Royal Never Give Up emerged as the number one League of Legends team in China as they took the LPL Spring 2021 title, booking a place at MSI and landing the lion’s share of a $640,000 prize pool. Here’s how the 2021 Spring Split unfolded.
- RNG crowned champions after crushing FunPlus Phoenix 3-1 in finals.
- GALA starred, landing a pentakill on Kai’Sa in game two and claiming MVP.
- RNG will take a trip to MSI 2021 as the LPL’s representatives.
RNG were the dominant team throughout the split, clinching top spot in the regular season ahead of EDward Gaming and continuing their form into the playoffs. Their round four loss to FPX proved to be the only real blip in a stellar split for the eventual champs.
FPX were one of the favorites at the start of the split, having added DWG’s Worlds-winning top laner Nuguri to an already star-studded lineup, but had to start their playoff run in the second round after only mustering a fifth-place finish in the regular season.
LPL Spring 2021: Final standings
The $640,000 prize pool was distributed between the top six teams, with Royal Never Give Up taking the largest chunk.
| Placement | Team | Prize money (USD) | Championship pts. |
| 1 | Royal Never Give Up | $306,702.20 | 90 |
| 2 | FunPlus Phoenix | $153,351.10 | 70 |
| 3 | EDward Gaming | $76,675.55 | 50 |
| 4 | Top Esports | $46,005.33 | 30 |
| 5-6 | JD Gaming | $30,670.22 | 20 |
| Suning |
| 7-8 | Rare Atom | $0 | 10 |
| Team WE |
| 9-10 | Invictus Gaming | $0 | 0 |
| LNG Esports |
Regular season standings
Below is how each team placed in the current standings, with RNG coming out on top.
| Placement | Team | Series | Games |
| 1 | Royal Never Give Up | 14-2 | 29-8 |
| 2 | EDward Gaming | 13-3 | 28-8 |
| 3 | Top Esports | 12-4 | 25-10 |
| 4 | JD Gaming | 12-4 | 24-9 |
| 5 | FunPlus Phoenix | 11-5 | 24-11 |
| 6 | Team WE | 11-5 | 22-14 |
| 7 | Suning | 10-6 | 21-12 |
| 8 | Rare Atom | 10-6 | 21-15 |
| 9 | Invictus Gaming | 9-7 | 21-15 |
| 10 | LNG Esports | 8-8 | 16-19 |
| 11 | Bilibili Gaming | 6-10 | 16-22 |
| 12 | Victory Five | 6-10 | 15-23 |
| 13 | ThunderTalk Gaming | 4-12 | 12-26 |
| 14 | LGD Gaming | 4-12 | 11-26 |
| 15 | Oh My God | 3-13 | 11-28 |
| 16 | eStar Gaming | 2-14 | 7-29 |
| 17 | Rogue Warriors | 1-15 | 3-31 |
LPL Spring Split Playoffs 2021: Schedule & scores
Below is the full schedule for the LPL Spring Split playoffs, with the date Final yet to be announced.
Day 1: Thursday, April 1
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 1 | Rare Atom 3 – 2 Invictus Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 2: Friday, April 2
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 1 | Suning 3 – 0 LNG Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 3: Saturday, April 3
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 2 | FunPlus Phoenix 3-1 Rare Atom | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 4: Sunday, April 4
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 2 | Team WE 0-3 Suning | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 5: Monday, April 5
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 3 | JD Gaming 1 – 3 FunPlus Phoenix | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 6: Tuesday, April 6
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 3 | Top Esports 3 – 1 Suning | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 7: Wednesday, April 7
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 4 | Royal Never Give Up 0 – 3 FunPlus Phoenix | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 8: Thursday, April 8
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Round 4 | EDward Gaming 3 – 0 Top Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Day 9: Saturday, April 10
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Losers Bracket | Royal Never Give Up 3-2 Top Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Semifinals: Sunday, April 11
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Semifinals | FunPlus Phoenix 3-2 EDward Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Semifinals: Tuesday, April 13
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Lower Bracket Semifinals | Royal Never Give Up 3-2 EDward Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
Finals: Sunday, April 18
| Round | Match | PT | ET | BST |
| Finals | FunPlus Phoenix 1-3 Royal Never Give Up | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
LPL 2021 Spring Split: Teams
| Team | Top | Jungle | Mid | AD Carry | Support |
| Bilibili Gaming | Biubiu | Meteor | Zeka | Aiming | Mark |
| Edward Gaming | Flandre | Jiejie | Scout | Viper | Meiko |
| eStar Gaming | zs | H4cker | irma | rat | ShiauC |
| FunPlus Phoenix | Nuguri | Tian | Doinb | Lwx | Crisp |
| Invictus Gaming | TheShy | XUN | Rookie | Wink | Baolan |
| JD Gaming | Zoom | Kanavi | Xiye, Yagao | LokeN | LvMao |
| LGD Gaming | Cult | Flora, Kui | Uniboy | Garvey, Kramer | Peace |
| LNG Esports | M1kuya | Tarzan | icon | Light | Iwandy |
| Oh My God | New | Aki | Wuming | Eric | COLD |
| Rare Atom | Cube | Aix | FoFo | iBoy | Hang |
| Rogue Warriors | Ziv | Haro | Forge | kelin, Michi | QiuQiu |
| Royal Never Give Up | Xiaohu | Wei | Cryin | GALA | Ming |
| Suning | Bin | SofM | Angel | huanfeng | ON |
| Team WE | Breathe | beishang | Shanks | Jiumeng | Missing |
| Top Esports | 369 | Karsa | knight | JackeyLove | Zhuo |
| ThunderTalk Gaming | Chelizi | bless | Captain | SamD | Teeen |
| Victory Five | LANGX | Weiwei | Mole | y4 | ppgod |
LPL Regular Split: Results
Week 1 results (January 9 – January 10)
| Date | Match | PST | EST | GMT |
