IEM Katowice: Finalized Teams and Groups

Last week, I did a general rundown of the tournament and the teams participating. I also expressed my concerns and how convincing the teams would need to be in their next matches coming up to the event. Why another rundown? Well the groups are decided, there was one team change, and this tournament may not live up to the hype it once did anymore. It's still a tournament to be interested for me to be interested in though. The following is the Katowice line up (with current placement) broken by their first round match up in the double elimination stage.

--- Group A: Match 1 ---

ROX Tigers - 8th place LCK Spring Attending in place of SKT (declined invite) - Worlds Top 8 (3rd-4th place) To advance: Show improved mechanical ability from when facing the 5 LCK power ranked favorites | be convincing vs MVP Next opponent: MVP (4th)

M19 Team - 4th place LCL Spring Qualified by Worlds Top 8 as Albus Nox Luna (5th-8th place) To advance: Look better on the meta than expected | win through power/possible cheese picks Next opponents: NaVi.CIS and Team Just Alpha (t-4th with M19)

--- Group A: Match 2 ---

H2K Gaming - 2nd place EULCS Spring: Group B Qualified by Worlds Top 8 (3rd-4th place) To advance: Convincing improvement with bot lane to overall team synergy this week Next opponent: Giants Gaming (4th in Group A)

EDWard Gaming - 2nd place LPL Spring: Group B Qualified by Worlds Top 8 (5th-8th place) To advance: Expose their group's collective weaknesses | Brush off 0-2 loss vs Newbee | Look better vs QGR Next opponent: QG Reapers (1st in Group B)

--- Group B: Match 1 ---

Kongdoo Monster - 9th place LCK Spring Attending in place of Samsung (declined invite) - IEM Gyeonggi Runner Up To advance: Tap into their Preseason performances | Hope this emerges (even briefly) vs KT Next opponent: KT Rolster (t-1st)

Unicorns of Love - 1st place EULCS Spring: Group B IEM Oakland Winners To advance: Play to their strengths and not get too crazy | Match vs G2 this week may impact expectations Next opponent: G2 eSports (1st in Group A)

--- Group B: Match 2 ---

G2 eSports - 1st place EULCS Spring: Group A Attending in place of Cloud 9 (declined invite) To advance: Play as mechanically sound as their EU split so far | Not somehow choke again at an international event! Next opponent: Unicorns of Love (1st in Group B)

Flash Wolves - 1st place LMS Spring Invited by decision - IEM Oakland Runner Up To advance: Retain mechanical play through solo lanes and jungle | Play better than at Oakland Next opponent: Hong Kong eSports (5th)