JD Gaming beat Top Esports 2-0 in LPL Group Ascend
JD Gaming defeated the Top Esports team 2-0 in LPL Split 3 Group Ascend on 22 August. The Top Esports team won their earlier meeting this month, but JD Gaming produced the better result in this series.
JD Gaming moved toward Dragon and Baron after defeating the nearby minions. The Top Esports team had chances to fight, but JD Gaming arrived in better positions and protected its strongest attacking players during longer battles.
JD Gaming prepared well before attacking Dragon and Baron
JD Gaming did not attack Dragon or Baron immediately. The team first defeated the closest minions and checked the routes that the Top Esports team could use. This preparation made an unexpected attack less likely. A ward is useful only when players can act on its information. JD Gaming kept teammates close enough to support the player removing enemy wards. The Top Esports team therefore had difficulty attacking the first player who entered the river area.
After checking the routes, JD Gaming chose between attacking a large monster and turning toward an opponent. The Top Esports team had to respond. Waiting allowed JD Gaming to defeat the monster. Moving forward could expose one player to an attack.
JD Gaming jungler JunJia helped every part of the map
JunJia helped his teammates in the upper, middle and lower parts of the map during game one. He tracked the visible opponents and chose a safe place to attack. This allowed JD Gaming to build a gold lead without relying on a risky early fight. JunJia moved when nearby teammates were ready to follow. A jungler who arrives alone is easy to isolate. When teammates defeat the minions first, the jungler can place wards, prepare an attack and leave before the opponent responds.
The Top Esports team tried to attack GALA, but his teammates protected him from the first attack. This gave GALA enough time to deal steady damage.
JD Gaming stayed in control in the second game
The Top Esports team needed a fast response after losing game one. The team changed some champion choices, but the new draft did not solve the problem. All five JD Gaming players again reached Dragon and Baron first. JD Gaming kept five players together instead of fighting in small groups. The players attacked one opponent and then returned to safe positions. This reduced the chance that the Top Esports team could destroy a tower elsewhere.
As the lead grew, JD Gaming continued to defeat minions in the outer parts of the map. The team did not leave a large group of minions unattended while five players waited near the river. This kept several parts of the map under pressure.
| Match information | Confirmed result |
|---|---|
| Tournament | LPL Split 3 |
| Final score | JD Gaming beat Top Esports 2-0 |
| Number of games | Two games |
JD Gaming won both games with the same plan
The series showed that JD Gaming’s current plan works against a strong opponent. The plan had three steps: defeat the minions, gather information and then attack Dragon or Baron. The Top Esports team must move earlier before the next fight. When the team cannot see the river area, every route becomes dangerous. The players can move sooner or attack a tower on the opposite side.
The final score was 2-0, with no third game required. JD Gaming earned the result through consistent teamwork rather than one isolated moment.
The same discipline made the difference across both games.
JD Gaming controlled every part of the map
JD Gaming rarely allowed a group of minions in an outer part of the map to become a separate problem. One player defeated those minions while the other four protected the wards. The group then came together before Dragon or Baron appeared. This sequence gave the Top Esports team fewer chances to gain an advantage elsewhere.
The 2-0 score also answered the result from their earlier meeting. It does not remove every weakness from JD Gaming’s season, but it shows that the current lineup can adapt to a familiar rival. The Top Esports team now needs an earlier plan for the area around the river.
