2021 World Championship

05 October, 2021 - 06 November, 2021 Iceland

The League of Legends World Championship is the biggest esports event in the world, consistently breaking records in regards to viewership.

The best League of Legends teams in the world has been competing for a year across multiple circuits and events globally to prove themselves and earn a spot at the World Championship stage.

Preview

The 2021 LoL World Championship is finally here and, needless to say, we’ve reached record amounts of hype! If the games we’re about to see end up being even remotely as entertaining and action-packed as we expect, we should be in for one of the best championships of all time! 

The point of this preview is to provide you with the nitty-gritty: who’s good, who’s favored, who has the potential to upset, and what’s most likely to happen over the next few weeks. So, in case you don’t have the time to go over everything — or are just interested in a specific team or segment of the tournament — make sure to use that nifty search feature (CTRL+F if you’re on Windows, CMD+F if on Mac) to quickly find what you’re looking for! We’ll try to organize things as neatly as possible and skip over anything that is either “common knowledge” or is wholly redundant — no one yearns for a history lesson.

This year’s Worlds will feature four teams from the LPL and LCK, most of which are downright staggering in terms of talent and potential. The four Chinese representatives, in particular, are all obscenely capable and will no doubt mop the floor with most of their opposition. The Korean ones, however, are both hot and cold — but more on that down below!

2021 LoL World Championship | The Meta

Every international tournament has a meta of its own. That, in short, is both good and bad. It’s good from a spectator’s point of view because it results in a much more competitive state of affairs — it equalizes the playing field. If no one’s all too sure what the best and most optimal way of playing the game is, then everyone competing has the same starting point.

Now sure, the best teams at Worlds always end up on top regardless if there’s a big meta shift or not, but at least there’s a bit of chaos at the very start — a great thing if you’re betting on the underdogs!

This year’s Worlds will be no different, and we already have a rough idea in regards to which picks and strats might skyrocket in popularity. You can never know these things with absolute certainty, but preliminary guesses and estimations are not only sufficient at this point in time but also invaluable as we’re actually looking to put our hard-earned money on the line!  

Needless to say, patches 11.8 and 11.9 have shaken up the game in both huge, sweeping ways, but also more nuanced ones that aren’t immediately as visible — especially not during your solo queue escapades. In pro play, however, these nuanced changes invariably affect the overarching meta and, at times, end up being a lot more impactful than one would expect given their size.

2021 LoL World Championship | Regional Overview

The current competitive LoL landscape is quite interesting. After many years of LPL dominance, DWG KIA broke through — in quite emphatic fashion, one might add; for a good long minute it seemed that the LCK was once again going to reign supreme for the years to come.

Then came this year’s Mid-Season Invitational and, well, DWG KIA didn’t exactly dominate as much as everyone had expected them to. In fact, they didn’t really dominate that much at all — at least not by DWG KIA standards. Now sure, they had reached the finals, but the fashion in which it all transpired definitely didn’t instil us with any supreme amount of confidence. Royal Never Give Up, on the other hand, looked nigh unstoppable, and had wasted no time whatsoever in making the world take notice with their immaculate play and pristine teamfighting. 

Right now, though, RNG is entering Worlds as the third-best seed from China — that alone tells you all you need to know to fully understand the staggering depth and talent pool present over in the LPL. It’s astounding, really; we’re talking about a region that has no shortage of prodigies and competitive LoL deities.

The LPL is so darn stacked that it’s extremely hard (if not, at times, nigh impossible) for a single team to maintain a sort of regional dynasty — as is the case in the LCK and LEC, for instance. Teams are taking turns on top, and there’s very little rhyme or reason behind what’s going on. It’s always a game of inches over in the LPL, so expect their representatives to dominate beyond measure over the coming weeks!

LEC — Extremely Promising, But Temper Your Expectations

Two of the three European representatives definitely have a shot at leaving a mark. Heck, MAD Lions — assuming the stars align — could definitely reach Top 4 which, for a line-up as young and relatively inexperienced as theirs, is quite high praise. 

What’ll eventually happen is anyone’s guess, but they’re a very solid team with a slew of pronounced strengths and virtues, most of which can easily be harnessed in today’s meta. They’re not perfect, but on a good day they can definitely take games off of anyone, including the most impressive of LPL giants.

Fnatic is still a question mark, although their talent is undeniable. The thing is, you can never be too certain when it comes to their performance. Sometimes they have the most amazing line-up and yet they implode and drop the ball. Other times they exceed all expectations and deliver a masterclass worthy of the history books. They’re rarely uninteresting, which is why we all love them so much. 

They have all the right tools to go deep at this year’s Worlds, but they’re also a bit too unhinged and volatile for their own good. Depending on the stylistic match-up, that can either be the biggest of boons or the most crippling of flaws. That’s sort of been their M.O. lately, and it’s been fun watching them compete, without a doubt. They always bring their A-game, even though things don’t always pan out the way they want to.

Fortunately, they’ve been slotted into a very favorable group, so they should, by all means, be able to reach the Knockout Stage.

Rogue, unfortunately, weren’t so lucky — for the second year in a row. They’re scheduled to face both the former and current World Champions. There’s no silver lining there, really, nothing for them to look forward to or really learn from the experience. To lose is one thing, and from such an experience you can, in fact, learn a great deal. Getting annihilated, however, is a whole different ordeal, one that doesn’t really yield any great lesson. And Rogue will get annihilated; there’s no doubt about it.

