BRION made two roster changes in November, adding a new jungler, Kim “GIDEON” Min-seong, and ADC Lee “Envyy” Myeong-joon. Although solid signings, GIDEON and Envyy won’t be enough to help BRION bounce back from a shaky season.

BRION finished the LCK 2023 summer split in eighth place with a 5-13 record, and while the Korean side made some improvements, it’s tough to believe they’ll be competitive against top contenders in the LCK.

Like many other Korean LoL teams, Dplus KIA replaced some key pieces this offseason and added a new top side with top laner Hwang “Kingen” Seong-hoon and jungler Choi “Lucid” Yong-hyeok, as well as a new ADC in Kim “Aiming” Ha-ram. This team seems very hit-or-miss, as a lot of their success will come down to how good Lucid is.

It’s tough to say how Dplus KIA’s new line-up will work out. They’re individually much better than BRION, but games tend to be a bit more open early into the season, so we’re trusting the underdogs to take one map.

KT Rolster enters the 2024 LCK season with four new players, including top laner Lee “PerfecT” Seug-min, jungler Hong “Pyosik” Chang-hyeon, ADC Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu, and support Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee. This is not a terrible lineup, but it’s tough to imagine KT Rolster competing for top spots in the LCK.

That’s not because KT lacks talent but because other top contenders from the LCK are that much better, potentially including FearX.

Unlike KT Rolster, FearX doesn’t have as many proven players; however, this team has growth potential. Jungler Kim “Willer” Jeong-hyeon and mid laner Lee “Clozer” Ju-hyeon are incredibly talented and can easily develop into?elite players in their positions.

Even though FearX can fall apart, their ceiling is significantly higher, and that alone is a good enough reason to side with them at the offered odds with esports betting sites.

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Kwangdong Freecs are coming off another poor performance during the LCK Spring split, finishing seventh for the second-straight split in a row. Having achieved a fourth-place finish and semifinal exit from the LCK Spring 2022 split, the Freecs are now in a rebuilding phase. Their opening series of LCK Summer 2023 is very winnable, as they defeated DRX 2-1 at the back end of the spring split.

DRX went from LoL Worlds champions in 2022 to struggling to win series in the LCK after they lost four of their championship-winning players at the end of last year. The team finished in second-last place after recording only three series wins during the spring split. There isn’t a lot of hope surrounding DRX going into the LCK Summer split, and we expect them to struggle to put wins together once again.

From the two meetings last split, both Kwandong Freecs and DRX claimed one series each, so we are going with the overs in the total maps market with GG Bet.

BRION started the LCK Spring split with two straight wins in the opening week; however, those results represented half of the wins that they achieved for the whole nine-week split, as they finished the regular season in eighth place with a 4-14 record. They will kick off their summer split with a matchup against fellow strugglers Nongshim RedForce – the same team they defeated 2-0 in the opening week of the spring split.

BRION are another team that made wholesale changes to their roster, adding five new players at the end of 2022. The new squad was good enough to defeat the bottom teams, but they lacked the quality to match it with the best.

This will be only the fifth split that this Nongshim RedForce roster has competed in, with their best finish a fourth-placing in LCK Summer 2021. Since that result, Nongshim haven’t made the playoffs or finished higher than eighth on the table. After winning two series during the spring, it is hard to see a similar roster achieving many more wins in what appears to be a much tougher Korean league this split.

It is hard to tip either team to come out and win their opening series; however, as most esports betting sites are offering us even money for the over 2.5 maps market, we must take it.

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The first series of the day will see seventh-placed BRION taking on ninth-placed DRX, with the former needing a win to keep in contact with the jam-packed top six on the LCK table.

BRION come into this matchup with DRX off the back of losing five of their last six series, with their only victory being over fellow strugglers Kwangdong Freecs two series back. However, in three of those six series, BRION have managed to go the distance and play all three maps against Hanwha Life Esports (twice) and Freecs. The one thing that keeps hindering BRION is their consistency in between maps and in between series, with their relatively young roster struggling to play at the high level that is needed in a top league. BRION will go in as favourites this Sunday, but they will still need to play at their best to get past the second-bottom team.

After recording their only win of the LCK Spring split in week two, DRX have since gone on to lose their last six series (at the time of writing). As we have spoken about all split, this DRX roster is nowhere near as talented as the one that claimed the 2022 LoL World Championship, with four new players being signed in the offseason. DRX are starting to fall off as we hit the middle part of the LCK Spring split, with their last three losses coming in 0-2 fashion against T1, KT Rolster and Hanwha Life Esports. With their rapid decline in form, DRX will struggle to record another win before the end of the split.

