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The Worlds 2023 playoffs are heating up. Slowly but surely, we have reached the last match of the quarter-finals.
Closing out the first round of the Worlds 2023 play-offs will be T1 and LNG. To be fair, it's pretty hard to come up with a matchup brighter than this one.
The next round of the LPL vs LCK clash promises to be a hot one. Both teams have roughly equal chances of making it to the next round of the World Cup.
We will try to find out who will be stronger in this battle and in the next round will play against the winner of the pair JD Gaming - KT Rolster.
Let's go.
Form LNG Esports
Let's open the match analysis with the analysis of LNG Esports form. In this match, the LPL residents will play the first number one with a minimal margin: the odds for their victory in the match against T1 are at around 1.7.
In 2022, LNG began their climb to the top of the Chinese League of Legends. They finished top 6 at LPL Spring 2022, but fared better: in the summer split, LNG Esports finished top 4 at LPL Summer 2023.
They also played at the regional finals in an attempt to qualify for the Worlds 2022, but had no luck. LNG Esports finished in the top 3.
At LPL Spring 2023, after a good group stage, the team finished in the top 6. Not to say bad, but not very good either.
- LNG Esports roster: Zika, Tarzan, Scout, Gala, Hang.
LNG maintained their class at LPL Summer 2023. The team played a 12-5 regular season, which allowed them to finish in the top 4 and directly advance to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
The first play-offs opponent for LNG was Top Esports. The match ended on map 5 with LNG winning 3-2.
They got here after defeat from the champions of LPL Spring 2023, and at the same time Mid-Season Invitational 2023 - JD Gaming. And defeat in a fairly even game, which ended with 5 maps.
In the next series LNG Esports met with TES. In the match for the exit to the top 3, the once titled club was unable to do anything against LNG, who were clearly charged in the summer split. As a result, the latter won 3-1.
Next up was the match to advance to the grand finals and a battle with Bilibili Gaming. Finalists LPL Spring 2023 and MSI 2023 could not oppose their colleagues and as a result Ledgeili with the score 1-3.
Having reached the Grand Final of LPL Summer 2023 LNG had every chance to defeat the armoured train called JD Gaming and almost took advantage of them - they lacked one map. LPL Summer 2023 Grand Final ended with the score 3-2 in favour of JDG.
LNG Esports started their performance at Worlds 2023 with a match against Fnatic. Scout literally single-handedly swatted the Orange on their Azir, defeating their opponents on mid with a score of 11-0.
In the second match of Worlds 2023 LNG again faced the representatives of the Western World of League of Legends: this time the number two team from North America, Cloud9. Once again LNG defeated their counterparts on class, although C9 held their own and managed to impose Long Sogpega on the match, but lost in a brawl on the centre line after a Baron takedown.
LNG Esports met JD Gaming in a match to advance to the Worlds 2023 play-offs. They gave a serious fight, took the map, but lost. However, in the next round they reached the play-offs after the match with KT Rolster (2-1).
Most popular LNG Esports champions
The most pickable champion in the TOP was Renekton (6 matches, 83% wins). Besides him, Jax (2 matches, 100% wins) and Fiora (2 matches, 50% wins) were popular.
Sejuani (4 matches, 50% wins), Maokai (3 matches, 100% wins), and Zac (2 matches, 1 win) played in the forest.
The centre line was dominated by Ryze. Scout played 5 matches on it and won 4 games. Azir (2-0) and Yone (1-1) were selected twice more.
Similar situation with the shooters. Varus has appeared 8 times and has 75% wins. Jhin (50 wins) has visited twice.
Of the shooters, Leon-a (5 games, 4 wins) is rather unfamiliar. Heim (2 games, 100% wins), Nautilus (2 matches, 50% wins).
Form T1
We continue our match breakdown with an analysis of T1's match form. The legendary Korean club will play here as an outsider, with odds to win around 1.8.
Last season T1 showed a standard level of play. The team reached the top of the table in all top tournaments, but always lacked something.
They won at LCK Spring 2022 and then three consecutive top-2s: MSI, LCK Summer and Worlds 2022.
The curse of Top 2s carried over to the 2023 season as well. At the Long Run of the Year, Faker and company took 2nd place at LCK Spring 2023, and then finished third at MSI 2023.
- T1 line-up: Zeus, Oner, Faker, Gumayusi, Keria.
LCK Summer 2023 was a real challenge for T1. The team made it to the play-offs, but did it with difficulty, taking 5th place in the group stage with the score 9-9.
There were problems for the main protagonist - Faker. The legendary mid laner injured his hand and it obviously affected the overall playing conditions of T1. But now Faker is kind of back on track.
The Faker factor has played out. T1 defeated a serious opponent in the person of Dplus and made their way to the next round, where their opponent will be KT Rolster. The latter, by the way, chose T1 as their opponent.
Next up was no less capable opponent than Dplus. Faker and company played against KT Rolster and won that match with a score of 3-2.
The opponent in the match for the play-offs for T1 was Gen.G. The first tried, and even started the game with the score 2-1, but it didn't work out: Gen.G camebacked, and Chovy was better than Faker.
In the grand final match T1 almost lost to KT Rolster after an excellent Long Sogpeg 2-0. They were saved by Gumayusi, who pulled it off on the 5th map with his Xayah.
However, it didn't allow them to win the final. T1 faced their nemesis Gen.G, where they crushingly lost 0-3.
T1 opened Worlds 2023 with a game against Liquid. Being the clear favourite of the series they closed the match against Liquid in their favour, but it was not an easy win: Liquid held on for 36 minutes and Ledge only 1 kill. Everything was decided in the final midlane brawl, after which T1 closed the series.
In a 1-0 basket T1 ran into their own kryptonite - Gen.G. Faker and company started great, but the first LCK team was the first to adjust the pace of the game to their own and eventually win the match.
Next up, T1 faced Cloud9. Perhaps, it was the most defeated match of all that I had the chance to watch on this Worlds. Naturally, it ended in T1's favour.
After trampling Cloud9 T1 started to beat Bilibili Gaming, and they succeeded. T1 easily defeated the vice-champions MSI 2023 with a score of 2-0.
The most popular T1 champions
Fiora (5 games, 60% wins) was the most frequently sent to the top line. There was also Jax (3 games, 100% wins), Camile (2 matches, 100% wins), Irelia (2 matches, 100% wins).
In the forest Maokai (7 matches, 85% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 75% wins), Viego (2 matches, 100% wins).
The centre line was occupied by Azir (5 matches, 80% wins), Sylas (3 games, 66% wins), Kassadin (2 matches, 100% wins), Ryze (2 games, 50% wins).
Shooters set is standard: Varus (4 games, 50% wins), Lucian (4 games, 100% wins).
Sapports are diverse: Nami (3 games, 100% wins), Ashe (3 games, 0 wins), Varus (2 games, 100% wins), Miss Fortune (2 games, 100% wins).
History of head-to-head meetings T1 - LNG Esports
Previously, the teams have not played each other in head-to-head meetings.
Predicted result of T1 vs LNG Esports at Worlds 2023
In this match, I will believe in the success of T1. Firstly, the legendary Korean tag is playing play-offs on their home stage, and secondly, they are pretty good against Chinese teams. All in all, I think it will be tough, but T1 will win 3-2.
Bottom line: T1 wins.
