We are approaching the end of the Play-In of the Worlds 2021 of League of Legends with this first day of the Knockouts, which could be described as the semi-finals of this phase. The first match of the day was between Galatasaray Esports (TCL, Turkish league) and Beyond Gaming (PCS, Taiwanese league). Followed by the match between the Red Canids Kalunga (CBLoL, Brazilian league) and the Peace (OPL, Oceania league).
After three days of confrontations between the 10 teams divided into two groups, the LNG Esports (LPL, Chinese league) and the DetonatioN FocusMe (LJL, Japanese league) joined the Main Stage of the worlds. Conversely, Infinity Gaming (LLA, Latin American league) and Unicorns of Love (LCL, Russian league) have already left the adventure.
Beyond Gaming eliminates Galatasaray Esports, in pain
During the group stage of the Play-In, both Galatasaray Esports and Beyond Gaming showed us both very good and very bad. Both teams were inconsistent in their performances, with many very penalizing errors against serious opponents. We were therefore expecting an explosive but disjointed encounter between these ten players who are not afraid of a teamfight… and we were served!
Beyond Gaming were the better team throughout the BO, which they won with a final score of 3-2. However, she lost the first two rounds, despite dominating very early. Indeed, their heavy errors in the mid-game - which did not however make them lose the advantage in golds - were heavily punished by Galatasaray Esports. The latter should not have won, yet they managed to destroy the Nexus of the Taiwanese.
So, in the next three rounds, Beyond Gaming proved to be much more incisive, offering far fewer opportunities to Turkish players. The question we are now asking is: how will they fare tomorrow against the players of Hanwha Life Esports? It is hard to envisage a victory against the seed 4 of South Korea, which counts “Chovy” and “Deft” in its ranks.
Peace winner, Red Canids Kalunga leaves the competition
On the side of group B, we can say that the Red Canids Kalunga and the Peace were not very convincing on stage during the group phase. We can simply underline the fact that during their meeting yesterday, it was the representatives of Oceania who won. From there to draw conclusions for today?
It's hard to explain the first two rounds of this BO5 as they were disjointed, not to say chaotic. In any case, there was spectacle for those who like to see teamfights. The next two games couldn't have been more different! Thus, the third round was controlled, from the excellent draft phase, by the Peace players. The top laner, "Vizicsacsi", even had the opportunity to play Poppy, his signature champion. Conversely, the Brazilians of Red Canids Kalunga were absent subscribers.
Total reversal of the situation in game 4, with Red Canids Kalunga bringing in their replacement in midlane, "Avenger". A modification that will have changed everything for the Brazilians who could be described as pixels in the composition of their team of champions, then in their mechanics throughout the round. For their part, the Peaces were on answering machine.
This crazy day of Play-In therefore ended at the end of the fifth round of this BO5, where neither team played cautiously. The top laner and mid laner of Red Canids Kalunga made the decision to play without flash, to favor teleportation. While the Peace started the game with a level 1 invade where they were able to take the first blood.
Choices that allowed the representatives of Oceania to largely dominate the early game, to be at +7K golds at 15 minutes of play, to destroy the botlane inhibitor at 18 minutes, before finally annihilating the Red Nexus Canids Kalunga after 23 minutes of play.
This is called a stomp. Will they be able to repeat tomorrow against Cloud9?
