Five matches we want to see at Worlds
Riot·9/16/2014, 1:09:35 AM·0 votes·23,468 views
As the 2014 World Championship grows close, we started theorycrafting about some of the potential marquee and interesting matchups that could take place throughout the tournament. After all, there are only so many times per year when international teams have a chance to duke it out.
Here are some of the matchups we want to see at Worlds.
It occurred to many of us at lolesports.com that Shield and Cloud9 match up very similarly across the board. They have carry style top laners who do a lot of the heavy lifting, their jungler is the star, their mid laner is stable with moments of brilliance on a small champion pool, their ADC is consistent above all else, and their support is integral, but not top class.
A matchup of Shield and Cloud9 in the bracket stage would be a great match. It would also be a representation of regional strength, from two teams that bring their own unique style - but are composed in similar ways.
Written by Riot Mirhi
Namei going toe to toe with Rekkles. Fzzf and Yellowstar backing them up. Why wouldn’t you want to see that battle go down?
With two of the best bot lanes in the world, the brawl between Fnatic and Edward Gaming would almost decidedly center entirely around the bottom of the map. We’d see Cyanide and Clearlove making repeated trips down south, with xPeke and U joining them more often than not. And with EDG’s tendency to start brawls whenever they feel like it, there would be blood.
Written by Riot RoboTayCo
Though this very well could be the final of Worlds, this matchup is exciting for so many reasons. First of all, these teams are considered the strongest teams from their respective regions. This match will also let us see how much China has caught up from a strategic standpoint from where they were one year ago.
What excites me most about this matchup is the potential bot lane duel of Namei and Fzzf vs. Deft and Heart. While Fzzf and Heart clearly play second fiddle to their ADCs, there is no denying that Namei and Deft are two of the greatest ADCs in the history of League of Legends. Seeing titans of this order fight out would be a treat to watch.
Written by Riot Mirhi
Finally, a matchup that is guaranteed to happen! Thankfully we will get a chance to see this matchup at least twice throughout the Group Stage.
Fnatic only lost one game in the Group Stage during it's miracle run through the 2013 World Championship before losing to Royal Club in the semifinals. Since then, the team has only gotten better, adding on a super star ADC in Rekkles and improving in skill around the team.
Though last season xPeke had to provide much of their carrying power and ADC was a liability against some of the better teams (like Royal Club), this season Rekkles is a force to be reckoned with.
Written by Riot Mirhi
You want a grudge match? How about one between estranged siblings?
When LMQ played back in China, they were the sister team of Royal Club and split off before coming to North America to attempt to qualify for the LCS.
Since they’ve been gone, they've honed their skills to become one of the most dangerous teams in the world. XiaoWeiXiao is one of the premier North American mid laners, and he’ll put up more than a bit of a fight for Corn, while Uzi and Vasilii will both be going hard down bottom. Both teams play with emotion and have tendencies to brawl constantly, so the family affair can only end one way: splendid ultraviolence.
Written by Taylor ‘Riot RoboTayCo
What are some matches that you're looking forward to at #Worlds? Let us know on Twitter @lolesports or in the comments below!
Frank 'Riot Mirhi' Fields is a Senior Web Content Coordinator for Riot Games. You'll find him in solo queue on Ahri trying to DFG charm his way back into Diamond, or on Twitter where he'd love to talk to you about esports.
Taylor 'Riot RoboTayCo' Cocke is a Web Content Coordinator for Riot Games. He only goes all-in, preferably on Leona or Alistar. You can follow him on Twitter, where he will talk your head off about supporting and bands no one has ever heard of.
Cloud9 vs. Najin White Shield
It occurred to many of us at lolesports.com that Shield and Cloud9 match up very similarly across the board. They have carry style top laners who do a lot of the heavy lifting, their jungler is the star, their mid laner is stable with moments of brilliance on a small champion pool, their ADC is consistent above all else, and their support is integral, but not top class.
A matchup of Shield and Cloud9 in the bracket stage would be a great match. It would also be a representation of regional strength, from two teams that bring their own unique style - but are composed in similar ways.
Written by Riot Mirhi
Fnatic vs. Edward Gaming
Namei going toe to toe with Rekkles. Fzzf and Yellowstar backing them up. Why wouldn’t you want to see that battle go down?
With two of the best bot lanes in the world, the brawl between Fnatic and Edward Gaming would almost decidedly center entirely around the bottom of the map. We’d see Cyanide and Clearlove making repeated trips down south, with xPeke and U joining them more often than not. And with EDG’s tendency to start brawls whenever they feel like it, there would be blood.
Written by Riot RoboTayCo
Edward Gaming vs. Samsung Blue
Though this very well could be the final of Worlds, this matchup is exciting for so many reasons. First of all, these teams are considered the strongest teams from their respective regions. This match will also let us see how much China has caught up from a strategic standpoint from where they were one year ago.
What excites me most about this matchup is the potential bot lane duel of Namei and Fzzf vs. Deft and Heart. While Fzzf and Heart clearly play second fiddle to their ADCs, there is no denying that Namei and Deft are two of the greatest ADCs in the history of League of Legends. Seeing titans of this order fight out would be a treat to watch.
Written by Riot Mirhi
OMG vs. Fnatic
Finally, a matchup that is guaranteed to happen! Thankfully we will get a chance to see this matchup at least twice throughout the Group Stage.
Fnatic only lost one game in the Group Stage during it's miracle run through the 2013 World Championship before losing to Royal Club in the semifinals. Since then, the team has only gotten better, adding on a super star ADC in Rekkles and improving in skill around the team.
Though last season xPeke had to provide much of their carrying power and ADC was a liability against some of the better teams (like Royal Club), this season Rekkles is a force to be reckoned with.
Written by Riot Mirhi
Royal Club vs. LMQ
You want a grudge match? How about one between estranged siblings?
When LMQ played back in China, they were the sister team of Royal Club and split off before coming to North America to attempt to qualify for the LCS.
Since they’ve been gone, they've honed their skills to become one of the most dangerous teams in the world. XiaoWeiXiao is one of the premier North American mid laners, and he’ll put up more than a bit of a fight for Corn, while Uzi and Vasilii will both be going hard down bottom. Both teams play with emotion and have tendencies to brawl constantly, so the family affair can only end one way: splendid ultraviolence.
Written by Taylor ‘Riot RoboTayCo
What are some matches that you're looking forward to at #Worlds? Let us know on Twitter @lolesports or in the comments below!
Frank 'Riot Mirhi' Fields is a Senior Web Content Coordinator for Riot Games. You'll find him in solo queue on Ahri trying to DFG charm his way back into Diamond, or on Twitter where he'd love to talk to you about esports.
Taylor 'Riot RoboTayCo' Cocke is a Web Content Coordinator for Riot Games. He only goes all-in, preferably on Leona or Alistar. You can follow him on Twitter, where he will talk your head off about supporting and bands no one has ever heard of.
Pffff, I don't beleave in C9. And what about Alliance? More intresting team that Fnatic in this season
