Explore League of Legends weekly best bets for the LCK and LPL. Dive into Pinnacle's odds, expert predictions, and top esports insights to stay ahead of the game.
The LCK will begin its season with the LCK Cup on January 15, while the LPL will start Split 1 on January 12. We’ve picked two must-watch matches from the LCK and one from the LPL, providing best bets alongside team news and analysis.
LCK: Dplus KIA (+232*) vs. T1 (-331*) - January 16, 2025
Dplus KIA (DK) made notable changes during the transfer period, focusing on the top and support roles. In the top lane, DK parted ways with former Worlds FMVP Hwang "Kingen" Seong-hoon and promoted promising young talent Jeon "Siwoo" Si-woo from its challengers team. For the Support role, two-time world champion Cho "BeryL" Geon-hee rejoined DK, filling the gap left by Jeong "Moham" Jae-hun's departure.
Meanwhile, T1, the back-to-back world champion, couldn’t retain its championship-winning roster for the new season. In a surprising move, the team’s former Top Laner Choi "Zeus" Woo-je transferred to Hanwha Life Esports (HLE), prompting T1 to sign HLE’s former Top Laner Choi "Doran" Hyeon-jun as his replacement.
BeryL’s return to DK brings an experienced In-Game Leader (IGL), which could address the mid-to-late game weaknesses fans criticized last season. On the other hand, T1’s roster remains mostly intact, with four of its players boasting over four years of synergy and strong team cohesion. While both teams may require an adjustment period, T1 is heavily favored due to its established team dynamics and the solid domestic performance from “Doran”, despite his struggles on the international stage.
Best bet: T1 Handicap -1.5 (+111*)
LCK: Gen.G (-194*) vs. Hanwha Life Esports (+144*) - January 17, 2025
Gen.G has successfully retained its top, jungle, and mid players while welcoming back former world champion AD Carry Park "Ruler" Jae-hyuk. With top-tier talent in these four positions, Gen.G is poised as the strongest contender for the LCK Cup. Although its new Support player may not carry the same renown as his predecessor, Gen.G’s overall roster strength still makes it the tournament favorite.
HLE made only one roster change this season, replacing “Doran” with T1’s former world champion Top Laner, “Zeus”. While “Zeus” has shown greater competitiveness on the international stage compared to “Doran”, his domestic success has been limited to just one LCK title during his tenure at T1. Nevertheless, HLE’s remaining players - who clinched the LCK Summer 2024 title - are aiming to maintain their domestic dominance while striving for a breakthrough in international tournaments this year.
This matchup between Gen.G and HLE is set to be a thrilling clash, as the two teams were the top performers in the LCK last year. With their rosters now featuring similar levels of strength, the contest will likely come down to team synergy and the adaptability of their new players.
Best bets: HLE Handicap +1.5 (-213*) and Total Maps Over 2.5 (+109*)
Bet: Gen.G vs. Hanwha Life odds
LPL: Invictus (-501*) vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas (+328*) - January 19, 2025
Invictus Gaming (IG) has made significant investments in its roster for the new season, bringing back its 2018 Worlds Champion Top and Mid Laners along with the 2021 World Champion Jungler and Support players. This star-studded lineup makes IG a strong contender in the LPL this year. However, with so many star players on one team, decision-making could become a challenge, and they might need time to establish synergy.
On the other hand, Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) signed veteran Mid Laner Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang, who will lead a team of relatively younger players. While his experience is a valuable asset, NiP's overall roster lacks the depth to pose a significant threat to IG, making IG the clear favorite in this matchup.
Best bets: IG Handicap -1.5 (-201*) and Total Maps Under 3.5 (+150*)
Bet: Invictus vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas odds
*Odds subject to change
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