Worlds 2022 continues in Mexico City. The Play-In stage is entering the endgame: out of 12 participants who started their journey to the Summoner's Cup from the Play-In, 6 remain in the race. The League of Legends celebration continues, and we are happy to watch it.
In the first match of Play-In #2, we will have a repeat of the Group B game. MAD Lions and Saigon Buffalo will play for the right to continue the fight.
Based on the Play-In #1 experience, we can expect a beautiful game. Although both teams were inferior to the leaders of the race, they cannot be called weak.
The bo1 format is behind, and therefore the artist's mistake should fade into the background. In bo5, endurance and teamwork will decide, which we will discuss below.
We are trying to figure out who will overcome the TOP-20 Worlds 2022 line, and who will have to say goodbye to their ambitions to become the strongest team in the world.
Form M.A.D. Lions
As a favorite, MAD Lions will approach the match. The chance of success of the fourth team in Europe by bookmakers is estimated by the coefficient in the region of 1.3.
If we turn to subjective feelings, such a figure seems a bit overpriced. However, one cannot disagree with the opinion of the bookmakers: MAD Lions really look a little more interesting than their Taiwanese counterparts.
MAD Lions, having spent a mediocre season (TOP-4 LEC Summer 2022), regrouped during the World Championship. This was evident during the games within the Play-In Worlds 2022.
“Lions” looked quite confident in group B, but only if we take into account the game with obviously weaker opponents. Lions were not enough against the giants, which is not surprising.
MAD Lions line-up
- Armut
- Elyoya
- Nisqy
- UNF0RGIVEN
- Kaiser
There are no personal complaints about MAD Lions, and there shouldn't be. The team has “interchangeability”, and an example of this is the lost map at DRX, when the Nisqy and UNF0RGIVEN cows did not have a game, they were saved by Elyoya, who ended that meeting with the best score in the match: 7-1-3.
MAD Lions results at Play-In Wolrds 2022
- Victory over Isurus with a score of 1-0
- 1-0 victory over Istanbul Wildcats
- Lost to Royal Never Give Up 0-1
- 1-0 victory over Saigon Buffalo
- Lost to DRX 0-1
Sorry for the metaphor, but against the real “lions” were the residents of the “eastern” League of Legends represented by DRX and Royal Never Give Up, and MAD Lions looked like “domestic” cats against their background. In fairness, the Europeans did not fly off into one goal, both against DRX and against RNG: both games exceeded 30 minutes, which is already an indicator for the Worlds 2022 level.
Saigon Buffalo shape
Saigon Buffalo will play catch-up in this match. The chance of success of the team from Vietnam is estimated by the bookmakers with odds around 3.
The figure, as for bo5, is quite worthy. As I noted above, here the assessment can play a cruel joke: the stage has changed, the priorities too, and now there should be no incidents due to the format.
Saigon Buffalo, having played a pretty good season (twice runner-up within the VCS and TOP-6 MSI 2022), made it to the Worlds Play-In 2022, where they naturally received the status of underdogs. They justified him.
The Buffaloes played to the best of their ability, beating the outsiders and losing the favorites. Exactly like MAD Lions.
In general, the similarity of the teams is obvious, and therefore the impression creeps in that everything should go according to the scenario, where the nominal favorite will beat the outsider without any problems. And it also contributes to this.
Saigon Buffalo line-up
- hasmed
- Bean J
- Froggy
- Shogun
- Taki
The emphasis on the individual in our case, I think is inappropriate. Best of all for the team and its players will tell the results.
Saigon Buffalo results during Worlds Play-In 2022
- 1-0 victory over Istanbul Wildcats
- Victory over Isurus with a score of 1-0
- Lost to DRX 0-1
- Lost to MAD Lions 0-1
- Lost to RNG 0-1
As mentioned above, a solid pattern. In this context, it will be interesting to look at the selection of teams in the face-to-face confrontation of the Play-In Worlds 2022 group stage.
Picks of the teams in the face-to-face confrontation of group B at the Worlds 2022 Play-In
In the face-to-face match, MAD Lions chose: signature Gnar for Armut, favorite Hekarim in the forest for Elyoya, Swein for Nisqy, Seraphine + Alistar for the bot.
Saigon Buffalo was chosen by: Camille in the TOP, Maokai in the jungle, Galio in the mid and Miss Fortune and Amumu in the bot duo.
It felt like Saigon missed the meta a bit: mid lane Galio in Swein, Camille in Gnar on the bot lane. Not exactly what you want to play against the "trendsetters" of fashion from Europe.
History of personal confrontations
Previously, the team played each other during the Play-In group stage. Then the victory was celebrated by MAD Lions.
Match outcome
Having arranged a reconstruction of events before this fight, a persistent feeling of deja vu did not leave me. I see the winners of the MAD Lions match.
The team has already outplayed its counterparts, and in terms of tactics and strategy, it looks cheerful, unlike Saigon. Betting on “stable” characters does not always pay off, especially given the status of the tournament.
I see how Saigon Buffalo take the card, but no more.
Result: MAD Lions win.