So, to summarize, European fans have quite a lot to look forward to as their teams actually have a shot at leaving a mark. And, well, they’ll bring the fight no matter the odds, so definitely make sure to tune in!

LCS — Lower Your Expectations… Just In Case

If you’re a fan of the North American LCS, you’d be wise to lower your expectations. The thing is, whenever NA fails on the international stage, it’s never a whimper but rather an explosion. We all love a bit of schadenfreude, but things often get a bit too out of hand — we’re talking 0W-6L runs in the Group Stage and just dreadful play across the board. 

Certain teams like Cloud9 have historically been able to exceed expectations, but that’s more indicative of their own individual talent and preparation rather than anything else. North America, as a whole, has failed time and time again to move the needle. 

Will this year’s Worlds be any different? It’s impossible to tell at this point in time. It very well could, but many things need to coalesce for that to happen. Cloud9, assuming they reach the “main event” will almost surely end up in Group A (the “group of death”) which means they’re probably going to pack their bags and fly back home in just a couple of weeks. By the same token, 100 Thieves haven’t had the best of luck either as they’re scheduled to face EDward Gaming and T1, led by the venerable LoL giant himself: Faker. 100 Thieves might be able to pull off an upset or two, but it’s just hard to envision a world in which they accomplish anything more than that. 

Team Liquid, one could argue, has the best shot of the three at making it out of groups. The odds are still stacked against them, but at least there’s a chance. If they play their best League and execute as well as they can, they’ll no doubt be able to challenge MAD Lions and Gen.G.

2021 LoL World Championship | Play-In Stage Predictions

There are twenty-two teams at this year’s Worlds, ten of which are going to face off over the next few days for a shot at reaching the “main event.” There are only four Group Stage spots left, so the margin for error is pretty darn slim.

These ten teams have been divided into two groups of five and, needless to say, they’re all going to fight like their lives depend on it! 

GROUP A:

LNG Esports (LPL); Hanwha Life Esports (LCK); Infinity Esports (LLA); PEACE (OCE); RED Canids (CBLOL)

GROUP B: 

Cloud9 (LCS); Detonation FocusMe (LJL); Beyond Gaming (PCS); Unicorns of Love (CIS); Galatasaray Esports (TCL)

The first group is obviously a bit more stacked in terms of sheer power and potential, but the second one isn’t half bad either! LNG Esports and Hanwha Life are obviously favored to get out with ease, which means there are only two spots left that are up for the taking. Cloud9 stand out as one of the bigger favorites as well, but their recent level of play definitely left a lot to be desired, so what’ll happen and how well they’ll perform is anyone’s guess at this point. Moreover, they’ll face some very capable opposition and will have to fight harder than ever to make it out — especially if they haven’t shored up their biggest weaknesses, all of which were on full display throughout the 2021 LCS Summer Split.

Detonation FocusMe are also entering Worlds with a bit more hype than you’d thought was going to be the case coming into 2021 — their performances at this year’s Mid-Season Invitational were absolutely amazing, and if they bring their “A-game” this time around as well they’ll no doubt stand a chance of leaving a mark (or at the very least taking someone down with them). Beyond Gaming also have a fair bit of hype and the Unicorns of Love should never be underestimated either. They’re creative, flexible, and staggeringly aggressive — all traits that pay dividends in Best of 1s.

Now, making any kind of prediction for the Play-In stage is generally a double-edged sword. There’s really no way of telling who’ll come out on top, although, to be fair, things always tend to resolve in a fairly predictable manner. With that said, this year’s Play-Ins are bound to be a fair bit more competitive which could, potentially, result in an upset or two. The representatives from LJL, PCS, and CIS all pack one heck of a punch, so expect a fairly chaotic state of affairs early on along with a bunch of surprises!

Final Predictions

Prediction-wise, we’re leaning towards LNG, Hanwha, Cloud9, and Detonation FocusMe, with Beyond Gaming being the last potential challenger with a shot at making it out. Saying who’s better than whom, however, is quite a thankless endeavor. LNG and Hanwha should definitely be a cut above, with the remaining three teams all being separated by relatively slim margins. Cloud9 should, by all means, edge them out in a Best of 5, but they cannot afford to drop any games prior to that point.

2021 LoL World Championship | Group Stage Predictions

The Group Stage is, naturally, where all the magic happens. And, well, this year’s Worlds should be no exception! As always, sixteen of the best teams in the world have been divided into four groups of four and, frankly, each and every single group has its own allure and is bound to deliver in one way or another!

GROUP A:

DWG KIA (LCK); FunPlus Phoenix (LPL); Rogue (LEC); TBD

The first group is undeniably the most action-packed. We have both the former and defending world champions, along with a feisty young squad from Europe. A barnburner in the making! DWG and FPX are two of the best teams in the world, with EDward Gaming and Royal Never Give Up being the only two teams that might disagree with that power ranking. 

They’re talented beyond measure and are as accomplished and successful as it gets. We’re talking some of the best players who’ve ever played the game, and they’re incredibly experienced, too — they’ve weathered many different metas and have persevered throughout their many years of competitive play; a true testament to their work ethic and ability to adapt whenever the need arises. 

