They have build a success through constant upsets. Their run through the gauntlet was amazing, every game they fought, the casters and analyst doubted them.
Even now into worlds, they have yet to win major caster/analyst vote. Yet, even against their biggest opponent FNC, they still win.
Their entire story this split and in this world has created a huge fan base. I'm happy
TSM beat a Chinese team. That's pretty big.
TSM is also exceeding expectations, they won a game, against LGD who was stated to place first in Group D.
There are two types of mentalities that Underdogs have. Some play with nothing to lose and everything to prove, and they fight for everything they can get no matter how improbable. (C9, PAIN) The other gives up before it starts, blames the luck of the draw, and just mails it in as soon as things go south because "well, we were supposed to lose anyway" (TSM)
This year Hai said in an interview "I dont think of as underdogs because I need to make calls that a winning team would make"
I remember last year in Worlds in an interview with Regi he said something like "At the end of the day, we are here to learn, we dont expect to win anything, at the end of the day its a good experience for the future and at the end of the day its the end of the day so we will just see what happens at the end of the day"
Which of these mentalities is more likely to perform better?
C9 definitally.
CLG while being 2-1 looked terrible in their loss and made a ton of mistakes in one of their wins. I doubt they will even get out of groups to be honest
TSM looks trash and is trash. They beat the super tilted LGD with the strongest team comp ever due to LGDs awfull pick and ban. Might aswell call it Bjerson and Friends because thats the only reason they will win games, and they wont get out of groups either
I never doubted C9. Especially when they managed to secure a place a Worlds in the first place, that really shows how determined they are for one thing. I might be rocking the FNATIC icon right now but that's only because I can't decide between my two favorite teams. The FNC vs C9 match was great to watch and I was going to be happy no matter who won. I just hope C9 continue their performance and that FNC pick up the pace a little. They're lacking compared to their 18/0 Summer Split.
Everywhere I looked people said NA sucked, so I put C9 waaaay down on the fantasy bracket thing when i tried it.
That's what I get for reading the forums. You should never vote against your home teams! :P
You guys don't watch sports much do you? Always bank on the wildcard team, they got there for a reason and usually come out on top.
I expected CLG to do just about this good
I'm honestly amazed all 3 teams have wins. NA FTW.
oh well, not even exceeding so much - i´ve said before worlds that C9 is the most dangerous NA team coming in, as they just adapt so well to changes due to their high game-intelligence. That being said they still play fairly predictable so far and might be exploited later on: It´s mostly siege/fastpush...and so far people picked comps into it that had to get close to fight, which is just really insanly hard to do vs an Azir/veigar+morgana+a darius waiting for you. If teams start to pick poke-comps vs C9 they might get troubles with their drafts though (a Varus lastpick would have made a rather easy game for Fnatic). also, so far worlds proof that morgana might be worth a ban.
