Worlds 2024 Semifinals: Weibo Gaming vs Bilibili Gaming Schedule, Preview and Predictions

League of Legends

25 Oct

Martin Arévalo-Östberg

The Semifinals of Worlds 2024 are upon us, and the stakes have never been higher. Weibo Gaming (WBG) and Bilibili Gaming (BLG) are ready to start us off as only one team will remain to fight in London for the biggest trophy.

The all-LPL Semifinals promises high-level gameplay, clutch moments and a chance for either WBG or BLG to make a historic run into the Grand Finals.

Let's take a look at what to expect when the two Chinese powerhouses clash on the rift on Saturday, October 26th at 2 pm CEST.

Worlds 2024 Semifinals Preview: WBG vs BLG

The first Semifinal of Worlds 2024 sees two familiar rivals square off against one another yet again. Last year, WBG eliminated BLG during the Semifinals of Worlds 2023. The rivalry, however, does not end there.

As it turns out, WBG vs BLG will also be a rematch of the 2024 LPL Summer Finals, which took place just two months ago. During the match, BLG ran away with a quick 3-0 victory, as WBG failed to match any of what their Chinese counterparts threw at them.

BLG's bumpy road

Despite the team's commanding win during the LPL Summer Finals, a lot has changed since. BLG came into Worlds 2024 as one of the biggest favorites to take home the trophy following the team's dominating display in the LPL. And yet, BLG saw their 'favorites' status quickly begin to dissipate as the team struggled during the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2024 to start the tournament.

After finding themselves on the brink of elimination, BLG did not hesitate to sub in jungler XUN in place of Wei. Since then, the team has gone on a 6-2 run at Worlds.

The move proved pivotal for a struggling BLG team, which has now comfortably defeated another tournament favorites in Hanwha Life Esports to get back into shape for the Semifinals.

Still, while BLG is certainly looking better, the one thing their Quarterfinal series against HLE proved is that the team still relies too heavily on their individual star power to muscle their way towards victory.

WBG continue to ramp up

Hard as it may be to believe, WBG stood just one game away from failing to qualify for Worlds 2024 altogether. The team took down a star-studded JD Gaming during the LPL Regional Finals with a dramatic 3-2 finish during the team's final chance to make it to Worlds 2024.

Clearly having developed a taste for the dramatic, WBG once more struggled during the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2024, and once more qualified for the Knockout Stage by defeating Dplus KIA on yet another dramatic finish on their very last chance.

Despite coming into their Quarterfinals matchup against LNG Esports as the clear underdogs, WBG dominated their LPL rivals to prove once more that something about the Worlds Knockout Stage awakens the beast in Weibo Gaming. Against LNG, WBG set a relentless pace by playing their game, and their picks.

Just like at last year's Worlds (2023), where the team made it all the way to the Grand Finals despite coming into the tournament as the LPL's fourth seed, WBG has elevated their level of play during the Knockout Stage of Worlds 2024 to new heights.

WBG vs BLG: We have to stop meeting like this

History is repeating itself with WBG and BLG replicating their Worlds 2023 Semifinals match, where WBG also came in as the LPL's fourth seed to face a BLG team that was heavily favored in the matchup.

Now, at Worlds 2024, there is no doubt that BLG will be favored in their series against WBG yet again. BLG have better individual players in nearly every position, and have shown incredible form throughout 2024, winning all LPL titles as well as the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI).

The one caveat for BLG, however, lies in the jungle, where WBG's Tarzan will likely come in as the better jungler for the series. Whether it's against XUN or Wei, Tarzan's commanding playstyle should be unrivaled during their Semifinals matchup.

WBG Tarzan is not just the better jungler in their Worlds 2024 Semifinals matchup vs BLG, he's simply one of the best junglers in the world. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)

With WBG's aggressive and relentless preferred pace, often set up by Tarzan himself, BLG should try a more methodical approach to the game if they want to minimize their opponents' chances of catching them by surprise.

If BLG get down in the mud with WBG and opt to rely on the superiority of their solo-laners to open up the path to victory, the team may unnecessarily be reducing the game to the finest of margins, where even a single missed skillshot could make the difference. While WBG should look to make that the case, the only thing left to see is whether BLG will bite.

If BLG come into the series having understood that from the get-go, the team should not have much of a problem dealing with WBG. If not, then things could certainly look very different.

In the end, however, even if it may take a couple of games for BLG to get the jitters out of the way and set their heads straight, the team has the higher highs, the cleaner gameplay and enough experience on their roster and coaching staff to be able to figure out in time exactly what it is they need to do in order to avoid another disaster series against WBG at Worlds.

When and where to watch

You can catch of all the Worlds 2024 Semifinals action, starting with WBG vs BLG, on the official Worlds Twitch and Youtube channels.

Make sure you tune in for the exciting series on Saturday, October 26th at 2 pm CEST.

For the latest League of Legends news, follow Strafe Esports. To follow everything on Worlds 2024, check out our full guide. Also follow the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with your favorite players and coaches.

Image source: LoL Esports/Riot Games

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