MSI 2025 Preview: Bilibili Gaming Begging For Third Time Is the Charm
Bilibili Gaming has made the Mid-Season Invitational Final two years in a row. On both occasions, they fell short, losing the Grand Final 3-1 against Jingdong Gaming and GenG Esports, respectively. They aim to prove that the third time is the charm this year by going all the way. To do so, they must first qualify through the Play-In Stage, battling it out with G2 Esports, GAM Esports, and Furia.
Bilibili Gaming Roster
- Chen “Bin” Zebin – Chinese Top Laner
- Yang “Beichuan” Ling – Chinese Jungler
- Zhuo “Knight” Ding – Chinese Mid Laner
- Zhao “Elk” Jiahao – Chinese Bot Laner
- Luo “On” Wenjun – Chinese Support
BLG has made two changes to its roster since the beginning of Split 2. Jungler Yan “Wei Yangwei and Head Coach Yang “Maokai” Jisong left the team. Beichuan replaced Wei in the jungle, but there has yet to be a head coach appointed for the roster. The rest of the team has remained the same since the beginning of 2024. Knight is the only player on the roster to have won MSI in the past while on JDG in 2023, defeating BLG.
How They Got Here
BLG struggled at the beginning of the year to maintain their LPL dominance from last year. They missed out on the First Stand, finishing in fourth place during Split 1. They managed to recover some of their form during the Split 2 playoffs, where they dominated the opposition that was not Anyone’s Legend. BLG lost seven games during the Split 2 playoffs, six of those coming at the hands of AL. BLG faced AL in the Upper Bracket Final and Grand Finals, losing 3-2 and 3-1, respectively. As a result, BLG finished as the LPL’s second seed for MSI.
Expectations
While BLG begins in the Play-In stage, there is an expectation for them to win MSI. There is stern opposition in the form of GenG, AL, and T1, which they must defeat to do so. The rest of the teams are no slouches either, with G2 and CTBC Flying Oyster showing they are capable of defeating eastern opposition in the past. Anything lower than a fourth-place finish is a disappointment for BLG.
Bilibili Gaming’s Journey
Top Esports finishing in the top four at the First Stand means BLG is tied with GAM for the second-to-last seed. They start their MSI journey against GAM. Two victories for BLG in the Play-in Stage will see them qualify for the Bracket Stage. However, if they lose two matches, they are out. Qualification will see them face off against either GenG or Movistar Koi, with the latter guaranteed if G2 qualifies alongside them.