And now they’ve found themselves in the exact same group — what a spectacular development no one saw coming! Who’s better and more dangerous is up for debate, though. Some think that DWG have lost a bit of their edge (an opinion based on empirical evidence). Whether that’s true or not still remains to be seen, but it’s definitely food for thought. Their performance at this year’s MSI left a lot to be desired; they were a bit too vulnerable and exploitable for our liking. And then they went back home to Korea and steamrolled through all opposition — an indication that there’s no one who can truly challenge them on home soil. Heck, DWG have basically been playing on auto-pilot! 

China has at least three teams that not only stand a chance of trading blows with DWG but flat-out beating them. And, well, all three of them have different avenues for success which only makes things ever more complicated for the LCK champions. That, in short, is arguably one of the most interesting questions coming into Worlds: will they deliver? Will they redeem themselves for a fairly lackluster showing at MSI, or was that an indication that they no longer have what it takes to go all the way? 

A similar question looms over FunPlus Phoenix, too. Most folks have them pegged as the number one team coming into Worlds, but they had lost in the LPL Summer Split finals mere weeks ago to EDG — and in quite convincing fashion, too. Now, we know for a fact that FPX have all the right tools to adapt and get a bit of revenge on EDG, but their 1-3 loss still stings in more ways than one. 

Even if they are worse than the boys in black and white it is by a relatively negligible margin, and the same goes for Royal Never Give Up, but more on that below. 

In any case, they’re one of the biggest frontrunners to win the whole thing and we cannot wait to see them in action — their initial performances against DWG KIA will definitely set the stage for what to come! And, well, with the best top and mid laner in the world, they’re all but guaranteed to go deep into the tournament.

Lastly, we have the third seed from Europe: Rogue. There’s really not a whole lot you can say about them given whom they’re scheduled to face. Are they good? Absolutely, but they’re just not good enough to tango with the two aforementioned LCK and LPL giants. Heck, behemoths would perhaps be the more apt description. Rogue will still try and, well, they have a shot at doing some damage. Once the dust settles, though, they’ll succumb to the might and prowess of DWG and FPX and, frankly, there’s no shame in that — almost every other team in the world would’ve met the exact same fate.

The only question now is: could they possibly learn something from the whole ordeal and enter 2022 as a better, more mature team or will their battle scars just be there for show? 

GROUP B:

EDward Gaming (LPL); 100 Thieves (LCS); T1 (LCK); TBD

This group is equally as interesting, although for entirely different reasons. Group A is defined by a clash between two of the biggest favorites. Group B, however, is packed with interesting narratives and match-ups that are bound to deliver. There isn’t much intrigue, though, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. We know that EDward Gaming are the best team in their group and they’ll surely prove it, too. Whether they’ll stomp 100 Thieves and T1 or perhaps struggle a bit in the process still remains to be seen, but they’re all but guaranteed to make it out. 

Lee “Scout” Ye-chan and Park “Viper” Do-hyeon alone are more than enough to get this team over the finish line. Still, one simply has to wonder — are they the best team in the LPL? And, if so, by how wide a margin? They certainly didn’t look like it at certain points of the split (and even the playoffs), so it’s natural for one to think of these things. Then again, they should still be more than capable enough to weather the storm and best both T1 and 100 Thieves (with relative ease, too), so it’s not like that’s a burning question at this point in time.

Speaking of T1, no one’s all too sure how high to rank them and whether or not this beloved squad will be able to move the needle much. They’re highly capable, there’s no doubt about that, but it still feels like there’s too big of a gap between them and DWG KIA — let alone the many LPL giants who’ve booked their tickets to Reykjavik, Iceland. So if they’re not good enough to take down the LCK champions — a team they had all the time in the world to prepare for and yet still failed — how can they ever expect to best the representatives from a region that is so dissimilar to theirs? A region that is better and more competitive, one should add. 

It’s an interesting position to be in. And, well, they’re far from an underdog or a mid-tier gatekeeper. They have all the right weapons at their disposal to get out of groups and advance further into the tournament, but that’s pretty much all we can envision at this point in time. Temper your expectations for this particular team — it’s not that they’re not good (far from it, in fact), it’s just that there are multiple teams at this year’s Worlds that are so much better.

Finally, we have 100 Thieves, the North American champions, and a group of players who will definitely entertain us over the coming weeks. How well they’ll perform is anyone’s guess — most of these individuals have never played League of Legends on the international stage, so there’s a very good chance they’ll be out of their element. On the other hand, they know they’re the underdogs and that no one’s giving them much of a chance, so they’ll probably fight their hearts out knowing they have nothing to lose. They’re also quite talented and have some surprisingly good teamfighting — a very important strength that’ll no doubt come in handy against EDG and T1. Whether they’ll get a few wins on the board is also impossible to predict at this point in time, but they definitely have a shot at getting their hands raised (at least a couple of times) if they draft well and execute to the best of their ability. 

This group, one could argue, is fairly top-heavy. EDG will almost surely finish first, with T1 being the biggest favorite to get a hold of that oh-so-important second spot. 

GROUP C:

PSG Talon (PCS); Fnatic (LEC); Royal Never Give Up (LPL); TBD

Yet another superb group of teams, all of which have what it takes to make it out. They can all take games off of each other and, well, they almost certainly will — these three teams play in much the same fashion and that should, by all means, result in fireworks each and every single time they step foot on stage to compete. 

Royal Never Give Up are, of course, favored to end up in first place, but if their weaknesses creep up to the surface (as was the case during the 2021 LPL Summer Split), they might struggle a lot more than most folks expect and could, potentially, even drop down to second place if PSG and Fnatic step up — a long shot, but far from impossible. 