BRION and DRX went the distance in their last meeting, so we will taking the overs again in the total maps market.

The second of the two series to be played on Sunday will feature eighth-placed Kwangdong Freecs taking on one of the hottest teams in the LCK, Hanwha Life Esports.

Kwangdong Freecs are the best of the bottom three teams, owning 2-8 record with wins against KT Rolster and Nongshim RedForce in weeks three and four before going on their current two-game losing streak. Outside of those two winning weeks, the Freecs have struggled in the majority of their series, and we predict that they will struggle again this weekend.

One of the hottest teams in the LCK is the now fifth-placed Hanhwa Life Esports, who have won five of their last six series – including a massive win over T1, which is still the only defeat the league leaders have suffered so far this split. The last time these two teams met was in the first week of the season, where HLE were very impressive recording a 2-0 victory. With a win 2-0 win against the Freecs in this series, HLE would jump into fourth spot on the table behind T1, Gen.G Esports and Dplus KIA.

With the Freecs going through a tough run of form of late, we expect to see them struggle against Hanwha Life Esports; therefore, we will be taking the favourites at the match line.

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Hanwha Life Esports have won five of their last six series since the start of week three, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Dplus KIA at the end of week four. This new HLE roster is finally starting to click and reach the heights that the organisation would have hoped for when they signed the likes of Kim “Clid” Tae-min, Park “Viper” Do-hyeon and Kim “Life” Jeong-min from top-tier teams in the LPL and LCK. With matches coming up against BRION, Kwangdong Freecs and Nongshim RedForce, before facing Dplus KIA again, these next two weeks set up as a chance for HLE to keep the pressure on the top four and potentially push for a top two finish, as KT Rolster, Gen.G and SANDBOX Gaming all sit one win above them on the table.

BRION are in a similar position to that of their opponents for this series as they currently sit in seventh place, two wins behind Hanwha Life Esports and Dplus KIA. However, there is little hope for BRION to make finish in the top six and make playoffs as they will face HLE, DRX, T1 and Gen.G in their next four matches, with only one of those teams sitting below them on the table. The last time BRION faced HLE, they were able to take a map off them but still went down 1-2 in week four. However, the difference between HLE in week four to week six is huge, so they will have to step it up again if they want to take this series.

Hanwha Life Esports will come into this series as heavy favourites and it is well-deserved as they are making a run for a top-two position. HLE look the goods in this match, so we will be taking them at the map handicap.

T1 have once again proved that they are best team in the LCK, taking their record to 9-1 through their first 10 matches, with their only defeated coming at the hands of Hanwha Life Esports in week three. Since that loss to HLE, T1 have been much better in their four series against BRION, DRX, SANDBOX Gaming and Gen.G, flexing their muscles against the two teams that many were predicting to challenge them for top spot. T1, led by their star player and one of the greatest League of Legends player of all time, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, have continued to build through their split and have all but cemented their spot at the top of the table.

SANDBOX Gaming have been very consistent throughout their LCK Spring split, defeating all of the teams that sit below them outside of Dplus KIA, who they have lost to once. However, SANDBOX did beat Dplus KIA in their last series 2-0 after going down 1-2 in a tight series with T1. With a confidence building win against Dplus KIA and tight loss to T1 at their most recent match-ups, we expect to see a better SANDBOX Gaming in this series and we could be in for a cracking series between two of the better LCK teams.

T1 will be heavy favourites for another of their series, which comes as no surprise to us; however, this series is going to be a close one. We will be taking the overs in the total maps market at the generous odds of $2.00 with GG Bet.

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Below are ESB’s best bets for Friday, when Hanwha Life Esports take on BRION and SANDBOX Gaming go up against DRX. Odds displayed are courtesy of the best online betting sites in your region.

The first game on Friday will feature sixth-placed Hanwha Life Esports and seventh-placed BRION in a series that could see either one of these teams push into the top four with a convincing series win.

Hanwha Life Esports are currently on a two-game win streak after beating T1 and DRX in consecutive three-map thrillers, taking their record and map differential back to even at three wins and three losses, as well as eight maps won and lost. HLE were one of the organisations that made sweeping roster changes, and even though they got off to a slow start, things started to click last week in those two wins. With their two star signings, Park “Viper” Do-hyeon and Kim “Zeka” Geon-woo, starting to find their groove, HLE can start to rattle off a few more wins and push their way up the LCK table.