| January 9 | Top Esports 0-2 Suning | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Oh My God 1-2 EDward Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 10 | Team WE 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| JD Gaming 0-2 Invictus Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 2 results (January 11 – January 17)
| Date | Match | PST | EST | GMT |
| January 11 | Bilibili Gaming 2-1 eStar Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| ThunderTalk Gaming 0-2 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 12 | Oh My God 0-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Rogue Warriors 2-1 Top Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 13 | Team WE 2-1 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| LNG Esports 2-0 Invictus Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 14 | JD Gaming 2-0 Bilibili Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2-1 Suning | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 15 | Rogue Warriors 0-2 eStar Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Top Esports 2-0 Rare Atom | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 16 | Victory Five 2-1 LGD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 2-1 FunPlus Phoenix | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 17 | LNG Esports 2-1 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Team WE 2-1 Invictus Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 3 results (January 18 – January 24)
| Date | Match | PST | EST | GMT |
| January 18 | Oh My God 1-2 eStar Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Bilibili Gaming 1-2 Victory Five | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 19 | Rogue Warriors 0-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 2-0 LGD Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 20 | Invictus Gaming 2-0 eStar Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Suning 0-2 Rare Atom | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 21 | ThunderTalk Gaming 0-2 Team WE | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Oh My God 0-2 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 22 | Rare Atom 0-2 Bilibili Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 2-0 JD Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 23 | Top Esports 2-0 LGD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 2-0 Suning | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 24 | Rogue Warriors 0-2 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| LNG Esports 0-2 Team WE | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 4 results (January 25 – January 31)
| Date | Match | PST | EST | GMT |
| January 25 | EDward Gaming 2-0 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| JD Gaming 2-0 Rare Atom | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 26 | Royal Never Give Up 2-1 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| LNG Esports 2-1 Bilibili Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 27 | eStar Gaming 0-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 28 | LGD Gaming 0-2 Bilibili Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Oh My God 0-2 Suning | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 29 | eStar 0-2 LNG Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Team WE 0-2 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 30 | ThunderTalk Gaming 2-0 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 0-2 FunPlus Phoenix | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| January 31 | Rare Atom 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Top Esports 2-0 JD Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 5 results (February 1 – February 7)
| Date | Match | PST | EST | GMT |
| February 1 | Suning 2-0 LGD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Bilibili Gaming 2-1 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 2 | Rare Atom 2-0 Team WE | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Victory Five 0-2 EDward Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 3 | eStar Gaming 1-2 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| JD Gaming 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 4 | Invictus Gaming 2-0 Oh My God | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 2-0 LNG Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 5 | LGD Gaming 2-0 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 2-0 Suning | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 6 | Bilibili Gaming 1-2 Oh My God | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| JD Gaming 2-0 Team WE | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 2-0 Top Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 7 | LNG Esports 0-2 Rare Atom | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| Victory Five 2-1 eStar Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 1-2 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 6 results (February 22 – February 28)
| Date | Match | PT | ET | GMT |