PSG Talon are also horrendously underrated despite the fact that they wrecked house at this year’s MSI. Heck, they were the biggest surprise of the tournament, and a wholly positive one, too! If they can once again recreate a bit of that magic, they’ll definitely push RNG and FNC to their limits and, who knows, maybe even get out of groups at someone’s expense.

The same goes for Fnatic, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that they’re slightly more volatile and inconsistent than their opponents. Their highs are equally as impressive, but their lows are also quite crippling and tend to occur a bit more often than we’d like. Still, they have the right kind of mindset and the perfect line-up to trade blows with the PCS and LPL representatives, and if their players deliver (as was the case on so many occasions in the past), they’ll no doubt leave a mark in one way or another. 

GROUP D:

MAD Lions (LEC); Gen.G (LCK); Team Liquid (LCS); TBD

Last but certainly not least, we have group D, a most interesting group, and also one that is a bit more flexible in nature than most folks realize. MAD Lions are probably the best team here, but they’re also relatively inconsistent and are far from infallible. Heck, they’re not that experienced either — a spectacular showing at MSI doesn’t necessarily have to translate over to the Worlds stage as well. It’s not a black-and-white kind of thing but is, instead, extremely nuanced and has many moving parts, most of which aren’t in MAD’s control. Scrim results, the meta, styles and match-ups and so on — there’s a slew of factors that affect a team’s performance, and things sometimes just don’t “click” in the right way. 

Now, does that mean MAD Lions might implode and fail? Not in the slightest, but it does mean that they might not be quite as dominant and commanding as a good chunk of the community expects them to be. Moreover, it’s not like Gen.G and Team Liquid lack the tools to compete — they have what it takes to beat MAD on a good day which, of course, doesn’t mean they will. 

Speaking of Gen.G, they’re still as capable and talented as ever, but in terms of match-ups, MAD Lions are probably the worst opponent they could’ve gotten — the LEC champions play a very aggressive, fast-paced brand of League and that’s precisely what Gen.G has generally struggled with in the (relatively) recent past. Be that as it may, this perennial LCK organization is still stacked with talented players (to put it mildly) and will surely deliver in one way or another. 

Finally, there’s Team Liquid: a team that, for all intents and purposes, is one of the biggest question marks of the Group Stage. Could they advance further into the tournament? For sure, but only if they play their best LoL yet. And, well, they could also implode and go 0W-6L. It’s a coin toss, basically.

TL has fairly long stretches of either absolute mediocrity or staggering dominance, and you can never be too certain of what’ll happen before they spawn on the Rift and start playing — we’ve seen both shades of TL, sometimes in the span of just a couple of weeks. 

They’re not volatile in general, but they just somehow regress and revert to using their old, exploitable tactics before once again mounting the biggest of comebacks. Will we see the dominant, in sync Team Liquid from the Lock-In tournament and Spring, or will they struggle much like they did throughout the last few months? If they can play as well as they did in the Summer Split playoffs, they will definitely stand a chance at making it out of groups. 

If, however, LNG Esports get slotted into Group D, things could potentially change quite a bit, so definitely keep an eye on the Play-In Stage as it’ll impact the rest of the tournament in hugely important ways.

2021 LoL World Championship | Closing Thoughts

We risk sounding like a broken record, but really try your best to watch as many games as you possibly can as no preview in the world will provide you with the nuanced information you’ll be able to gather from a few games of League. That way you’ll see how well a team can adapt, whether it adheres to the meta or is thinking “outside of the box,” you’ll see what exactly it is that they’re prioritizing and how they handle the pressure of competing on the biggest stage in the world. 

Some individuals thrive under these circumstances whereas others crumble and retrogress. Experience also plays a key part, but every international tournament is a story in itself, so take everything that has happened in the past with a bit of reserve.

In any case, good luck with your betting endeavors! 

2021 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS

At long last, only eight of the best teams in the world remain and, frankly, it’s not the eight we expected coming into 2021 Worlds! The fact that FunPlus Phoenix failed to get out is still thoroughly vexing, and it’s a development that looms over the forthcoming quarterfinals: it is a reminder that there are no true favorites and that — at this level of play — everything’s possible. 

Be that as it may, the following eight teams have earned their spot in the Knockout Stage fair and square; they fought with the utmost vigor, had adapted whenever the need arose, and had maintained a certain level of excellence (at least long enough for it to matter). They’re by no means perfect, and other than DWG KIA one could argue that they’re all rather fallible and, depending on the broader context, exploitable. 

This, in turn, means that upsets are bound to happen. There will always be favorites (that’s just the nature of this beast), but when things go down to the wire, just a single click will end up being the difference between advancing further and catching a flight back home.

The four quarterfinal match-ups are as follows:

It goes without saying, but there’s quite a lot of fun coming our way! 

T1 vs. Hanwha Life Esports

The first Best of 5 is arguably the least exciting one, but your mileage may vary. If you’re a staunch fan of the LCK, then you’ll surely enjoy seeing the venerable T1 taking on Hanwha Life Esports, a team no one really gave much of a chance coming into Worlds. We knew they were capable and (generally) highly dangerous, but not against the LoL crème de la crème. They did take T1 to five games back in the LCK Regional Finals, but HLE had such pronounced weaknesses and holes in their game that it was simply impossible to give them the benefit of the doubt. 

