As we are approaching the later part of the summer split, there are clear skill gaps among the teams in their respective leagues, and the conversation has turned from who will win each game, to who will get the wins needed to make playoffs, and to make worlds.
So here I am going to break down the 24 teams from around the world that I think are going to worlds… If any do. Pray with me…
First, let’s go over the format for how these teams will be selected. Riot released an article titled 2020 World Championship Regional Seed Allocation where they announced the formatting. Stating:
LPL (China), and LEC (Europe): 4 Teams each
LCK (Korea), and LCS (North America): 3 Teams each
PCS (Southeast Asia), and VCS (Vietnam): 2 Teams each
CBLOL (Brazil), TCL (Turkey), LJL (Japan), LLA (Latin America), OPL (Oceania), LCL (Commonwealth of Independent States): 1 Team each
1. MAD Lions
2. Rogue
3. G2
4. Fnatic
I think these selections will not come with a shock. Having G2 and FNC at worlds has just become a standard with EU. If there is any year where their appearance will be uncertain, it’s this one. G2 and FNC have been struggling this summer and are both looking to solidify their position in playoffs. As long as they do, I think they have the experience and macro-knowledge over the course of a best-of-five to claw their ways to the World Championships. MAD and ROG are in such a commanding lead this split that they will be in a position where they just need to win one best-of-five to advance.
1. Top Esports
2. JD Gaming
3. Invictus Gaming
4. LGD Gaming
The undisputed best region at the moment, who will also (as of right now) be the hosts of this year’s World Championship. There are very dominant teams in this list that will not only surely make world’s but also surely best their groups. The only question mark is the 4th position in my eyes. I think that the LPL has a rising star in LGD. I think if they can make it to the playoffs they have a good shot at climbing the ranks. Of the teams underneath the top 3, the obvious choice would be Suning, but LGD is so consistent, only having one “upset loss”. Even taking the win over V5 AND WE. Both teams they are competing with to make it into that fourth spot at Worlds. Assuming standard finishing to the split, JD and IG get a bye to semis, TES and SN get a bye to quarters, and LGD will play V5, WE, or FPX. Since they only lost to FPX in a close best-of-three, they have good chances at making it to quarters. From there, the hope would be that they play against Suning. Even though they lost 2-0 to them, Suning have been looking shaky in the final games leading up to playoffs. Suning was not able to close out any 2-0 wins against even the worst teams in the league.
1. Cloud9
2. Team Liquid
3. TSM
The beloved LCS. How insane would I have to be to not include C9 and TL on this list? The third and final spot is the one up for contention. I think FLY will actually finish the split in 3rd as they have an easier final 4 games compared to TSM, and as long as they tie then FLY wins in head-to-head. However, I think that TSM and FLY will meet each other in the loser’s bracket, but FLY will likely have to go through EG. Whereas TSM will need to go through GG. So TSM will be more likely to win that than FLY, but also, in a best-of-three, even though FLY won it last split, I think TSM’s current roster with Doublelift will be able to make the difference and convincingly break through to Worlds.
1. DragonX
2. DAMWON Gaming
3. Gen.G
A World Championship without SKT. It always sucks when it happens, but, it does happen. DRX, DWG, and GEN are just on another level (possibly chinese). The only reason I have GEN over SKT is the fact that GEN beat SKT in their most recent match. There are plenty of reasons SKT will be in that 3rd spot. I think it is genuinely a 50-50 and I hope for the best team to come out on top.
1. Taipei J Team
2. PSG.Talon Esports
I think that the top two teams will be the current number 1 seed (J Team), and PSG. The second seed will be an interesting fight between the next three teams, in AHQ, PSG, and Machi, however PSG managed to topple J Team in their most recent game which is enough for me to bandwagon their trip to the World Championship this fall. I think in the playoffs there will be a huge emphasis put on the bot lane and I think PSG’s botlaner Unified will be able to come out on top after such a stellar split with an 8.3 KDA as of July 30th.
1. Team Flash
2. GAM Esports
The VCS is an interesting league to watch and see how they turn out on the world stage. GAM has always been the standard for the region and I don’t think this year will be any different. Team Flash however, is performing just as well, and I am happy to see these two teams representing VCS. In fact, Team Flash is on a 7 game win streak and I think it is safe to assume that these two will advance to Worlds. Whichever will be the first seed I think is still up in the air.
1. Pain Gaming
I think that CBLOL’s representative will be the winner of the game this Saturday between PNG and ITZ. Although ITZ has won more of their recent games than PNG has, and in fact, PNG is slipping in terms of performance, but PNG has also won the last matchup between the two, and I think PNG is more clutch. So this type of situation where PNG need to beat ITZ to get a two game advantage, I think they will pull it off. In a summer split final, I think PNG are even more likely to take the win and advance to Worlds.
1. fastPay Wildcats
With one weekend left of games, and fastPay Wildcats having a two game advantage, they just need one win to lock in the top spot going into playoffs. Although they are 1-1 in the split with GALAKTICOS, they are a much more consistent team and will have a clear advantage to make it to Worlds.
1. V3 Esports
V3 Esports have dropped only one game to the second place spot Crest Gaming Act, and although that can be seen as something important to note (because it is), it is not enough to convince me that in a best-of-five they would be able to overcome V3 Esports.
1. All Knights
All Knights have guaranteed their place at the top of the standings for the end of the split. They have a clear advantage over the rest of the LLA and will surely be the team representing the league.
1. Order
Hot take: Order will beat Legacy Esports in the finals of the OPL. This one is just more of an inexplicable feeling, even though Legacy Esports are likely to top the league and have won the haed-to-head over Order (2-1), I think Order will have something up their sleeve to tackle Legacy Esports.
1. Unicorns of Love
Lastly, the Unicorns of Love will top Gambit Esports and be the representative for Worlds. I can’t wait to see how their next match will go, because they are clearly the top two teams of the league. If UOL beats GMB again, then I’m sold that they will advance. If Gambit win, then it will definitely be closer than you may think, but I still think UOL will come out on top in a best-of-five.