Golden Guardians vs Cloud9

Next up, we have a surprisingly interesting clash between Cloud9 and the Golden Guardians. And no, that wasn't a typo -- this really is a match-up worth your time and undivided attention. It's not exactly a clash of two competitive giants, but there's definitely a reason to tune in. First of all, Cloud -- talented and capable though they are -- aren't exactly playing at their peak right now. They're flawed, inconsistent, and prone to making egregious mistakes at the most unfortunate moments. But they're still packed with some of the best Western players of all time (and Fudge), so it's not like they're a pushover by any means. Far from it, in fact.

That's why we'll all tune in: to see whether they've improved from the Lock-In tournament and, if so, by how much. They were both hot and cold throughout the last couple of weeks, but at least we've seen their potential. Whether or not they'll realize it any time soon still remains to be seen. In any case, they're a talented bunch with a whole lot to offer and should, by all means, remain the biggest obstacle on Tema Liquid's path towards winning the LCS.

The Golden Guardians, on the other hand, don't have any impressive pedigree. There's no superstar to speak of, and even their one veteran is pretty much past his prime (and has been underperforming for years). So, in all fairness, you'd be excused if you thought they're nothing more than a negligible bottom-tier dweller. But against all odds -- and in true GGS fashion -- they've performed way above expectations throughout their relatively short LCS Lock-In run; therefore, they're entering the regular season as one of the most peculiar dark horses in the entire region. They've already made everyone take notice despite having two collegiate players. We're talking two individuals who are the very epitome of the term "rookie." And yet you'd never be able to tell based on their performance. They're playing some exceptional League of Legends, and while no one's expecting them to leave much of a mark, they're definitely better than they've been given credit for.

That's why this is such an alluring match-up. It is a fight between a struggling LCS giant, and a promising young roster with a surprisingly high skill ceiling. It is still a mismatch, mind you, but just not as big as we initially believed. The GGS bunch is playing without reserve, and that's why they're so darn entertaining. They have nothing to lose, after all, and are reveling in their inherent underdog status. If everyone's putting you in tenth place, then why not throw caution out the window and compete like there's no tomorrow?

Cloud9, of course, is heavily favored, and it's easy to understand why. Still, this probably won't be as big of a blowout as some people expect. GGS will fight from the very get-go which means we *should* be in for quite an entertaining game of competitive League.