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Worlds 2019 Final Preview - The Improbable Finale

Forum Index > LoL General
11 CommentsPost a Reply

Worlds 2019 Final Preview - The Improbable Finale

Article: AdsMoFro
November 8th, 2019 20:02 GMT




Looking at the two teams that have climbed up to the Worlds Final Stage, I can’t seem to shake the feeling that neither of these teams truly expected to make it to this point. It's a final matchup that everybody could see happening, but nobody could believe would happen. It's not that they weren't both labelled possible winners coming into the event. After all, FunPlus Pheonix were dominant in their LPL Summer Title run, and G2 were chasing a grand slam after winnig both splits of the LEC and the Mid-Season Invitational.

And yet the narrative that seemed to trail Worlds was more about how neither of these teams could do it. G2 had to go through all three Korean teams to make it to this point, and at every point they had naysayers. FPX had the Chinese first seed curse swaying above their heads as they seemed shaken by their first big international tournament, especially in the group stage.

Jankos may have said it best in the dying moments of their semifinal match against SKT when he yelled, "We can win Worlds!" It wasn't a confident proclamation, more a mix of disbelief and resolution. Both these teams aimed to win Worlds but only now can they see their goal clearly there for the taking.






FPX


DoinB's Dark Technologies




[image loading]


It seems apt to start this Worlds Final conversation with Doinb. His redemption arc has been a wild, frenzy of a ride (you can read all about it in our two-part Doinb feature, here and here). And what makes it even more special is that he had to go through Rookie to make it here. Rookie and Doinb both share a special relationship in some ways. They're both Korean players who developed in the LPL to become world-beaters. Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.

Meanwhile, Doinb had to work his way through the depths of hell. He developed a playstyle so uniquely his own that it would be coined 'dark technologies' by Smeb. Some may fail to recognise the genius in Doinb — and to be fair, it is of a mad variety — but those who do see a player who cares the most about winning. Individual accolades pale in comparison to his thirst for victory. From his undying screams of courage piloting Kled to his destructive subterranean forces on Nautilus, there is no player like Doinb. There never will be another like him.

[image loading]


He seemed so unorthodox, so off the cuff – more of a cheap trick than a death-defying magic show. But for every naysayer, there was a believer in the magic; and as long as the light remained lit, Doinb strived for excellence.

So here he is on the international stage. He's dancing to the beat of his own drum (no, he really is dancing), and the naysayers have fallen silent.






G2


Uma Jan - Anything and everything





[image loading]


"I don't even know what that means
No one knows what it means, but it's provocative
No, it's not, it's gross-
It gets the people going!"

Let's rewind time to when we first heard whispers of Perkz role swapping down to the bot lane. Like many, I was perplexed. Perkz was one of the best mid laners in Europe, and it seemed like such a risk to role swap at what would be the peak years of his career. Of course, now we can proclaim that it was foolish to ever doubt the genius of Uma Jan. Once a laughing stock of Europe during the infamous vacation era of G2 Esports, he's become the shining beacon of hope for Europe. He's still got the same goofy nature, but a steely-eyed determination backs it.

Only one team has ever won an MSI trophy and backed that up with a World Championship. Ironically, that team was G2's semifinal opponent, SK Telecom T1. In their semifinal, G2 took on not only the already formidable current SK Telecom T1 roster, but they also took on the SK Telecom history. Perhaps without that MSI victory against SK Telecom, G2 wouldn't have been so bold in taking them on. But that SKT aura that had daunted so many other teams seemed to have faded in the face of the ever-smiling Perkz and his team.

That first gamble at the start of the season meant Perkz was no longer afraid of anything or anyone. He silenced all the critics. The critics that said he could not become a good enough AD Carry in just one split. The critics that said he could never become a World Class AD Carry. The critics that said he should have stuck to his mid lane role. The critics that said that he could not be the leader that would shoulder all the responsibility of turning G2 Esports into world-beaters. Many Western players declare their goal is to win Worlds, and most of them just feel like empty words. This year, Perkz didn't just declare his intention to win Worlds; he did everything in his power to make it happen.

I'll be honest, I'm a massive SKT fan. My heart (pumping at 144BPM according to my Fitbit in that final team fight) was crushed in that loss to G2 Esports. But as that ever-so smug smile of Perkz flashed across my screen, I couldn't help but smile with him as I ripped off my SKT jumper in sorrow.

"That f**king Perkz boomed me. He's so good."






WC


Trust is the Word of the Day




[image loading]



It's the second consecutive EU vs CN Worlds Final. With only nine Worlds having taken place that's enough for most to declare a pattern. But this feels different from last year. Last year was the story of the fall of Korea. The conversation was centred around how Korea had underperformed. Now, it's not about Korea underperforming. It's about Europe and China rising above Korea without any asterisks lingering above them. If competitive League of Legends was originally split into two eras, before and after Korea, then this might just be the third era of LoL.

The level of trust that was once reserved entirely for Korean teams has now emerged in other regions. Over the course of the season, both of these teams have developed their own brand of trust in each other. There is no second-guessing; they are all-in on their playstyles. They not only believe in each other, they believe they are worthy of being crowned the best in the world.

And this Sunday, only one of them will earn that title. The other will sit there and wonder how much more they could give in their search to be the very best.



