This evening marks the end of the Play-In of the Worlds 2021 of League of Legends, with the incisive 3-0 victories of the teams Cloud9 (LCS, North American league) and Hanwha Life Esports (LCK, Sur-Korean league) against Beyond Gaming (PCS, Taiwanese league) and Peace (OPL, Oceania league) .
While the semi-finals of the Play-In of the Worlds 2021 took place in pain, with a total of 10 games played during the day, these finals did not drag!
Hanwha Life Esports and Cloud9 eliminate Beyond Gaming and Peace
The match between Beyond Gaming and Hanwha Life Esports did not start auspiciously, as the Taiwanese team's midlaner was suspended by Riot Games for the rest of Worlds 2021. Indeed, he disclosed the drafts from his team to a friend, in order to bet on the match against the Turkish players of Galatasaray Esports, which is against the rules of the tournament. An event that certainly disturbed the team's preparation for this extremely important match.
Nevertheless, let's not make excuses for the players of the Taiwanese team. Hanwha Life Esports simply played very well, 3 rounds in a row, without suffering the slightest defeat. They loyally earned their spot in Group C of the Main Event. The Taiwanese league's last hope is now PSG Talon, also in Group C.
The second BO5 of the day was just as incisive. After a first victory, not without errors, the Cloud9 players played two very clean games which left no room for doubt as to the real difference in level with the Peace players. Unfortunately, the Oceania league – which has no other representatives – will not have done better in these Worlds 2021 than in previous seasons.
Worlds 2021 groups announced
We already knew that the LNG Esports (LPL, Chinese league) directly joined Group D, after qualifying for the Main Event of the Worlds 2021, since it is the last group without a team from the same region. But the doubt persisted for the placement of DetonatioN FocusMe (LJL, Japanese league), according to the teams which would emerge victorious today.
Hanwha Life Esport's qualification pushed the South Korean team directly into Group C, the last group remaining without a Korean team, since Damwon Gaming is in Group A, T1 is in Group B, and Gen.G is in the group D. Cloud9 could then only join group A, since group B contains an LCS team: the 100 Thieves. The Japanese players of DetonatioN FocusMe therefore integrate, by default, group B.
It is therefore Monday that the Group Stage will begin, with eight matches which will be played in BO1 format, a winning round. The day will start with a huge clash of titans: Damwon Gaming, holders of the last World Champion title, against FunPlus Phoenix, the second seed of the Chinese league. Of course, we will be able to support our European teams: Fnatic will play against Hanwha Life Esports, Mad Lions will fight Team Liquid (seed 2 of the North American league), and finally Rogue will face Cloud2.
