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We continue our breakdown of the Worlds 2023 group stage, the main event of the competitive year. Next up we have the play-offs.
Opening the basket 2-1 will be KT Rolster and LNG Esports. The match promises to be heated, as two roughly equal teams are playing, and in addition - residents of the strongest regions competing with each other.
We are trying to find out how the match between KT Rolster and LNG will go, who will be stronger and will qualify for the play-offs, and who will have to go to the basket 2-2 and play in the last chance match at Worlds 2023.
Let's go.
LNG Esports uniforms
We open the match analysis with an analysis of LNG Esports' form. In this match bookmakers see them as slight favourites with odds to win at around 1.5.
In 2022, LNG started their ascent 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 a 3-2 victory for LNG.
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's 3-0 lead in the play-offs was thwarted by JD Gaming. Though China's number two managed to pick up the card, MSI 2023 champions MSI 2023 represented by JDG are too good.
LNG Esports Most Picked Champions
The most picked 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).
KT Rolster uniform
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of KT Rolster's game form. In this match the South Korean team will have to play as an outsider with odds to win around 2.3.
Last season KT Rolster went around the high places. It can be said that they failed it.
For 2022, KT Rolster celebrated a top 7 at LCK Spring 2022 and a top 5 at LCK Summer 2022. The main "achievement" was making it to the Top 4 Regional Finals, but it was useless: they still didn't make it to Worlds 2022.
The new season was better. In the first LCK Spring 2023 KT Rolster climbed all the way to the top 3. They were beaten only by Gen.G, who knocked out Bdd and company with the score 1-3.
- Gen.G lineup: Kiin, Cuzz, Bdd, Aiming, Lehends .
At LCK Summer 2023 KT Rolster clearly want to at least repeat the result of the spring. In the group stage, KT rolled over all opponents, closing it out with a 17-1 score.
In the first round of play-offs KT Rolster chose T1 as their opponent. Confident after a successful group stage, KT Rolster stumbled against T1 and lost the match with a score of 2-3.
In the first round of the lower grid KT Rolster met HLE, who fell there after an uninspiring loss to Gen.G. The match with KT ended with an identical scenario: 0-3 and here KT Rolster are.
Once in the bottom of the grid, Rolster first defeated Hanwha Life Esports (3-0) and then played T1 again. This time the win was even closer as KT Rolster led 2-0, but T1 was there to reverse sweep and turn the series 3-2 in their favour.
KT Rolster made it to the 2023 Worlds via the South Korean regional finals. KT Rolster played one series and that was against Hanwha Life Esports. Winning the match was no problem and Rolster joined T1 and Gen.G in the main event and home tournament of the year.
Rolster opened the World Championship itself with a match against BLG. who lost. Next came two wins, first beating fellow regionals Dplus and then beating Weibo Gaming.
KT Rolster's most popular champions
The top line had Fiora (5 games, 60% wins). 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 KT Rolster - LNG
Previously the teams have not played each other in official matches.
Predicted result of KT Rolster vs LNG at Worlds 2023
Given the closeness of the teams in playstyle and their performance over the year + success at Worlds 2023, I think we are in for a close series. I'm leaning towards a 2-1 win for LNG, but in general I bet on a map total over 2.5.
Bottom line: total +2.5.