BRION have started to go in the opposite direction. They have lost three of their last four series, with their only series win coming against DRX. After getting off to a hot start with victories against Kwangdong Freecs and Nongshim Redforce, BRION ran into Gen.G and SANDBOX Gaming, leaving them with a 2-2 record. However, as we now know that Redforce, Freecs and DRX are the bottom three teams, BRION’s three wins have lost their weight and could see them go on to lose a few more matches in the coming weeks.

This series sets up as a must-win for HLE, and when you consider the form of the BRION of late, Hanwha should be taking this series in relatively comfortable fashion.

The second series of the day will feature fourth-placed SANDBOX Gaming and eighth-placed DRX. While the former team needs a win to stay in contact with the top two, the latter is desperate to put space between them and the bottom two teams.

SANDBOX Gaming have won two of their last three series, with their one defeat coming at the hands of the Gen.G last time out, going down 1-2 in a tight contest. SANDBOX have been very good during the LCK Spring split as they currently have a 4-2 record and sit even with Dplus KIA in fourth position on the table, just one win away from a top-two spot. With a series that many predict SANDBOX to win, the LoL betting sites have them as very short favourites; however, DRX have shown that they can take a map off of anyone, and SANDBOX will still have to be at their best to win this series.

The LCK Spring split was destined to be a tough one for DRX after they lost four of the five players that won them the 2022 League of Legends World Championship, but no one could have predicted them to be 1-5 after their first six matches. DRX have lost their last two series against BRION and Hanwha Life Esports, although they were able to take the series to three maps on both occasions. DRX are no easy beat this split, but they haven’t been able to win two maps in a series outside of their win against Kwandong Freecs, so it is hard to tip them with any confidence at the moment.

Both teams have played three maps in seven of their 12 series, and this one looks destined to become number eight. We are getting great value in the total maps market, with the over 2.5 currently $2.00 with GG Bet.

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The first match of the day will feature eighth-placed DRX and sixth-placed BRION, with both teams needing a win to stay in touch with the top four teams in the LCK.

After signing four new members to the roster post their LoL World Championship success, DRX have had a slow start to the LCK Spring split, losing their first three games to Dplus KIA, Gen.G and Nongshim RedForce. Throughout those three series, DRX only managed to win one map, which came against Nongshim in the first map of their series before going on to lose the next two maps and the series. The reigning World Champions have only won the single series and it was their most recent series against Kwangdong Freecs where they won 2-0. Considering DRX have played two of the top three teams in the LCK currently, we expect some of their upcoming games to go their way and see them climb back up the table and that starts with BRION.

BRION have started their LCK Spring split on a positive note, wining their first two games against Nongshim RedForce and Kwangdong Freecs before going onto lose the next two series to Gen.G and SANDBOX Gaming. Currently sitting in sixth position on the table, they sit one game clear of their opponents for this upcoming series. Last season in the LCK Summer split, BRION met DRX twice and lost both series 1-2 and 0-2, so considering the slow start of DRX, and BRION starting the split well, we expect to see a close game between these two rosters who are likely to fight it out for the bottom two playoff spots.

Even though DRX come into this series as heavy favourites, there is no doubt that they are struggling this split and BRION could be one the teams that push them the distance and possibly beat them. Therefore, we see this series going to three maps and we are getting great odds with GG Bet.

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The second series on Thursday will see the undefeated T1 take on Hanwha Life Esports, who are currently seventh on the table with a record of one win and three losses.

T1 have been outstanding so far this split, defeating Gen.G, KT Rolster, Kwangdong Freecs and Dplus KIA in their first four games. During this undefeated run, T1 have only lost two maps out of their total 10 maps played, with one loss coming to both Dplus KIA and KT Rolster. The reigning LCK Spring champions started the split as the online betting sites favourite, and early on in the split they look the goods. With T1 already facing and defeating Dplus KIA and Gen.G, we expect the winning streak to continue with some games against lower ranked teams on the schedule over the next couple of weeks.

Hanwha Life Esports would have to be one of the biggest let downs in the LCK early in the split, after they went out and signed a brand new roster and brought in great players from some of the best teams around the LCK and LPL. HLE finished on the bottom of the LCK table in both the summer and spring splits last year, so there is some improvement to be made with these new signings, but considering the experience they have on this roster, they have been underwhelming to say the least. With a current record of 1-3, they need to get moving in the next few games otherwise they could see themselves slip further down the table.

With T1 on an undefeated streak and Hanwha Life Esports struggling to begin the split, we will be taking T1 at the match line of -1.5 maps at $1.83 with GG Bet.

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