Well.
Group A :
I think KOO Tigers and CLG are gonna make it out of this one.
I don't really think KOO Tigers would have been the favorites if they had gotten a top European or LMS team, or a higher or even ranked China team (let's say FNC, AHQ, LGD or EDG) but in this group, they should do it pretty easily. I believe that, even with a sub as jungle, and even with the tower level (compared to other regions like LMS or EU) NA has shown since the MSI, the top NA team can beat both Flash Wolves and paiN without much problem. In the best case, they will take a game out of KOO, in the worst they'll drop one or two games to Flash Wolves and/or paiN. And for the last two, I would bet on Flash Wolves, but paiN (and WildCards team to an extend) may surprise us.
Tl dr :
KOO Tigers (6-0/6-1) QUALIFIED
CLG (5-2/4-2/4-3) QUALIFIED
Flash Wolves (3-4/2-4/1-5)
paiN gaming (1-5/0-6)
Group B :
Very interesting group in my opinion. The result will depend on whether or not Fntic will be good enough to beat both AHQ and IG. Fntic is a strong team, stronger that it was at the MSI, so I believe they will beat AHQ (but maybe only in one game) and they have their chances against IG (I believe that EU and LMS have stepped up, so their top teams can beat the third China seed). I also believe that AHQ can beat IG. And my heart will always be for C9, thought there have the lowest chances to make it out of this group (T_T), but everyone knows that they love surprising everyone, so... This is the group of every possibility, in which everything is possible. And this will be close. (Unless Fntic or AHQ has really stepped up, or the China region is in fact so ahead that LMS and EU don't stand a chance, even with their first seed.)
Tl dr :
Fntic (5-2) QUALIFIED
AHQ (4-3) QUALIFIED
IG (3-3)
C9 (1-5) (T_T)
But I'll know better after the first games, everything is possible here.
Group C :
I hear everyone saying 'Group D stands for Group Death' but... If it does, then Group C stands for Group Crueler than death. For me, SKT T1 and EDG (thought they came as second seed) are the favorites of this tournament, the two that will probably clash in the finals (even thought they aren't unbeatable, as SKT T1 dropped games to the Fntic squad and EDG lost their first seed to LGD). And they are in the same group. Apart from the Fnctic-with-Rekkles, LGD, maybe the other seeds from Korea or a stepped up AHQ, nobody is near their level. So I'll just say : RIP H2k and BT. In the mightiest scenario ever, H2k would win two games against BT, one against of those titans, and the same titan would drop two games to the other, making it a tie break between H2k and the titan, but... I don't see H2k winning it. And sorry for BT, but I think H2k is better.
Tl dr :
SKT T1 (6-0/5-1/4-2) QUALIFIED
EDG (6-0/5-1/4-2) QUALIFIED
H2k (2-4)
BT (0-6)
Group D :
LGD is the clear favorite here, and in the worst case they will drop one game, or two, no more. KT Rolster should be the second one making out of this group, unless EU (and maybe even NA) has stepped up to the point third seed EU (thought I would say Origen in the second best team in Europe) can match third seed Korea. Honestly, TSM is not a bad team, but they falled a bot lately, and... Well in this group I don't see them winning more than one game, and if they do, it will be from OG or KT. So I believe LGD will make it out with KT if Origen can't do it, or it will be really close between KT and OG.
Tl dr :
LGD (6-0/5-1) QUALIFIED
KT Rolster (4-2/4-3/3-4) ???
OG (3-4/4-3/2-4) ???
TSM (1-5/0-6)
Tl dr :
Group A should be CLG and KOO Tigers, unless Flash Wolves can make an upset.
Group B is the group of every possibility, where everything is possible.
Group C stands for crueler than death, SKT and EDG will take it, H2k's chances are close to zero.
Group D is the one of LGD and KT, unless TSM are back to their old good days and Origen step up.
