Gen.G esports vs Team SoloMid

Yet another exceptional match-up that almost guaranteed to entertain -- Gen.G vs. Team SoloMid! We're talking about two incredibly talented line-ups, but also teams with a ton of history, both separate and also shared. Team SoloMid didn't start off all that well seeing how they were outclassed by Fnatic in their very first game. Still, they fought nicely throughout the early game and had a couple of standout moments. Obviously, they were too few and far between to actually warrant a win, but the point still stands.

As is so often the case, TSM made multiple egregious mistakes in the pick and ban phase. First of all, they put Doublelift on Senna, therefore forcing one of their best players on what can rightfully be deemed as a support (albeit one that packs a punch). Without any tools for escape, he was basically a sitting duck for the likes of Bwipo and Selfmade, the latter of which annihilated North America's most prized marksman in a split of a second. They also went for Nidalee as their first pick, therefore relying on a strong start. And sure, maybe it would've worked out had they not given Selfmade his most potent pocket pick (Evelynn). Furthermore, TSM failed to punish Fnatic draft-wise whatsoever. Jhin for Rekkles, Rakan for Hylissang, and Lucian for Nemesis are all comfort picks -- champions on which Fnatic can dominate beyond measure.

So in essence, TSM fumbled in the most quintessential TSM way. Granted, they performed a lot better than you'd expect just by looking at their draft, but it simply wasn't enough. Fnatic was better in every way, shape, and form, and they read the perennial TSM giants like a book (and a short one, to boot).

Gen.G, on the other hand, fought tooth and nail to eke out their first win at 2020 Worlds. It didn't come easy, but they sure did look good in the process. Still, no one's quite sure whether we should take their barely-obtained win over LGD as a sign of strength or, perhaps, weakness. We've all seen LGD play recently and none of us were all too impressed. They've certainly improved at a rapid pace, but they're still not quite as strong as one would think coming into Worlds.

Regardless, with Bdd and Ruler competing under their banner, Gen.G has all the right tools to register a couple of wins on the board and make it out of groups. Whether that'll be as the number one or two seed is less important at this point in time. They are far from clean and perfect, but they've done more than enough to warrant our benefit of the doubt against a TSM that did so little against the former LEC champions.

Now, let's make one thing clear: TSM certainly has a puncher's chance. They're far from a bad team, but their confidence definitely took a hit, and they'll face an uphill battle going forward if they intend on reaching the Knockout Stage. If they fix their drafts and play up to expectations (with all of their members executing to a tee) they *could* potentially upset Gen.G. Still, the odds of it happening are relatively slim, so we'll side with the third seed from the LCK on this one.

Either way, expect a close, skirmish-heavy affair that's bound to entertain.