But the Hanwha Life we’re about to see is wholly different — they’ve grown and have evolved quite a bit, and they have the Play-Ins to thank for it. They’ve had more time to practice and acclimate to the current meta than any of their remaining peers which has obviously served as quite a boon to their synergy and deftness. They’re still not a competitive LoL behemoth, mind you, but they’re deceptively capable and could’ve easily gotten out of their group as the number one seed had they drafted a more layered team comp in their tiebreaker against Royal Never Give Up. 

They do many things right and have multiple avenues for success. And perhaps that’s a no-brainer seeing how a team with Chovy and Deft simply has to be respected almost by default — even though these two veterans don’t always bring their “A game.” Be that as it may, HLE’s early games are deceptively good, they’re a lot more willing to engage and trade blows, Willer has been doing wonders for them when it comes to dictating the pace of the game and establishing a certain rhythm early on, and their teamfighting has also been on point whenever it mattered most — surprisingly so, even. They thrive in the most chaotic circumstances and even though they’re still prone to making stupid mistakes from time to time, one simply has to commend their growth and the immense amount of work they’ve surely put in ever since Worlds began. 

T1, however, have been ever so slightly more dominant, even though some of their games did leave a bit to be desired in terms of decisiveness and overall execution. They’re more well-rounded and have fewer holes in their game. They’re a lot better than expected, too, and it’s quite obvious that the LCK dynasty has once again been established — in spite of everyone’s expectations.

We were never left indifferent whenever these two teams fought against each other in the second half of 2021. What’ll happen this time around is simply impossible to predict, but it won’t lack in spectacle, that’s for sure. T1 are favored and, well, it’s easy to understand why. Still, Hanwha Life have a shot and are not to be trifled with. If they draft well and execute as well as they did a few days ago they’ll no doubt stand a chance at pulling off an upset. So if you’re feeling adventurous and have a bit of money “lying around,” it might be worth betting on the underdog this time around.

If, on the other hand, you prefer the safer route, then T1 is the way to go. In any case, while this might not be the most awe-inspiring match-up in the world, it’ll no doubt set the stage for what’s to come — and entertain us in the process as well.

Royal Never Give Up vs. Edward Gaming

This is where things get a whole lot more interesting, even though it’s yet another inner-regional clash between two LPL giants, much like the Best of 5 that precedes it. Still, it’s no secret that the LPL has underperformed at this year’s Worlds — and we’ve really just phrased it as euphemistically as possible. The fact that FunPlus Phoenix failed to make it out is tantamount to a debacle. There’s no other way to put it, really. The fact that they had lost to both Rogue and Cloud9 in the second Group Stage round robin is simply unacceptable for a team of their caliber. That’s still a shock we haven’t fully digested and comprehended, even though it happened quite a few days ago. 

Royal Never Give Up and Edward Gaming have looked a lot better thus far, but they’ve also made numerous mistakes and had shown more weaknesses than one would expect given their staggering depth. Is this something that can be fixed and shored up in just a few days' time? Certainly, but there are never any guarantees — as evidenced by the many mind-blowing twists and upsets that have occurred thus far. 

Be that as it may, the sheer thought of RNG facing off against EDG is more than enough for us to start watering at the mouth. We’re talking about LPL royalty here, two teams stacked with some of the most capable players who have ever taken flesh; the former had won the LPL Spring Split and had then dominated beyond measure at the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational. The latter, however, was able to find a lot more success in the second half of the season and had gone the “whole nine yards” in Summer. 

So, needless to say, this is a clash between two absolute behemoths, both of which have very pronounced strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, they differ vastly in the way they want to play the game out. With RNG, it’s all about playing through Xiaohu and, well, it’s easy to understand why — he’s one of the best top laners in the world and can only be challenged by the likes of Khan (of DWG fame). EDG, on the other hand, tend to put all of their eggs in the Viper basket, with Scout always being ready and willing to step up should the need arise. 

It’s a noticeably different playstyle, and it’s nigh impossible to predict which of the two will prevail once these two teams step foot on stage to compete.

Still, one has to argue that Royal Never Give Up have more tools to work with. GALA and Ming, while not as flashy as Viper and Meiko, can play weakside with ease — and even thrive in such circumstances. EDG’s Flandre, on the other hand, isn’t quite so proficient at surviving with little to no resources. Then again, one could argue that the performance delta in the mid lane between Cryin and Scout offsets such a deficiency so as to make this as even a fight as one can imagine. 

Fireworks are basically guaranteed, and both teams have all the right tools to go the distance and eventually emerge victorious. Who’ll execute better on the day still remains to be seen, but we’ve gotten a very good look at their staggering highs and fairly underwhelming lows and we can’t wait to see how well they’ve prepared for this particular Best of 5 — there’s quite a lot on the line, as you can imagine.

The only thing that is stopping us from going with RNG on this one is their tendency to overextend, to push things further than they need to, regardless if they’re ahead or behind in gold/objectives. This tremendous flaw has been on full display throughout the Group Stage, and if they don’t pick their fights more carefully they’re bound to get punished by Edward Gaming. 

They still haven't been exploited all too much but that's only because they were facing PSG Talon, Fnatic, and Hanwha Life Esports, three teams that, while undeniably talented, simply aren't on RNG's level. Edward Gaming, on the other hand, need the smallest of windows to capitalize and punish, which means RNG cannot afford to make the same mistakes; otherwise they’ll be forced to pack their bags and fly back home far sooner than expected. 

In any case, we’ll side with Edward Gaming on this one, but it could really go either way.

