Welcome to EGamersWorld.
We continue to review what's going on in the group stage of Worlds 2023. Things continue to heat up with the matches for life in the tournament.
We've already talked about the Fnatic - Cloud9 match and now we discuss the upcoming Weibo - MAD Lions match. A skill match, but in bo3 format.
Let's try to see if the West can do something against the East. Will there be anyone at Worlds 2023 other than G2 Esports that can outplay the residents of the top regions.
Let's go.
Weibo Gaming uniforms
Let's start the match analysis with an analysis of Weibo Gaming's form. Quite an obvious analysis, because there is no doubt about the Chinese advantage in the future match. Bookmakers are also confident in Weibo, and therefore the odds for the victory of the team from the Celestial Empire are at 1.03.
Weibo Gaming can be called a newcomer to the LPL, as the club appeared on the Esports radar and the big stage in 2021, and debuted in the LPL in 2022.
As a rookie, the results were very good. Weibo made the top 8 twice in 2022, finishing top 6 at LPL Spring 2022 and top 8 at LPL Summer 2022.
At the last tournament played before LPL Summer 2023, the previous LPL Spring 2023 split, the team again finished in the top 6. It's not surprising, as the club has a great roster.
- Weibo Gaming roster: TneShy, weiwei, Xiaohu, Light, Crisp .
Weibo Gaming very confidently entered the play-offs of the championship. In the group stage of LPL Summer 2023 the team played on the score 10-6, which allowed to take the sixth place.
Weibo's first opponent in the play-offs was Ninjas in Pyjamas, who made a great run through the group stage and then surprised in the play-offs, reaching the top 8. But obviously they couldn't win, with Weibo winning 3-1.
Weibo's next opponent in the LPL Summer 2023 play-offs was LNG Esports, who showed top flight performance in the regular season, reaching the top 2 of the league and almost beating JD Gaming in the finals. Nevertheless, it was Weibo LNG that LNG had to deal with in the play-offs, and that match ended with the score 2-3 not in favour of WG.
In the regional finals Weibo started their performance from the lower grid, where their opponent was TES. A willful 3-2 win was a key argument in favour of Weibo's advantage in this match.
Next up, Weibo played against EDG for a slot at Worlds 2023. WBG played quite a game and ended up shutting out EDward with a 3-1 score, earning a place at Worlds 2023.
In the opening match at Worlds 2023, Weibo Gaming faced off against NRG. The match ended exactly as it should have: absolute annihilation of the first team of America and an easy victory for Weio.
Next, Weibo played against G2 Esports, and this match was perhaps the most unexpected of all at Worlds 2023. G2 Esports outplayed their vis-a-vis in a mind-blowing series, thus sending Weibo to a 1-1 score. Influenced by the loss from G2 Esports Weibo Ledgeili to the hosts of the stage in the form of KT Rolster.
The most popular champions in Weibo Gaming peaks
Weibo Gaming is not known for its diversity in the top line up. TheShy plays KSante (10 games, 8 wins), Gnar (6 matches, 50% wins). Sion (2 matches, 100% wins) and Renekton (2 matches, 50% wins) make rare appearances.
The ubiquitous Maokai is ignored in the forest (appeared only once and lost). But Vi (6 games, 100% wins), Elise (6 games, 60% wins), Sejuani (4 games, 75% wins) get quite a lot of attention.
The centre line is occupied by Syndra (7 games, 85% wins), Ryze (4 games, 0% wins), Talliyah (3 games, 66% wins).
From shooters like Lucian (5 matches, 80% wins), Varus (4 games, 75% wins), Zeri, Sivir and Caitlyn appeared 3 times each and only Sivir didn't win a single game.
Sapports: Nami (7 matches, 85% wins), Ashe (4 matches, 50% wins), Yummi (3 matches, 33% wins).
MAD Lions uniforms
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of the MAD Lions form. In this match, the team will play as an outsider without much prospects: the odds for their victory are at around 10.5.
Since 2021, they have been a consistent winner of the LEC splits, with a slight correction for last season's failure. In 2023, the team took 2nd place at LEC Winter 2023 and won LEC Spring 2023, which we would like to pay special attention to.
By the LEC Spring split, it seemed like the MAD Lions were done. "The Lions made up for the tiebreaker in the group stage and barely made it to the group stage. There with fights, sweat and blood they reached the play-offs, where in the first round in a tough Bo5 they defeated their future rival - G2 Esports, but even there the misfortunes did not end: they needed to defeat Vitality (3-1) and make Reverse Sweep against BDS in the grand final.
- MAD Lions line-up: Chasy, Elyoya, Nisqy, Carzzy, Hylissang.
The Lions have a fighting roster, no doubt about it. They have proved it many times in practice, which, however, does not always lead to high performance, first of all on the international stage, but sometimes at home as well.
For example, MSI 2023 and top 8 there, which is good in principle, but the result at LEC Summer 2023 is already sad. At the last LEC Championships MAD Lions, the reigning Spring Split champions, crashed out at the Top 7 position, which is clearly not the level.
LEC Finals 2023 MAD Lions started with a match against EXCEL. The opening match of the summer split against MAD Lions temporarily confirmed the thesis of a one-tournament team, losing to the "lions" with a score of 0-3 without a chance.
In the match before that, MAD Lions played against G2 Esports. Obviously, they lost, with a score of 1-3.
In the battle for a slot at the LEC Finals 2023 Grand Final, MAD Lions Ledge and Fnatic. The colourful game ended with the score 2-3 in favour of the Orange. Thus, MAD Lions qualified for the Worlds 2023 on the third quota from Europe.
"Lions" Long Sogpeg at Worlds 2023 with a loss to Cloud9 and continued their performance on the main stage of the year with a win in the European derby against BDS. In their third game, MAD Lions Ledge fought a seemingly passable match against NRG Esports.
Most Popular MAD Lions Champions
Fiora (2 matches, 100% wins) and KSante (2 matches, 50% wins) appeared in the top for MAD Lions most often. Renekton (1 game, 100% wins) and Gnar (1 game and that defeat) were also taken.
Sejuani (3 matches, 66% wins) is popular in the forest. Next is Wukong with 2 appearances and 50% wins, and there was also Maokai who won his only match.
On the centre line, Viktor (1-1) and Akali (1-1) have 2 matches each. Azir and Sylas won their matches.
Among shooters Varus appeared most often (3 matches, 66% of wins). Lucian was picked 2 times (1-1) and Sivir was picked once more (1-0).
Thresh (1-1), Lulu (1-1) were picked more often than others. Nami and Ashe, who appeared 1 time each, won their matches.
History of head-to-head encounters
Previously, the teams have not played each other in official matches. This match is the debut match between the sides.
Predicted result of Weibo Gaming - MAD Lions match at Worlds 2023
After the defeat of MAD Lions in the previous round of the group stage, I can't imagine them winning here. Weibo Gaming is a team a level above NRG and will obviously punish for the slightest mistakes. Even though the Chinese are not in the most optimal form, I still believe in their clean win.
Bottom line: WBG win with the score 2-0.
