Worlds Group Draw

TurquoiseYoshi·Sep 12, 2015·15 votes·2,872 views

Group A: CLG gets a nice draw. KOO and CLG should be the top 2, but maybe Flash Wolves could do something decent if HuHi isn't as good as Xmithie. Hell, Pain can even win something here. Kind of a weak group.

Group B: Cloud9 gets a terrible draw, and ahq and FNC will duke it out for an easy top 2. IG can maybe, maybe take one game from ahq or FNC, but that's a tiny chance.

Group C: H2K Nuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu! EDG and SKT will probably easily take it, but if EDG plays like they did in the LPL summer playoffs, H2K can maybe take a game or two. Bangkok will get destroyed in every game.

Group D: An open group, a group who can all take games over each other, but it's going to LGD and KT. TSM and OG have high points that can beat some of these teams, but LGD and KT can win if they just don't play badly.

66 Comments

XantakSep 12, 20157 votes

C9 is definitely going to need all the energy from everyone to make it out.

I'm hoping that there's a lot of hard hitting between groups B, C, and D. I see group D being the one up for grabs.

LuggSep 12, 20155 votes

CLG is the only NA team with any realistic shot for getting past group. They got a great draw and they are playing the best they have all year. The FW are definitely good enough to advance. Pain is good, but I don't think they have the experience to advance. Koo is the team to beat here.

AHQ is a great team, but I don't see them beating FNC and IG. C9 has enough international experience that they may pull an upset on someone, but they shouldn't advance.

H2K and BKT have basically no chance. EDG and SKT are 2 of the top 3 teams in the world.

LGD should win this, but the #2 spot is up for grabs. TSM has looked bad the second half of the season, but they will come in with a good game plan. OG is better than people realize.

I think the strongest region is China. All three teams have a legit chance to go all the way. Korea is a bit overrated. The dropoff from SKT to the other teams is pretty significant. Taiwan is MUCH better than most realize and can upset anyone. How FNC does against IG should determine how far they will go this year.

Jason the otherSep 13, 20151 votes

WHAT how could you not think ahq cant beat FNC

LuggSep 13, 20151 votes

AHQ is capable of beating them, but Fnatic is super strong and on a roll. You do realize that EVERY All Star from EU is on FNC right?

DeathToHereticsSep 14, 20151 votes

The thing about AHQ is that they play a very chaotic style to take down other times. FNC however, plays an adaptation style. Being able to adapt to AHQ's super aggressive chaos will take a lot of power from them, and only build up FNC.

LuggSep 14, 20151 votes

I think AHQ got the worst draw of any team in Worlds. Their playstyle works extremely well against Korean teams and they don't get to face one in groups. IG and FNC will handle the chaos much better. What makes FNC so good is that you can't ban them out at any position and they can adapt a playstyle to take advantage of your weaknesses quite well.

Earl EulrichSep 14, 20151 votes

yea, kinda sucks as they would have deserved a lot more than CLG to be drawn as a tier 1 team...as much as i hate dota´s gameplay, i think dota´s double-elemination-tournament is a lot better suited to make sure the best teams get through in the end than the group->single elemination mode is that Riot uses.

Earl EulrichSep 12, 20154 votes

my 2 cents:

Group A: kinda the weakest group, even Pain could make it to the top 2 - prediction would be CLG+KOO though

Group B: surprisingly evenly matched, all teams actually have chances (though C9 only slim) - predictions would be Fnatic+IG

Group C: well...the only question is if EDG or SKT will win the Group - prediction would be EDG>SKT

Group D: a rather interessting Group, if OG can improve themselve further this month they might have a Chance to go through - (optimistic) prediction would be LGD+OG

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20152 votes

I agree on everything except that C9 can actually get to the quarterfinals. That group is a huge slugfest of top teams, with C9 getting a really bad draw.

Oh, and OG probably isn't gonna get through. They have a definite chance, but KT recently only lost to SKT, the best team in the World.

Earl EulrichSep 12, 20155 votes

i disagree on SKT being the best team in the world currently, i think both LGD and EDG are actually stronger, and it´s debatable if they are better than fnatic or IG. ALso, competition in Korea really dropped a bunch when both Samsung Teams (which both completly stomped SKT last season) left to China - so being the 2nd one in Korea currently doesn´t mean as much as it once has.

Still, i agree that OG only have very off-chances to beat KT - hence it´s an optimistic prediction for me. And youcan never totally count out C9 - stratecigally they are known to take risks and find odd picks to work for them, so with worlds being on 5.18 with rather massive changes compared to 5.14 they maybe can adapt better and may end up surprising everyone in that group.

