins).
In the woods, Kindred (4 games, 100% wins), Graves (3 games, 33% wins), Viego (3 games, 100% wins), Vi (2 matches, 100% wins) were played most often.
In the mid are classic Sylas (6 matches, 100% wins), Akali (4 matches, 50% wins), Azir (3 matches, 33% wins).
At the ADC position Miss Fortune (3 matches, 0% wins), Caitlyn (3 matches, 100% wins), Ahri (3 matches, 66% wins), Ezreal (2 matches, 50% wins) were the most frequently picked.
They took on Heimerdinger (4 games, 50% wins), Braum (2 matches, 100% wins), Lux (2 matches, 100% wins), Soroka (2 matches, 50 wins).
History of head-to-head meetings DRX - HLE
Previously, the teams have crossed paths many times in the course of official matches. In the last 5 games in 2023, HLE have won all 5.
Predicted result of HLE vs DRX at LCK Spring 2024
In this match I don't expect any miracle or incredible play from DRX. They are weaker in all aspects: lineup, performance, history of head-to-head meetings. For HLE their debut match should be an easy walk.
Bottom line: HLE wins 2-0.