Kha Y Tran On January 28, 2026, Edward Gaming (EDG) and Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) faced off in a decisive Best-of-3 series in the group stage of LPL 2026 Split 1 – Group Perseverance. At the time, both teams were fighting for position. Therefore, the match carried huge importance early in the season. Moreover, fans expected an intense battle. And they were not disappointed.
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General Draft (Ban/Pick) Assessment
First of all, EDG drafted for teamfighting and objective control. They picked a strong frontline. In addition, they secured reliable late-game damage from both mid and bot lane. As a result, EDG were clearly prepared to fight 5-on-5 around Dragons and Baron. Rather than skirmishing randomly, they wanted to control the pace.
On the other hand, NiP went for early pressure and pick-off power.They selected champions with mobility and crowd control. Because of this, NiP focused on creating chaos. Meanwhile, their plan was simple: play fast, hit hard, and force EDG to react.
Detailed Match Breakdown
Game 1 – NiP Win with Strong Map Control
From the laning phase, NiP showed no fear against EDG’s reputation. They made good use of early ganks and controlled minor objectives such as early Dragons and vision. In the first skirmishes, they capitalized on pick-offs and crowd control to secure kill advantages.
NiP gradually expanded their gold lead by forcing EDG to slow down and timing their Baron take perfectly to open up the map. In the mid game, NiP consistently maintained better control and converted kills into objectives. Eventually, they used their strong late-game composition and coordinated play to close out Game 1.
Game 2 – EDG Completely Take Over
Going into Game 2, EDG adjusted their approach. They focused on securing major objectives earlier, especially by winning solo-lane matchups and using small advantages to force fights. Statistically, EDG dominated teamfights, winning most 2v2 and 3v3 skirmishes.
In the mid game, EDG found several successful picks and quickly secured Baron. With a significant item and level advantage, they pressured NiP from every angle and rapidly destroyed the enemy Nexus. The result was a dominant EDG win to even the series at 1–1.
Game 3 – EDG Play Proactively and Protect Their Lead
The deciding game saw EDG playing at a very high tempo from the start. They coordinated picks better and controlled major objectives such as Elemental Dragons and Baron more precisely than NiP. In the mid game, EDG took over vision control and forced NiP into unfavorable engagements.
With a gold and experience lead, EDG forced fights and never gave NiP a chance to come back. Their superior coordination allowed them to break into the base and secure the final victory after several key teamfights.
Key Highlights
- First, NiP used early pressure to win Game 1.
- However, EDG responded perfectly in Games 2 and 3.
- Moreover, EDG improved their objective control.
- As a result, they dictated the pace.
- Although NiP started strong, EDG stayed calm.
- Therefore, they closed the series with confidence.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this victory gives EDG valuable points in the group stage. As a result, their chances of advancing look much better. Meanwhile, NiP showed promise. However, they could not match EDG’s discipline in the late game.
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Quynh Bui 