DWG KIA vs. MAD Lions

MAD Lions getting out groups was always somewhat of a foregone conclusion. They’re far from perfect, but they’ve done more than enough throughout the year to warrant our benefit of the doubt. Whenever they bring their “A game” they’re definitely a force to be reckoned with, and we’ve seen that at this year’s Worlds as well.

Unfortunately, they’ve been matched up with whom we can rightfully consider as the biggest favorite the win the whole tournament: DWG KIA. The LCK champions have had their fair share of ups and downs throughout the year — including an uncharacteristically fallible showing at MSI — but whatever weaknesses they had had, most of them now seem to have been fixed. And the more you think about it, the more awe-inspiring it gets: DWG have somehow gotten even better.

What a truly frightening notion. And MAD, even though they had managed to take DWG to five games back at MSI, will now face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, one that is as layered and unassailable as it gets. 

Do MAD have a shot? Of course! Anything can happen, as evidenced by FPX’s inability to get out of groups (and a slew of other mind-boggling upsets that had occurred recently). Still, it’s hard to envision a world in which they pull off an upset — i.e. win three games out of five; it is a timeline that seems far too remote at this point in time. 

What are their win conditions or avenues for success? Through which lanes exactly will they have to play so as to stand a chance of winning? They can’t play through Armut — his champion pool won’t allow it, not to mention the fact that Khan is head and shoulders above him in terms of mechanics and talent. Elyoya, talented though he is, simply cannot rub shoulders with a titan like Canyon (not yet, at least). And, well, the same goes for Humanoid — he, too, will have his hands full with Showmaker, a veritable mid lane behemoth. MAD’s bottom lane duo is quite dangerous, but they’re also inconsistent and tend to overextend and go for plays they have no business going for.

If anything, this chaotic nature of theirs could be their biggest strength. They’re hard to read because they echo much of what made G2 Esports so darn great back in 2019: they revel in a chaotic state of affairs. 

Will that be enough against a giant like DWG? Probably not, but it will give them a puncher’s chance and — at best — a shot at pushing the LCK champions to the brink of defeat. 

If they find a way to keep Armut relevant (without giving him too much jungle assistance), funnel enough resources into Humanoid, and get Kaiser on an engage pick like Rakan or Leona, they might stand a chance of doing some damage. Still, this is quite a long list of things that will need to go their way and, frankly, there is only so much that is in their control. 

MAD isn’t the kind of team that’ll blow you away with their execution — they’re not clinical or overly precise, nor are they a blunt instrument akin to Team Vitality. Instead, they’re somewhere in the middle. They often make mistakes and go a few steps too far, but have the mechanical talent and cohesion to bounce back (at least more often than not). Against a team like DWG, however, that simply won’t be enough. You give them an inch and they’ll blow the game wide open as if it’s nobody’s business. These players can capitalise on the smallest of openings, and unless MAD have shored up their (at times quite obvious) weaknesses — most of which were on full display throughout the Group Stage — DWG KIA are bound to have a field day.

It won’t come easy, of course, but they’re definitely a cut above the rest and should be able to prove it, too.

Gen.G vs. Cloud9

Finally, to close out the quarterfinals, we have Gen.G taking on Cloud9. Depending on your allegiance and personal preference, this is either a wholly unimportant clash, or a Best of 5 worthy of one’s undivided attention. We’re leaning more towards the latter but we’ll understand if you’re jaded after so many years of North American teams failing to deliver. 

The reason why this particular Best of 5 is so darn interesting isn’t necessarily because people have high expectations of Cloud9, but rather because they actually have a shot at beating Gen.G and advancing further into the tournament. Now, this is by no means set in stone, but at least it’s a possibility, and that, in short, is more than enough to get us hyped beyond measure! There’s no telling what’ll happen once these two teams step foot on stage to compete, but Gen.G are no strangers to imploding on the Worlds stage — especially against highly aggressive Western teams that are more than willing to trade blows and skirmish like there’s no tomorrow. 

This particular incarnation of Cloud9 deserves a ton of praise and is undoubtedly among the most capable line-ups North America has ever fostered. It’s also mighty inconsistent and tends to implode at the most random of moments — you can’t have the good without the bad, it seems like. One day they’ll step foot on stage and dominate beyond measure. And then, just a day or two later, they’ll fumble and fail in almost every imaginable way en route to getting demolished.

This duality is often on full display. Take the Group Stage, for instance. Their first half was absolutely horrendous. And then just a few days later they came back with a vengeance, looking like a completely different team. Which “shade” of C9 will show up against Gen.G is anyone’s guess, but if they play as well as we expect them to, they’ll definitely stand a chance at pulling off an upset. 

Gen.G, talented though they are, aren’t particularly dangerous in Best of 5s — at least not when compared to most of their prominent LCK peers. Moreover, they’re somewhat easy to prepare for as their arsenal of weapons isn’t nearly as flexible or varied as, say, DWG KIA’s. You know what they’re going to do more often than not, which doesn’t necessarily mean they’re easy to beat. Far from it, in fact. 

Still, a team like Cloud9 could, by all means, get the job done — they “just” need to get on the same page, give enough agency to Ibrahim “Fudge” Allami and Luka “Perkz” Perković, get Philippe “Vulcan” Laflamme on an engage pick like Rakan or Leona, and make sure that Robert “Blaber” Huang doesn’t go for any of his well-known Scuttle plays in the early game. We’re talking about a very standard draft, one that gives C9’s top laner and mid enough tools to work; they’ve been their most consistent performers and simply need to be given ample priority in the draft.