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20151 votes

I knocked EDG down due to their instability in roster and in their play against LGD and IG in the playoffs.

Earl EulrichSep 12, 20151 votes

they had one bad week this whole season - unluckily in the playoffs. Apart from that they absolutly looked like the team that deserved to win MSI, in the regional qualifiers only one week later they already had a strong showing again, finishing as the 2nd seat of the strongest region. And the rooster is pretty stable since everyone is back to good health - i´d say it´s a strong point of a team to have enough quality on the bench to swap players even in important matches.

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20151 votes

EDG had one bad week this split. SKT has had zero.

Earl EulrichSep 13, 20151 votes

any yet they managed to lose to a team that didn´t even qualify to worlds in a good week...

High5Sep 13, 20151 votes

They got swept twice.

Jason the otherSep 13, 20151 votes

But dont froget the win aginst SKT in the MSI

DeathToHereticsSep 14, 20151 votes

While that is true, their collapse in playoffs is much more recent than their win at the MSI.

Jason the otherSep 14, 20151 votes

true true but u still gotta take that into account

foinhasSep 14, 20151 votes

the thing for origen is that thay can be a "miracle team".

When they started the split, peolpe doubted they would do well, and they managed to stomp for two consecutive weeks. In the final, it was "can they at least get one game from fnatic?". In the qualifiers, again they were questioned wether or not they would get to worlds.

So, i'm still not prepared to completely discard the possibility of Origen getting out of groups

SKT Uzi VertSep 13, 20152 votes

[{quoted}](name=Don Eulrich,realm=EUW,application-id=9hBQwnEU,discussion-id=rsQTag7e,comment-id=0003,timestamp=2015-09-12T22:39:41.665+0000)

my 2 cents:

Group A: kinda the weakest group, even Pain could make it to the top 2 - prediction would be CLG+KOO though

Group B: surprisingly evenly matched, all teams actually have chances (though C9 only slim) - predictions would be Fnatic+IG

Group C: well...the only question is if EDG or SKT will win the Group - prediction would be EDG>SKT

Group D: a rather interessting Group, if OG can improve themselve further this month they might have a Chance to go through - (optimistic) prediction would be LGD+OG

wait wtf you think KT is worst than OG? Ssumday will murder Soaz in the top lane

Jason the otherSep 14, 20151 votes

good use of 2 cents item 3069

The Bíg TicketSep 12, 20153 votes

You really think FNC and AHQ are better than IG?

LuggSep 12, 20154 votes

FNC is better than IG. AHQ's style of play will cause lots of problems for IG, so I can see it happening.

The Bíg TicketSep 12, 20153 votes

IG is far better than AHQ lol...Fnatic should be on the same level as IG. You probably never watched LPL.

LuggSep 12, 20153 votes

I watch LPL all the time. I think it's the strongest region in the world.

I also think there isn't any team that is "far better" than AHQ. They are very strong.

YCitizenSnipsYSep 12, 20154 votes

What actually makes you think FNC is better than IG? FNC has a history of doing bad against Chinese teams and the last time we saw FNC against one they got shit stomped. I can see AHQ and IG both beating FNC.

LuggSep 12, 20157 votes

FNC is MUCH better now than when they faced EDG. Plus EDG was the best team in the world at that time. Then FNC went on to take SKT to 5 games.

I will agree that AHQ and IG are both good enough to beat them, but I wouldn't bet money on it.

YCitizenSnipsYSep 12, 20153 votes

FNC got taken to 5 games against OG who people don't even predict to be able to make it out of groups. Considering IG finished 3 among LGD and EDG who are two favorites to win worlds I don't see how you can consider IG worse than FNC. Just because FNC has looked good in a region with no competition doesn't mean that the will stack up that well against a region that is the toughest currently.

I wish you FNC fans would also make up your minds. You always go back to MSI and that one series against SKT when rating them so high, but mention them getting demolished in groups or losing to the runner ups of MSI and all of a sudden "well MSI was a long time ago."

LuggSep 12, 20155 votes

I'm not a FNC fan at all. I'm just telling you facts. OG is much better than people realize, they probably aren't going to make it out of group because their group is pretty loaded.

YCitizenSnipsYSep 12, 20152 votes

What facts? You said FNC were better than IG and AHQ because of some months old series against a slumping SKT and dominating a region with no other international lvl of competition.

IG is the only other team besides LGD to beat EDG in a Bo5 this year, that already makes them strong than FNC. And the last time the faced AHQ they got slaughtered who weren't even a top ranked team then.

LuggSep 12, 20155 votes

You have no idea how strong a region is unless you compare it to other regions they have actually faced. The MSI was the last time that happened, so it's the only real barometer there is to tell how the regions stack up. It's a pretty easy concept to understand.

