South Korea is home to some of the biggest hitters in the world of League of Legends and the nation's first split of the season - the LCK Spring 2023 - is well underway.
Week five of the split began on Wednesday, marking the halfway point in the LCK Spring regular season and also introducing Patch 13.3.
A new patch can change things a bit with teams likely to cope with the new meta differently and that could impact the outcome of this week's results in particular.
On Sunday there is a double-header in the LCK Spring and both matches have plenty of promise.
First up is a clash between the division's top two - T1 and Gen.G - before highflying pair Liiv SANDBOX and Dplus KIA, who both have 6-3 win-loss records, lock horns in the second match of the day.
Gen.G hoping to push juggernauts T1 to their limits
| What | T1 v Gen.G |
| Where | South Korea |
| When | Sunday 19th February 2023 |
| How to watch | LCK Twitch/Youtube |
| Odds | T1 2/7, Gen.G 5/2 |
In the opening match of this year's LCK Spring, T1 asserted their authority with a 2-0 win over Gen.G Esports but punters should not anticipate such a one-sided affair when the teams reconvene on Sunday.
Since that opening loss, Gen.G have gone on to win seven of their eight subsequent matches, putting them in contention to finish top of the regular-season standings.
Unfortunately for them, T1 have also been progressing at a furious pace with an 8-1 win-loss record to their name.
It was of course in last year's LCK Spring that T1 defied all expectations to finish the regular season with an 18-0 record and it is fair to say they have an affinity for this split.
Related Esports News
Esports: Saturday LPL Spring match previews
But they did sustain a defeat to Hanwha Life Esports in week three and they have dropped six maps in the LCK Spring this year, showing they are not completely untouchable.
If any team can derail them it would be Gen.G, who won their first match in week five against Kwangdong Freecs and are benefiting particularly from the performances of Kim "Peyz" Su-hwan.
"Peyz" was promoted from the Academy side coming into the new season and has proven to be Gen.G's main damage dealer.
His involvement will be key as will the team's handling of the new meta.
T1 are arguably the stronger and more experienced outfit but look short enough at 2/7 to win this, so punters should instead look at over 2.5 maps at 6/5 with a lot riding on this contest.
Liiv SANDBOX could come unstuck
| What | Liiv SANDBOX v Dplus KIA |
| Where | South Korea |
| When | Sunday 19th February 2023 |
| How to watch | LCK Twitch/Youtube |
| Odds | Liiv SANDBOX 5/2, Dplus KIA 2/7 |
Liiv SANDBOX were a tough team to pin down last year, having finished ninth in the LCK Spring 2022 and missing out on the playoffs before finishing third with a 13-5 record in the LCK Summer 2022.
And it seems they are out to prove that their LCK Summer showing last year was no fluke, having impressed in the LCK Spring 2023.
Liiv SANDBOX have posted a 6-3 record so far this season and that is the same as their upcoming opponents Dplus KIA, formerly DWG KIA, who are considered one of the biggest teams on the LCK circuit.
It could be argued that Liiv SANDBOX are currently punching above their weight, though, and their tally of 11 maps conceded this season suggests most of their matches have been tightly contested.
Liiv SANDBOX also go into this match having lost their earlier match this week to T1, whereas Dplus KIA are on a two-match winning streak.
They ended week four with a key win over Hanwha Life Esports - a team finding their feet after some significant roster changes - before seeing off BRION 2-0 in their first match of week five.
Dplus KIA's superiority is reflected in their price of 2/7 to win this match, so the best way to go about this could be to back them to win 2-1 at 21/10.
Alternatively, those confident that Liiv SANDBOX can put up a fight may simply want to back them to win a map at 8/11.
