GROUP A: TEAM WE VS LYON GAMING VS GAMBIT ESPORTS

Despite WE’s domination, they by no means crushed their enemies. What WE did best was map objectives and late game, consistently making calls to sacrifice kills in order to gain a dragon, Rift Herald, or tower. However, this means WE was often at a deficit. Though WE looks good in the Play-in stage (and no second seed really looks primed to beat them), their poor early game looks like a glaring weakness to the major stars in the Group stage.

Lyon actually looked alarmingly good. We had some hope for the team that so routinely crushes their region, but they out-performed even that. They showed consistent strengths individually but had issues closing out games. Their losses to WE should certainly have given them food for thought though, and they look like a team that could grow to take on major players in the Group Stage.

Gambit Esports, sadly, fell flat. Their biggest weakness was in drafting. They consistently chose bizarre and poor matchups and failed to utilize the strengths of their champions – such as roaming more heavily on Rakan. However, they were amazing sports throughout the whole thing, and their final game against Team WE was a riot of bizarre picks, silly fights, and fun. We’re sorry to see them go, but glad they chose to go out in such a way.

GROUP B: CLOUD9 VS TEAM ONE ESPORTS VS DIRE WOLVES

The name of the game is Cloud9. We expected them to do well, but C9 were terrifyingly good – the best we have seen all year and maybe even through last year. They finished 4-0 and flexed their muscles showing a huge variety of comps and champs. Mid-laner Jensen, their usual carry, flexed into a Galio and let Jungler Contractz carry the game – a huge turnaround from normal play styles for the team. They were also the only team to finish a game with 0 deaths in just 22 minutes.

Team oNe have got be given credit as well. Their first two games were abysmal, and no one thought their final match against DW would be anything but a defeat, but they showed amazing adaptability, beat DW, and forced the round-robin into a tie breaker. After delivering huge on a team fight comp, they came back from the brink of defeat and secured themselves the second seed and the right to continue on.

Dire Wolves, unfortunately, let their nerves get the best of them. Day 1 saw them performing quite well, but an interview with the players showed clear shock at the chasm of skill between their team and C9, something they never seemed to shake. In Day 2, they played better against C9, but another defeat against ONE sunk their spirits further, and by the time of their tie-breaker with ONE, they lacked the stamina and the spirit to press on.

GROUP C: FNATIC VS YOUNG GENERATION VS KAOS LATIN GAMERS

Fnatic are the shakiest of the first seeds, and the team with the worst score in that position. At 3-1, they are the team every second seed is hoping to match against, and for good reason. Though their experience has shown in decisiveness and shot-calling, every match seems to have a different member fumbling their roles. If every member was on point, hitting skill shots, and not making silly mechanical mistakes, they would be the feared EU kings we all remember.

By comparison, Young Generation is showing much of the same tenacity and prowess that has made GIGABYTE Marines a feared team. Their ability to adapt and learn was unparalleled in their group. If they can hold out a bit longer, they could go far, especially considering a best-of-five format plays much more strongly towards their strengths.

Lastly, the Kaos Latin Gamers looked good but showed a refusal to adapt. While teams like C9 were flaunting their variety of playstyles, nearly every single game saw KLG returning to a ‘protect the ADC’ comp. Though that has worked well for them back home, the international teams quickly saw through it, and KLG’s failure to adapt cost them their spot.

GROUP D: HONG KONG ATTITUDE VS 1907 Fenerbahçe VS RAMPAGE

Fenerbahçe are looking as good as we had hoped. Ever since Rift Rivals, we have had our eye on this team, and they have not disappointed. Their adaptability in game has been unrivaled, and though they had to fight a tie-breaker series against Hong Kong Attitude for first seed, their superior shot-calling pulled them into the lead.

Hong Kong Attitude just barely missed their shot at first seed, and it may cost them. HKA have shown promise so far, but a number of blunders at Baron – every match against Fenerbahçe had throws at Baron – have shown that they just aren’t where they need to be with map awareness and control. Now they have to face off against a first seed, and the only one they might find any leeway with is Fnatic.

Rampage’s story ended much the way Gambit’s did. They were a team too rigid in their regional style and unable to adapt to the international scene. Their Day 3 games were disasters. They played too slow, too passive, and drafted too poorly in both matches. By Day 4, they at least finished showing some growth in compositions and drafting, but it wasn’t enough for this inexperienced team, and we’ve seen the last of them at Worlds.