Analysis and Opinion

World Championships Coach/Analyst Panel Preview

A global competition like the LoL World Championships requires a global analytical perspective. I sent a set of Worlds preview questions to several professional coaches and analysts from around the world to get a range of opinions on what we can expect in the upcoming tournament.

There are some interesting takes on who fits into the “top 4” teams at the event, some intriguing dark horse picks, and disagreement about where the LCK, as a region, fits into the global power scale.

Enjoy!

Participants

Who are the four best teams at Worlds this year?

Empyre
TES, DWG, JDG, G2

Lyric
TES, JDG, DWG, G2

The first 3 are pretty standard, and G2 is just a team that has the ability to show up when it matters most.

Malaclypse
TES, JDG, DWG… Suning? Hard to say.

Jensen Goh
TES, G2, JDG, SN

JungleJuice
DWG – Strong top side carry players, plays fast, understands meta well
TES – Knight + Jackeylove
DRX – drafts and macro questionable but everyone on that team is just a smurf
G2

Invert
TES, JDG, DWG, G2

G2 on form can be a great team, and they don’t have as many question marks after their playoff run as I would have for a team like DRX (where jungle has been a bit of an issue as of late) or FNC (their consistency in how they take fights is not there but most of the players have great diversity in champ pool and ability to punish on red side with counterpicks).

Cody Gerard
TES, JDG, DWG, G2

TES are possibly the most talented team China has ever produced, while JDG’s team synergy and macro play are on par with last year’s FPX roster. Damwon Gaming has dominated Korea this summer in a way that is on par with the most dominant rosters of SKT, ROX/Koo Tigers, and DragonX. G2 Esports have struggled with their consistency, but I have faith they will continue to improve as they have throughout the back half of the summer split and be fully rounded into form by the time the tournament starts.

Tolki
By “top 4”, I am talking about the teams I most expect to win it all. For me, those are TES, JDG, G2, and FNC, with Suning pretty close, then a decent gap. I think DWG is great and will likely make a run to semifinals, but I think that the top Chinese and European teams have the edge in later Bo5s.

Who is a “dark horse” team from outside the top 4 that you think could surprise us and make a deep run?

Empyre
Suning.

Lyric
I think Gen.G can end up surprising some teams with the level of their individual talent. Ruler and Life are one of the best bot lanes coming into the tournament, and the biggest gap between teams will be in the support role.

Malaclypse
Personally I foresee G2 and EU in general walking in at lower place of power as they have in the past two Worlds, but I think G2 with time can come back up in form and contest for a run still. It’s not the same optimism we had for G2 in 2019 for instance where, at least in my eyes, they were walking in as the tourney favorites.

Jensen Goh
“Dark Horse” – DWG

Something more interesting – FNC

JungleJuice
Fnatic – Players are psycho enough (Hylissang, Bwipo, Selfmade) to be able to compete at fighting.

Invert
Suning or Fnatic.

Suning is a team with very established picks and play style that gives only certain players (read: SofM or Angel) outsized opportunities for creativity. If the meta settles on these consistent picks (Ashe, Aphelios, Renekton, Bard), and if the rise of AP junglers means more Kassadin for Angel, we can really see this team shine through and break into the top 4.

Fnatic have good early game stats and movements that are bolstered by a very strong successful counterpick rate. To me, Fnatic has more flexibility than Suning on a strategic level and can adapt if something in the meta shifts suddenly as it did in 2015, 2017, and 2018. But if the meta is similar across the whole tournament, I expect Suning to stabilize and make a run.

Cody Gerard
FlyQuest. While the team lacks the individual talent of some of the more obvious dark horse picks such as DRX and Gen.G, I want to be a little more spicy and go for an actual dark horse, rather than just the 5th and 6th best teams at the tournament. FlyQuest are one of the most well-rounded teams in the tournament, with their reliable players in every role and a strong, well defined, playstyle. With the right draw and a hot streak, FQ could be poised to make a deep run.

Tolki
By “dark horse”, I mean a team that nobody has any expectations for, but that could actually make a deep run. For me, that would be MAD. I don’t think they’re one of the top 8 teams at Worlds, but if things break their way they could get as high as top 4, in my opinion.

Is China a bigger favourite to win Worlds this year than it was in 2019? Why or why not?

Empyre
The odds are the same, but there are at least two additional LPL teams that fit the current meta compared to last year’s Worlds. Additionally, with the emphasis on team fighting (which LPL specializes in) around Dragons, this gives LPL teams an advantage over most teams. Outside of LPL we have only seen Damwon and G2 consistently skirmish and team fight as well as the best LPL teams.

Lyric
I think it’s a bit lost in hindsight, but going into the 2019 World Championship most people were a bit higher on G2 and SKT/GRF than the LPL teams. This year LPL has the comfort of playing at home which is massive, and two contenders of a similar caliber with a meta that fits them.

Malaclypse
Yes because G2 was clearly the best team in the world in my eyes in 2019, and the rest of Korea didn’t look so weak. I think TES and JD are on a level of consistency (this is key to me) above the other teams. To paraphrase Grabbz from a past interview of his, no one is showcasing groundbreaking strategic innovation this year, so it’s mostly about consistency in their decisions and mechanical prowess.

Jensen Goh
Most people in the Twittersphere considered G2/SKT/GRF contenders alongside IG/FPX to win worlds last year. Most people seem to see China as the favorite region this year, so that should be a yes.

JungleJuice
No I think Korea has caught up on playing faster and playing the meta correctly. Also, China in 2019 had Rookie and DoinB, but I think Yagao is a tier below Knight, Caps, and the Korean Mids this year. So overall, Korea is stronger than it was last year.

Invert
To me, China is a bigger favourite. Structurally, not only do 4 seeds of powerful teams make groups and play-ins harder for other regions, but the concept of the bubble makes it so unfamiliar to everyone that the idea of a bubble on their home turf gives me the understanding that they would be more prepared and more comfortable. If they have no 2 week quarantine like the rest of the world, for example, you could see how that can be a huge mental advantage.

Cody Gerard
Yes, not because TES or JDG are better than IG or FPX were, but because as a pair they’re stronger than any two teams China has sent in the past.

Tolki
China is much more of a favorite this year because of insanely high home turf advantage and skill stagnation of other regions.

Do you think we will see a team from outside of LPL/LCK/LEC/LCS in the Quarterfinals? If so, which team?

Empyre
No.

Lyric
I can’t imagine it happening, with 4 LPL and LEC teams at the tournament.

Malaclypse
Unlikely given 4 EU, 4CN, and 3 KR teams. A more appropriate question almost is whether we will see a LCS team in top 8. I’m pretty sure we will not, and LCS will be taking some rough losses vs. wildcard regions this year.

Jensen Goh
No, but if I had to choose one I’ll pick Legacy from OCE. I expect 3 CN, 3 EU, 2 KR.

JungleJuice
No.

Invert
If Vietnam were participating, I would have some hope for VCS champions Team Flash. They have a great ADC and their games are bloodier than even G2’s. They also bring a unique twist to the meta where they are one of the only teams attending that is playing a lot of Yuumi with success.  I don’t suspect we will see a team outside those 4 regions in QFs, however.

Cody Gerard
Unicorns of Love. They are the best team the LCL has ever produced, with just two losses in the league all year. While far from a guarantee to make it out of groups, with players whose champion pools demand respect in every role and the ability to play through any of those players in game, they present a tough matchup for any team, in draft and on the rift.

Tolki
Not a chance.

Thank you to all of the participating coaches and analysts. Scroll up to the top of the page and follow them all on Twitter, if you don’t already!