Worlds 2022: teamanalyse Worlds 2022 Play-In Group B

Let's return to preparations before the start of Worlds 2022. The first stage of the World Championship in 2022 on our screens will be the Play-In.

In the previous article, we considered the participants of group A, and now it's time to look at 6 teams that will play in a parallel basket. Spoiler: among the contenders for the group stage is the champion of the second most important tournament of the year in LoL esports schedule.

Group B Play-In: 6 teams, 1 direct entry to the group stage, 2 eliminations. Let's get started.

DRX

Where they play: South Korea (LCK)

Results for the season: TOP-5 at LCK Spring 2022, TOP-6 at LCK Summer 2022, TOP-2 at LCK Regional Finals 2022

Roster for Worlds 2022: Kingen, Pyosik, Zeka, Deft, BeryL.

We open group B with heavyweights from the world of competitive dota. DRX will play for the second time at Worlds 2022.

The first appearance of DRX as part of the series happened at Worlds 2020. Then the team led by the permanent Pyosik began its journey to the Summoners Cup from the group stage, taking 5-8th place in the tournament.

The line-up of DRX at Worlds 2020 can be called exemplary, because after the departure of Chovy, the team began a black streak that continues to this day.

The team, by hook or by crook, made it to the Worlds 2022 Play-In, finishing in the TOP 5 and TOP 6 in the LCK Regional League during the season. They saved LCK Regional Finals 2022 from failure, where DRX lost to SANDBOX in the competition for the championship.

For DRX, getting into the Play-In will benefit. The squad of the South Korean club needs more game practice, which they will receive in group B.

Their exit at least to the next stage of the Play-In is not discussed. The only doubt is whether DRX will be able to overtake RNG in the fight for the championship in the group.

Verdict: advance to the next Play-In stage/advance to the group stage from 1st place.

Isurus

Where they play: Latin America (LLA)

Results for the season: TOP-4 at LLA Opening 2022, TOP-1 at LLA Closing 2022.

Roster for Worlds 2022: ADD, Grell, Seiya, Gavotto, Jelly.

If DRX is one of the main contenders to qualify from Group B Play-In Worlds 2022, then Isurus is on the list. This happened, not so much because of Isurus, but because of the high competition in group B.

Isurus is a representative of not the most titular, but quite honorable region. Teams from Latin America consistently attend Worlds tournaments. Isurus were one of those until 2022.

The Argentine club defended the LLA banners at the Worlds 2019, albeit with a completely different lineup. At that time, the club failed to climb above the second stage of the Play-In, and now the heirs of the 2019 roster will have the opportunity to surpass the peak result of the club. But then again, competition.

Isurus fell into the same group as the mastodons of the competitive League of Legends: China, Korea, Europe - representatives of these regions will hinder Isurus on their way to the second stage of the Play-In.

Stories about "dark horses" are always appropriate at large events like Worlds, but academics and hard rationality succeed in competitive LoL. In the case of Isurus, they will play their part.

Verdict: Departure from the Worlds 2022 Play-In/passage to the second stage in last place.

M.A.D. Lions

Where they play: Europe (LEC)

Achievements for the season: TOP-7 at LEC Spring 2022, 4th place at LEC Summer 2022.

Roster for Worlds 2022: Armut, Elyoya, Nisqy, UNF0RGIVEN, Kaiser.

From extremes we get to the “borderline”. MAD Lions are the luckiest team in Group B at Play-In Worlds 2022.

Good luck is added not by some personal qualities of the performers (although not without them here) or a special playstyle. MAD Lions luck was given by chance, and if you dig deeper, then Riot Games.

Due to the invasion of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine, the representatives of the continental league LCL will miss this World Championship. Instead of the LCL, the slot went to Europe - for outstanding services and long service, as well as an exemplary game in the Worlds series championships.

It is easy to guess that this slot was taken by the MAD Lions, who played a mediocre season in the LEC. At Worlds 2022, the team will have a chance to prove that the home matches were “warm-up” matches and the Lions will show the real League at Worlds.

The fact that MAD Lions can advance to the group stage is a fact. That they won't do it directly by winning Group B is far from the fact.

Verdict: passage to the second stage of Worlds 2022.

Royal Never Give Up

Where they play: China (LPL)

Achievements for the season: 1st place at LPL Spring 2022, 1st place at MSI 2022, TOP-6 at LPL Summer 2022, 2nd place at LPL Regional Finals.

Composition for Worlds 2022: Breathe, Wei, Xiaohu, GALA, Ming.

Meet the future winner of Group B at the Worlds Play-In 2022. Or almost him.

Before the start of Worlds 2022, RNGs in Group B are very similar to DRX, only the Chinese have better results. They are the main argument for believing in victory in the Play-In stage.

The defending champions of the off-season were a little “blown away” with the start of the LPL summer series 2022. This can be attributed to the departure of the LPL headliner, Bin, who parted ways with RNG right after MSI and could not qualify here with the new club.

Karma is an interesting thing, but this is not about that now. RNG will definitely be in the group stage, and most likely they will be there after 5 LoL matches in group B, and the only ones who can challenge their right to pass here are DRX, but there are many doubts about the South Koreans.

Verdict: advance to the group stage from the 1st place in group B of Play-In Worlds 2022.

Saigon Buffalo

Where they play: Vietnam (VCS)

Achievements for the season: 2nd place at VCS Spring 2022, VCS Summer 2022, TOP-6 at MSI 2022.

Composition for Worlds 2022: Hasmed, Beanj, Froggy, Shogun, Taki.

Saigon Buffalo could be credited to the status of "underdogs", but you do not want to do this. There are teams in Group B at the Play-In that really confirm the title of “dark horses”.

Saigon Buffalo look more like “strong mid-range”. It's about the performance of the team during the season.

The team took silver twice at the home VCS, but the main milestone was Busan, where the Mid-Season Invitational 2022 was held. During the “off-season”, the club climbed into the TOP-6, which is a significant achievement for the team from Vietnam.

Another argument in favor of Saigon Buffalo's advancement to the second stage of the Play-in is the well-played roster. The five of Hasmed, Beanj, Froggy, Shogun and Taki have been together since January of this year, which adds to the confidence that the Buffaloes will overcome the first Play-In #1 hurdle.

Verdict: reaching the second stage of the Play-In.

Istanbul Wildcats

Where they play: Turkey (TCL)

Season Results: TOP-1 at TCL Spring 2022, TCL Summer 2022, 11th at MSI 2022.

Ingredients: StarScreen, Ferret, Serin, HolyPhoenix, Farfetch.

Turkey's first team is in an unenviable position. After qualifying for Group B, the Istanbul Wildcats must fight their way through RNG, DRX, MAD Lions, and the tough Saigon Buffalo.

The two-time TCL championship should help the team adapt to the local meta, and the performance at MSI 2022 (11th place) gave them experience of playing at the international level.

Sympathy for Turkish performers is difficult to hide, and this is not subjective. The example of Armut, playing the first fiddle in MAD Lions, shows that TCL people are in demand among title clubs.

The high quality of the players, coupled with a long period of playing together (together since December 2021), should help the team get through the Play-In, but someone will have to be eliminated. Istanbul Wildcats will fight with Isurus for a place in the second stage of the Play-In on the last line.

Verdict: Departure from the Worlds 2022 Play-In/passage to the second stage in last place.

Photo: Liqupeida.