HLE's disappointing loss in the Quarterfinals of Worlds 2024
After LNG was eliminated, it was HLE's turn to be the team with a 3-0 coefficient in the next Swiss round, causing great disappointment at Worlds 2024. Showing extremely destructive performance, it was thought that HLE would defeat BLG easily. but all they could do was win the first game. After that, HLE continuously made fatal mistakes and let the opponent take advantage and win in the end with a convincing 3-1 score.
It is important to know that before the 2024 World Championship Quarterfinals took place, the LCK teams (except DK) were all highly rated when they showed convincing performance at the Swiss round. However, the failure of HLE has caused this confidence to decrease significantly. On the contrary, the LPL side is lifted in spirit when BLG and WBG will meet in the Semi-finals and that means this region will definitely have a representative in the Finals.
HLE's top line was heavily criticized after the defeat
After HLE's match ended, Top Lane player – Doran was the one receiving “rain of criticism” from the audience to the experts. This stems from the fact that Doran played so poorly in all three of HLE's failed games and contributed significantly to this loss. Even according to the former LS commentator, it was Doran who dragged the whole HLE team down and made him remember the feeling he had towards an “LCK criminal” from Griffin's name back in the year named Sword.
If you follow LCK regularly, the audience will know about the extremely strong team named Griffin of the 2018 – 2019 period. This is the team that introduced to LCK a “golden generation” with later superstars like Chovy , Viper, Lehends, Tarzan or Doran himself. However, this team could not win any LCK titles and only reached the Quarterfinals of the 2019 World Championship because of Sword's poor performances. Even the lawsuit between Sword and coach cvMax is considered the direct cause of Griffin's decline and eventual dissolution. Therefore, for many fans, Sword is no different from “the criminal of LCK”.
To be fair, the former LS commentator also somewhat exaggerated when comparing Doran to Sword after the recent loss. However, this also shows that this player had a very bad match and contributed significantly to HLE losing 3 consecutive games and being eliminated from Worlds 2024. It would not be too surprising if HLE broke up. Doran post-Worlds 2024 and finds a better quality Top Lane player to serve his goal of conquering titles next season.