Regardless, the standings currently look like this:
Updated w/ July 03 results (SAM vs HWA, SKT vs KTR)
1. KTR 36-16 (+46) SAM, MBC, HIT
2. STX 32-20 (+12) ACE, WJN, SKT
3. MBC 30-22 (+17) CJE, KTR, HWA
4. SKT 29-24 (+12) HWA, STX
5. CJE 29-24 ( +5) MBC, ACE
6. WEM 28-24 (+17) WJN, ACE, SAM
----------------------------
7. HWA 26-26 ( -1) SKT, HIT, MBC
8. SAM 26-27 (-13) KTR, WEM
9. WJN 25-27 (+10) WEM, STX, EST
10. HIT 22-30 (-17) EST, HWA, KTR
11. EST 22-31 (-11) HIT, WJN
12. ACE 9-43 (-83) STX, WEM, CJE
(other teams -- EST, HIT, ACE have virtually no way of qualifying)
Looks like we have two spots up for contention now, #5 and #6, and five teams all with a legitimate shot going into the final weeks.
+ Show Spoiler [Old Analysis] +
Analysis done on June 19
A few things come to mind, last year the playoffs featured Hite, Hwaseung, and Samsung, and all three of those teams currently are outside qualifier range. MBC, KT, and WeMade take their place. I'm especially excited about WeMade, they have some nice younger players along with some old favorites, and they should be exciting to watch in Bo7s.
Barring some monumental collapse, the only real spot in contention is #6. I pray every day that CJ can hold on.
Remaining Schedules
CJ Entus -KTR, HWA, STX, WEM, MBC, ACE
Woongjin Stars - MBC, KT, WEM, STX, EST
Samsung Khan - STX, MBC, HIT, HWA, KT, WEM
Hwaseung Oz -EST, CJ, ACE, SAM, SKT, HIT, MBC
Obviously PL is extremely difficult to predict, but let's make some assumptions! CJ is currently in the 6th spot. They have one easy match (ACE), one hard (KTR) and four 50-50s. Assuming they win at least one of those four, CJ will probably finish at worst 2-4, 28-27 (more likely 3-3, 29-26).
CJ has a worse game differential than Stars, but better than Samsung or Hwaseung. Because of this, assuming CJ goes 28-27 or better, Samsung or Hwaseung must finish 29-26 to get the last playoff spot. They both have 25 losses so it's pretty difficult to think they'd finish 5-1 or 6-1, especially considering how inconsistent their teams have been. Plus, they have KT / SKT on their schedules. Stork and Jaedong can officially start groaning now, because their teams are probably not going to qualify.
That means the race likely will come down to CJ vs Woongjin. Woongjin has a better game differential so they will only have to tie. Right now its CJ 26-23 vs Woongjin's 25-25. Woongjin will have to finish out at worst 3-2 (most likely 4-1) to tie CJ. This is a pretty close race, as many of these matches are going to ace game.
Woongjin would have had a much better chance had they not blown a 2-0 lead on Hite last week. But they still have a decent shot -- the last two weeks are going to be quite exciting if you're a CJ or Woongjin fan.
A few things come to mind, last year the playoffs featured Hite, Hwaseung, and Samsung, and all three of those teams currently are outside qualifier range. MBC, KT, and WeMade take their place. I'm especially excited about WeMade, they have some nice younger players along with some old favorites, and they should be exciting to watch in Bo7s.
Barring some monumental collapse, the only real spot in contention is #6. I pray every day that CJ can hold on.
Remaining Schedules
CJ Entus -
Woongjin Stars - MBC, KT, WEM, STX, EST
Samsung Khan - STX, MBC, HIT, HWA, KT, WEM
Hwaseung Oz -
Obviously PL is extremely difficult to predict, but let's make some assumptions! CJ is currently in the 6th spot. They have one easy match (ACE), one hard (KTR) and four 50-50s. Assuming they win at least one of those four, CJ will probably finish at worst 2-4, 28-27 (more likely 3-3, 29-26).
CJ has a worse game differential than Stars, but better than Samsung or Hwaseung. Because of this, assuming CJ goes 28-27 or better, Samsung or Hwaseung must finish 29-26 to get the last playoff spot. They both have 25 losses so it's pretty difficult to think they'd finish 5-1 or 6-1, especially considering how inconsistent their teams have been. Plus, they have KT / SKT on their schedules. Stork and Jaedong can officially start groaning now, because their teams are probably not going to qualify.
That means the race likely will come down to CJ vs Woongjin. Woongjin has a better game differential so they will only have to tie. Right now its CJ 26-23 vs Woongjin's 25-25. Woongjin will have to finish out at worst 3-2 (most likely 4-1) to tie CJ. This is a pretty close race, as many of these matches are going to ace game.
Woongjin would have had a much better chance had they not blown a 2-0 lead on Hite last week. But they still have a decent shot -- the last two weeks are going to be quite exciting if you're a CJ or Woongjin fan.