Welcome to the 2019 Worlds Playoffs

Play this while you read

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pYnLO7MVKno

Well that was rather quick.

The weak have been weeded out, a Hong Kong controversy happened, Riot celebrated its 10th anniversary of League, Senna finally became a champion, Korea and EU are bloodthirsty for revenge, and the hopes and dreams of the NA fanbase have been crushed.

Bring out the Contestants

Griffin: This team was given the other hardest group and actually thrived in it. Chovy has stepped up in a big way and has been single handedly carrying games. They play almost like a Korean version of G2 as they win early and use creative picks like Ezreal mid. A Worlds win as a rookie franchise is the perfect way to establish yourself amongst the global elite.

G2: I am not going to call this team overhyped just because they are a #2 seed. They were in a fairly cutthroat group and they inevitably dropped a game. It’s just that loss forced a tiebreaker in which they also lost. You now have to face a team that is very similar to Griffin. It’s going to take more than high-end talent to complete your conquest.

SKT: In a group with arguably the strongest teams in the tournament, SKT came out nearly unscathed only sandbagging in a garbage-time match against Fnatic. Faker is playing like he’s been possessed by his 2013 self, the man is unstoppable. He now has the supporting cast to boot. High pressure situations be damned. This is the SKT squad that was hyped up at the start of the year that was going to steamroll everyone. Anyone in their side of the bracket will only be consumed by the unkillable demon king.

Fnatic: How in God’s name did you survive that group, with both RNG and SKT! That might have been more impressive than the time you escaped the group stage in 2017 after losing your 1st 4 games. Or maybe even finding yet another generational mid-laner after CAPS left. At least you don’t have to deal with SKT on the other side of the bracket with a much less daunting gauntlet. This team is very similar to G2 except they use more standard bot lanes and look for mechanical outplays. Time to fight for redemption boys.

FunPlusPhoenix: You guys were gift wrapped the easiest group of this stage but J-Team and Splyce were better than I thought. The job had to be done and you made it to the playoffs as the other hope of China. Unfortunately both of you are on the same side of the bracket.

Splyce: After nearly losing to the Unicorns of Love you get your shit together and finished the group stage strong and nearly even stole a #1 seed. Except you didn’t and now you have to face SKT. If they are going to pull off a miracle, it’s on the shoulders of Humanoid and Kobbe against a team whose strongest players are Faker and Teddy. Nice knowing you.

Damnwon: Yet another team that was given time to warm up before the group stage. You turned group D from a cakewalk for Liquid and IG and made it a 3rd group of death. Like most upstart franchises, the team plays a fast tempo playing carries in all solo lanes. Unlike most new school teams each member has their moments in carrying each game. Even still it’s always ShowMaker who is always dying to put on a performance and style on everyone. Here’s something to ponder, this team was just a challenger league squad back in spring.

IG: The defending World Champions are back and not really better than ever, some might argue they even regressed or that everyone else caught up. Like Toki in Fist of the North Star, IG just wasn’t the same after Rookie fell ill. Other teams had a chance to strike with Rookies absence. Also Fnatic want revenge against you after you humiliated them last year. That’s if you beat Griffin.

Predictions:

I think about half of the teams have any realistic shot of winning the whole shabang.

As for who I think will make it to the finals. I’ll have to go with SKT vs FNC with SKT winning.

Hopefully this is not a jinx.