Enjoyed the articles? We have plenty of exclusive features so why don't you register on LiquidLegends.net and keep up to date with the discussion on our forums?



Writer: AdsMoFro
Graphics: Zess, dranblat
Image Credits: LoLEsports Flickr




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AdministratorQue Sera Sera
Uldridge
Profile Joined January 2011
Belgium2005 Posts
November 08 2019 21:34 GMT
#2
Nice write-up. Hope Europe can take the trophy!
Taxes are for Terrans
Redox
Profile Joined October 2010
Germany12166 Posts
Last Edited: 2019-11-08 22:20:09
November 08 2019 22:17 GMT
#3
I think you hit the nail of the head with this sentiment "people considered them good yet still believed they would not make it" (except for their fans of course). No matter who wins it would be a great story.

And I have to admit I never really believed in Perkz. I am generally dismissive of role swaps, except to support. But he has maybe been the best adc at this tournament, which is just remarkable.
Off-season = best season
starkiller123
Profile Joined January 2016
United States686 Posts
November 09 2019 00:58 GMT
#4
I finally believe in G2, now that I say this they will probably lose to FPX lol
cLutZ
Profile Joined November 2010
United States7586 Posts
November 09 2019 02:04 GMT
#5

Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.


What? I mean, in the sense that Faker still existed and was in his prime, I guess.
Freeeeeeedom
loSleb
Profile Joined December 2010
Austria946 Posts
November 09 2019 09:56 GMT
#6
Best piece of art released this week, after death stranding.
AdsMoFro
Profile Joined January 2015
Australia3766 Posts
November 09 2019 10:06 GMT
#7
On November 09 2019 11:04 cLutZ wrote:
Show nested quote +

Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.


What? I mean, in the sense that Faker still existed and was in his prime, I guess.


Faker and Dade were still around. It was the start of his journey but it's safe to say that he became a bonafide superstar in China.
AdministratorQue Sera Sera
cLutZ
Profile Joined November 2010
United States7586 Posts
November 09 2019 21:22 GMT
#8
On November 09 2019 19:06 AdsMoFro wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 09 2019 11:04 cLutZ wrote:

Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.


What? I mean, in the sense that Faker still existed and was in his prime, I guess.


Faker and Dade were still around. It was the start of his journey but it's safe to say that he became a bonafide superstar in China.

I consider that statement incredibly unsafe to say. I don't think he's greatly exceeded my expectations after s4 at all.
Freeeeeeedom
AdsMoFro
Profile Joined January 2015
Australia3766 Posts
November 10 2019 03:21 GMT
#9
On November 10 2019 06:22 cLutZ wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 09 2019 19:06 AdsMoFro wrote:
On November 09 2019 11:04 cLutZ wrote:

Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.


What? I mean, in the sense that Faker still existed and was in his prime, I guess.


Faker and Dade were still around. It was the start of his journey but it's safe to say that he became a bonafide superstar in China.

I consider that statement incredibly unsafe to say. I don't think he's greatly exceeded my expectations after s4 at all.


Expectations of growth beyond that level he showed in season 4 or that he didn't grow at all and was still around that level?
AdministratorQue Sera Sera
cLutZ
Profile Joined November 2010
United States7586 Posts
November 10 2019 06:25 GMT
#10
On November 10 2019 12:21 AdsMoFro wrote:
Show nested quote +
On November 10 2019 06:22 cLutZ wrote:
On November 09 2019 19:06 AdsMoFro wrote:
On November 09 2019 11:04 cLutZ wrote:

Rookie had the prestige of an LCK title, but until his time on Invictus Gaming, he wasn't really contending for the best in the world.


What? I mean, in the sense that Faker still existed and was in his prime, I guess.


Faker and Dade were still around. It was the start of his journey but it's safe to say that he became a bonafide superstar in China.

I consider that statement incredibly unsafe to say. I don't think he's greatly exceeded my expectations after s4 at all.


Expectations of growth beyond that level he showed in season 4 or that he didn't grow at all and was still around that level?


I'd say his growth early on in China was extremely disappointing, possibly because of Faker 2014 syndrome. When he left KT I fully expected him to be unanimous #2 in the world behind Faker for 2015, and maybe pass him if Faker fell off or his growth was even greater than expected. iG was clearly an underdeveloped environment when he got there and only these last 2 years has he become about what I expected.

Also, lets be frank, much of the talk of anyone getting the best in the world title isn't so much about players upping their game to never before seen levels. Its about the deterioration of Faker and the SKT support staff (whichever you blame more).
Freeeeeeedom
DarkCore
Profile Joined March 2011
Germany3608 Posts
November 10 2019 10:24 GMT
#11
Rookie was pretty hyped up, but CN was incredibly bad at developing talent when the Korea Exodus began, they tore the Samsung rosters apart and had very little to show for it. So I don't really blame his stunted growth/achievements on him.

SKT has shown to me that even godlike talent like Faker needs to be nutured and coached, nobody is good enough to jump from soloQ and suddenly become world class, at most they'll beat up mid tier players. Rookie didn't get the coaching he needed, at least in terms of macro, which is what differentiated Faker from his counterparts (godlike mechanics with unnatural proactive playmaking)
Fixed a bug where LeBlanc could lose
cezi
Profile Joined October 2019
Poland3 Posts
November 18 2019 07:53 GMT
#12
I bet on China and won some money
[image loading]
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