For Cloud9 to advance further, Perkz will have to “do his thing” — i.e. perform like the best Western mid laner of all time which, coincidentally, he is. Still, we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that his moments of brilliance — the ones for which he’s so well known for — have been a fairly scarce occurrence ever since he had moved to North America. Every member of Cloud9 will need to be on their best behavior, and if that happens — if everyone pulls their fair share of the weight — they could very well end up beating Gen.G. 

It’s a long shot, of course, but at least it’s possible. Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong and his venerable teammates have thus far been the most fallible of all Korean representatives, and if history is any indication, there’s a good chance they’ll crumble under the pressure, much like they did back in 2018. 

Still, we’ll understand if you prefer the “safe” route — there are simply too many intangibles with Cloud9, and betting on the favorite (especially in this case) will undoubtedly yield a lot more peace of mind.

2021 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS

Only four teams remain, three of which happen to be from the LCK. This, in short, is the moment we’ve all been waiting for. Had someone told us that an all-Korean finals would’ve been possible coming into 2021 Worlds, they would’ve gotten a Ray Liotta laugh in response. Needless to say, we’ve witnessed quite a momentous shift in the status quo. Then again, we went from one dynasty (LPL) to another (LCK) — hardly anything worth writing home about.

As the old proverb goes: the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Many games were played, many upsets occurred, and in the end, DWG KIA, T1, Gen.G, and Edward Gaming stood out amongst the crowd and have earned their shot at writing history. Who’ll come out on top still remains to be seen, but it’s fair to say that DWG KIA have looked the most dangerous and are, therefore, the biggest front-runners to “go the whole nine yards.” 

We have two exceptional Best of 5s ahead: an all-Korean clash between the defending world champions DWG KIA and a team that has won Worlds more times than any other in history — T1. Then on Sunday, the third-best team from Korea (Gen.G) and the LPL champions (Edward Gaming) will take the stage and compete for a shot at reaching the World Championship finals. 

These match-ups might lack a bit of excitement and intrigue seeing there’s nothing overly surprising about them, but such a stance is also somewhat unfair: all four teams have grown tremendously throughout the tournament and will surely deliver from the very moment they step foot on stage to compete.

So, without any further ado, let’s begin!

DWG KIA vs. T1

What a truly momentous clash, one that could, by all means, go down in the history books! Still, it doesn’t feel quite as premier or exciting because we’ve already seen this particular match-up a mere two months ago! The meta did shift — and quite noticeably so — but it’s probably not going to change much when it comes to the final outcome.

Now sure, T1 did improve across the board, they did shore up a few of their weaknesses, they did diversify their playstyle ever so slightly and had made Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong a full-time starter over Park “Teddy” Jin-seong, but we simply have to wonder: is this all enough? Will it suffice against a bona fide titan like DWG KIA, a team that has made the fewest mistakes and looked the least fallible out of all four remaining competitors at Worlds?

Their dominance cannot be overstated. To say that they blew their opposition out of the water — while rarely playing at “full throttle” — would truly be an understatement. It boggles the mind, really. And just when you think that maybe, just maybe they’ve made an egregious mistake, that they’ve gone a step too far and are about to be punished, they still find a way to turn the tides and emerge victorious thanks to some mind-blowing play or engage that no other team in the world would be able to pull off. 

The gap between them and everyone else, it seems like, is far too big at this point in time. And they’re having a ton of fun, too. They’re not tryharding and have stamina for days. Heck, they’re probably yearning for a challenge, too, and we’re not quite sure whether there’s anyone left at Worlds who can really push them to their limits. 

T1 might, in all fairness, as they, too, have been a lot more dominant than expected. Then again, this is DWG KIA we’re talking about — they know what they’re in for and will surely prepare well for whatever T1 might bring to the table, just like they’ve done in the past.

As previously mentioned, we had already seen this match-up in the most recent LCK Summer Split finals, and it was DWG KIA who were able to emerge victorious after four relatively competitive games. It wasn’t as big of a blowout as some of us had expected, and it got us hyped for the future as, for a brief moment in time, it seemed like the LCK giants could “bleed.”

Now, though, we’re not so sure whether that’s still the case. If we were to judge DWG KIA based solely on their performance at this year’s Worlds, we’d have to argue that they’ve elevated their game even further; they’re the de facto best and most dangerous team in the world and, well, it’s not even close!

Could that be a by-product of the group in which they were placed? We cannot know for certain, but we’re dying to find out. FunPlus Phoenix were by no means a challenge, so the fact that DWG stood out so much might just be the result of them not having a good enough opponent to play against. Cloud9 and Rogue are solid, but they’re nowhere near good enough to rub shoulders with this LCK behemoth.

In other (perhaps contentious) words: one could argue that DWG KIA had a fairly easy group, hence their commanding performances. But even if that *is* the case, we know for a fact that momentum plays a key part in competitive League, and DWG have it in spades.

In the end, we cannot help but side with the LCK champions on this one. They might not beat the brakes off of T1 Lions in this oh-so-fascinating Best of 5, but they’re heavily favored, and there’s a good reason why. Against an opponent as unassailable and complete as DWG, T1 will struggle to find a good enough avenue for success. In all fairness, they were more successful in the early game, but DWG always took the reins later on, in no small part because of their mind-blowing objective control and the way in which they tend to set things up. Their vision control is sublime and so is their ability to weather the storm no matter the broader context and whether or not they're at a (seemingly insurmountable) deficit. 