| February 22 | Suning 0-2 JD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 0-2 Team WE | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 23 | Bilibili Gaming 0-2 EDward Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Top Esports 2-0 LNG Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 24 | ThunderTalk Gaming 1-2 Rare Atom | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Team WE 2-0 eStar Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 25 | Oh My God 0-2 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Rogue Warriors 0-2 Royal Never Give Up | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 26 | JD Gaming 2-1 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 2-0 EDward Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 27 | LGD Gaming 2-1 Rogue Warriors | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| eStar Gaming 0-2 Top Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2-0 FunPlus Phoenix | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| February 28 | Victory Five 0-2 LNG Esports | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| Rare Atom 2-1 Oh My God | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Suning 2-0 Invictus Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 7 results (March 1 – March 7)
| Date | Match | PT | ET | GMT |
| March 1 | Rogue Warriors 0 – 2 EDward Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 2 – 0 JD Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 2 | Suning 2 – 0 ThunderTalk Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Bilibili Gaming 0 – 2 Invictus Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 3 | eStar Gaming 0 – 2 Rare Atom | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| LGD Gaming 0 – 2 Team WE | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 4 | Oh My God 0 – 2 Top Esports | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2 – 0 LNG Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 5 | eStar Gaming 0 – 2 Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Victory Five 0 – 2 Suning | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 6 | LNG Esports 2-1 LGD Gaming | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 1-2 Rare Atom | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2-1 EDward Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 7 | Rogue Warriors 0-2 Oh My God | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| ThunderTalk Gaming 0-2 Bilibili Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 1-2 Top Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 8 results (March 8 – March 14)
| Date | Match | PT | ET | GMT |
| March 8 | Victory Five 0 – 2 JD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2 – 0 eStar Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 9 | FunPlus Phoenix 2 – 0 LGD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Top Esports 2 – 0 Bilibili Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 10 | Rare Atom 2-0 Victory Five | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Suning 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 11 | Team WE 2-1 Oh My God | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 2-0 LNG Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 12 | eStar Gaming 0-2 LGD Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| FunPlus Phoenix 2-1 ThunderTalk Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 13 | Bilibili Gaming 2-0 Rogue Warriors | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| Rare Atom 2-0 Invictus Gaming | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| EDward Gaming 1-2 Top Esports | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
| March 14 | Oh My God 0-2 LNG Esports | 11PM | 2AM | 7AM |
| Suning 0-2 Team WE | 1AM | 4AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 0-2 JD Gaming | 3AM | 6AM | 11AM |
Week 9 results (March 15 – March 21)
| Date | Match | PT | ET | GMT |
| March 15 | LGD Gaming 2 – 1 Rare Atom | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| ThunderTalk Gaming 0 – 2 Invictus Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 17 | LGD Gaming 1 – 2 Oh My God | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Victory Five 0 – 2 Top Esports | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 18 | Thundertalk Gaming 2 – 0 Rogue Warriors | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Team WE 2 – 1 Bilibili Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 19 | EDward Gaming 2 – 0 eStar Gaming | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| LNG Esports 0 – 2 JD Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 20 | Victory Five 2-0 FunPlus Phoenix | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Royal Never Give Up 2-0 Top Esports | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 21 | JD Gaming 2-0 LGD Gaming | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| LNG Esports 0-2 Suning | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
Week 10 schedule (March 22 – March 28)
| Date | Match | PT | ET | GMT |
| March 22 | Rare Atom 0 – 2 Royal Never Give Up | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Invictus Gaming 2 – 1 Victory Five | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 23 | JD Gaming 0 – 2 Oh My God | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Suning 2 – 0 Bilibili Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 24 | Top Esports 2 – 0 ThunderTalk Gaming | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Team WE 0 – 2 EDward Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 25 | Rogue Warriors 0 – 2 LNG Esports | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| LGD Gaming 0 – 2 Invictus Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 26 | eStar Gaming 0 – 2 Suning | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Bilibili Gaming 0 – 2 FunPlus Phoenix | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 27 | ThunderTalk Gaming 2-1 Oh My God | 2AM | 5AM | 9AM |
| Top Esports 2-0 Team WE | 4AM | 7AM | 11AM |
| March 28 | LGD Gaming 0-2 Royal Never Give Up | 2AM | 5AM | 10AM |
| Rare Atom 0-2 EDward Gaming | 4AM | 7AM | 12AM |
Twitter; RNGRoyal