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20154 votes

A barometer is a scientific instrument used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure.

I still agree with you, but what the fuck?

LuggSep 12, 20152 votes

barometer [buh-rom-i-ter] noun

Meteorology. any instrument that measures atmospheric pressure. Compare aneroid barometer, mercury barometer.
anything that indicates changes.

As you can see, there are two meanings.

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20152 votes

I honestly have never heard that definition. Forgive me if it's a common thing.

LuggSep 13, 20154 votes

It's not as common anymore, I'm just old. LOL

YCitizenSnipsYSep 12, 20151 votes

Ok FNC got stomped by AHQ, EDG and lost a Bo5 to a team that didn't even win the whole tournament. Also neither team that faced EDG was able to take a Bo5 off of them which is something IG have done. China was the best region at that tournament and no teams out side of China were able to beat EDG only teams from there have so IG is stronger than FNC.

LuggSep 12, 20151 votes

Best of Fives are a better indication of a team's strengths. One game can be a complete fluke. Yes, FNC lost to SKT who didn't win the finals. However, SKT has been the #1 ranked team worldwide for the majority of the year. If you can take possibly the world's best team all the way, you can take anyone all the way.

Also, if SKT and FNC had been in the same region with EDG, I'm pretty sure that they would have each won at least 1 series from them.

YCitizenSnipsYSep 12, 20152 votes

SKT wasn't the best team in the world at MSI when the Bo5 happened. They didn't take the best team in the world all the way. Also considering how all of Korea's talent went to China idk how anyone can rate SKT the number 1 team.

And no, QG LGD and IG all better teams than FNC. they wouldn't have placed high enough to play in the playoff's of LPL and get a chance at a Bo5 with EDG.

LuggSep 13, 20152 votes

Yes, Korea did lose a ton of talent, but SKT didn't lose anyone. SKT is definitely good enough to win it all, I just think they won't because China has been playing against that level of team all year. SKT had no one in their region who could really push them at all and that is going to hurt them.

I think you will be surprised at how well FNC does.

High5Sep 12, 20151 votes

{quoted}

I'm not a FNC fan at all. I'm just telling you facts. OG is much better than people realize, they probably aren't going to make it out of group because their group is pretty loaded.

I'll jump on board the "not a FNATIC" fan train, but I'll give credit where credit is due. They're currently the best team in EU and far better than any team in NA. If they were in LPL or LCK, they'd be a solid 3rd or 4th place team.

LGD and SKT are the two teams to beat. Everyone else after that is beatable.

LuggSep 13, 20153 votes

All 3 LPL teams can win it all. China is pretty loaded this year. SKT is the best Korean team, not another team in that region even near them. FNC is the only team outside of China or Korea who has a realistic chance of going all the way. AHQ is almost to that point too.

Earl EulrichSep 12, 20153 votes

mh, i would say they are pretty evenly matched - fnatic is more consistent, but IGs skillceiling is incredible high and with carry-tops coming back to the toplane stronger than ever in 5.18 i´d say Zz1tai will be quite dangerous. And if Febiven isn´t very carefull Rookie will just destroy him. AHQ is kind of a wildcard...they are the only ones still playing around a roaming midlaner and in a group with at least two even matches for westdoor it´ll be rather hard for them.

LuggSep 13, 20152 votes

That's a pretty good assessment.

TurquoiseYoshiSep 12, 20152 votes

Yes. Because ahq dominated the LMS, and the LMS isn't all that bad. FNC dominated their region as well. You cannot convince me that teams who dominated their regions are worse than a team who squeaked through theirs, even if China is better.

The Bíg TicketSep 12, 20152 votes

Well LMS is prolly better than NA seeing AHQ kinda stomped TSM at MSI...but IG was a top tier team in china right after 2 of the top 3 teams in the world (LGD and EDG)...if you happened to watch the LPL you would know how strong they are. Fnatic can make first place but IG will definitely make first or second, there is no way they lose to AHQ and FNC lol.

Jason the otherSep 13, 20151 votes

And dont froget how in the msi ahq got to the fifth game against skt

TurquoiseYoshiSep 13, 20152 votes

Actually that was Fnatic.

Jason the otherSep 13, 20151 votes

anq did the same

TurquoiseYoshiSep 14, 20152 votes

SKT and ahq never played a Bo5 at MSI.

High5Sep 12, 20151 votes

Yeah, tough draw fro HK2. They might surprise though. Same for OG. KT isn't that strong and are certainly beatable.

Write off the NA teams. They'll get destroyed. I predict Dyrus complaining on twitter before day 2 starts.