T1 will have to be perfect from start to finish so as to stand even the slightest chance at pulling off an upset, and while that might happen once, we don’t see it happening three times in the span of just a single series.

In any case, we will not be left indifferent, so make sure to tune in!

Gen.G vs. Edward Gaming

This semifinal match-up is arguably a lot more interesting than the one preceding it, but it's probably not going to be nearly as competitive. Then again, we’ve witnessed many mind-blowing twists and upsets at this year’s Worlds, so we really shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves.

On paper, Edward Gaming should definitely have the edge, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t say that Gen.G have subverted our expectations on more than one occasion during their stellar run at Worlds. No one expected them to be this darn good, and most (if not all) of it is due to Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong and Kim “Clid” Tae-min playing out of their minds. These two legends have pushed Gen.G over the finish line more times than we’d care to count and if they bring their A-game against Edward Gaming as well, they’ll no doubt stand a chance at not only making things highly competitive but perhaps even emerging victorious.

There’s a lot on the line here, as you can imagine, and both teams have a metric ton of hype behind their backs. Gen.G made quick work of Cloud9 in what was a surprisingly one-sided affair, whereas Edward Gaming had to dig a lot deeper than their Korean peers in order to best Royal Never Give Up. It was a Best of 5 for the ages, and their win — impressive though it was — definitely didn’t come easy. Still, it showed us that EDG are, in fact, the best team from the LPL right now and that they have a sufficiently large gas tank to trade blows and go the five-game distance, should the need arise.

Will they need it against RNG, though? Well, that’s a hard question to answer. The most honest reply would be: there’s no way of knowing right now. Edward Gaming are a more complete team with a more diverse set of weapons, but that doesn’t mean they’ll deliver and execute once they step foot on stage to compete. Gen.G, on the other hand, haven’t been nearly as versatile, and most of their wins came by way of Bdd roaming and dominating beyond measure, with Clid setting things up and impacting the map as early as humanly possible. 

It’s not a bad approach by any means, but it is somewhat telegraphed and should, in all fairness, be relatively easy to neutralize. Edward Gaming know what they have to do and they’re well-equipped for the task at hand. Gen.G, though, will not go down without a fight. Their road towards this point was tumultuous and riddled with challenges, most of which they were able to tackle and overcome with relative ease. They grew a ton, too, which is highly commendable for a line-up that’s so seasoned and, by some metrics, “old.” The fact that they’ve persevered for so long and have even picked up a few new tricks is a true testament to their work ethic and inherent talent.

In the end, we simply have to side with Edward Gaming. Flandre has had a much better showing than both of Gen.G’s top laners, JieJie might not be a powerhouse but is nonetheless extremely clutch and has delivered whenever it mattered most thus far, Scout is amongst the best mid laners on the planet and has been wrecking house in the current meta, and last but certainly not least, we have Viper and Meiko, arguably the most capable bottom lane duo out there. 

Gen.G are stacked as well, but they’re arguably not as commanding or flexible, and there are certain conditions that will need to be met for them to stand a chance at beating Edward Gaming. If Bdd and Clid come out the gates swinging, they’ll no doubt make this into an insanely competitive Best of 5, but in the end, the LPL champions should, by all means, be able to get their “hands raised.”

2021 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS

DWG KIA vs. Edward Gaming

The moment we’ve all been waiting for: a clash of the two best teams in the world. And, as fate would have it, it’s an LCK vs. LPL match-up, one that is all but guaranteed to deliver. We’ve watched DWG KIA and Edward Gaming run circles around their opposition throughout the last month or so and, needless to say, we can’t wait to see them step foot on stage and duke it out for a shot at making history. 

There’s a lot on the line here, and nerves will surely play a big part. DWG KIA will undoubtedly feel less pressure as they’ve already been through this whole ordeal just a year ago. Edward Gaming, on the other hand, not only have the burden of the LPL on their shoulders, but that of their fallen brethren, too. They’re the only Chinese team that has truly delivered at this year’s Worlds, and while they’ve been mighty impressive from start to finish, it feels like this is the point where their journey ends.

And, frankly, there’s no shame in that. Edward Gaming have already done more than enough — reaching the finals of the World Championship is what most teams can only dream of as it is a feat far outside their reach. We’re not counting them out fully, mind you, but it’s just hard to envision a world in which they beat DWG KIA three times within a five-game series. 

They’re exceptional in more ways than one. They’re stacked from head to toe, with some of the best and most capable players in the history of the game, and yet somehow they still pale in comparison to the LCK champions. Now sure, DWG did look a bit shaky against T1, but they still delivered when it mattered most — and in quite spectacular fashion, too. They always find a way to win, no matter the odds and that, frankly, should be no different this time around. 

They probably won’t blow Edward Gaming out of the water, but they should still be more than capable enough to get the job done and defend their throne. By the looks of it, there’s no team out there in the world that can trade blows. Every single member on DWG knows his role and is absolutely spectacular at fulfilling it. They’re all so good at the game it doesn’t even make sense. How can there be such a large gap? How can they be this darn better than everyone else? 

Watching them run circles around their opposition has truly been a pleasure and a privilege, and if they play as well as they can (and as well as we expect them to), they should no doubt be able to best the LPL champions and write another page of the history books.

With all of that said, they’re not going to have it easy, so definitely make sure to tune in!

Tournament Format

TBD