Entering MSI 2024, Gen.G is expected to win easily as their opponent is just Fnatic coming from the Play-In stage. The European representatives had previously struggled against GAM Esports and are unlikely to pose any challenge to the reigning LCK Spring 2024 champions. Moreover, Gen.G definitely needs this victory to gain the best momentum for this campaign, especially after they left empty-handed in international competitions in 2023 despite being viewed as top contenders for the championship whenever they step onto the world stage, Gen.G is always seen as a top candidate for the championship.
The result was as expected, as Gen.G faced little difficulty in all three games and concluded their first BO5 match at this year’s MSI with a score of 3-0. The second game was slightly longer than usual due to some blatant “throw game” moments from Gen.G players. But in the end, FNC couldn’t create any surprises, especially when Chovy used Aurelion Sol, which had devastated T1 in the recent LCK Spring.
In the post-match discussion, Canyon – one of the most important players on Gen.G currently – had very high praises for his opponents: “LEC has many differences compared to LCK. In LEC, if I can choose my comfort champion, it means I can have a very good laning phase. But in LCK, even if I get my comfort champion, there are still many additional preparations needed to achieve that. And in LEC, their macro skills far exceed LCK in terms of unpredictability, forcing us to prepare thoroughly if we want to face them.”
In fact, Western teams are always known for their more inspired, unconventional playstyles that do not fully rely on the meta. This is something that LCK struggles with, as many teams, including Gen.G itself, strictly adhere to the meta of each specific season. This inadvertently confines them to outdated strategies that can easily be countered by opponents playing unpredictably. This might also explain why Gen.G and other LCK teams face difficulties whenever they compete internationally. Meanwhile, a bold T1 is willing to experiment with new strategies and adapt their macro play according to each match and opponent, achieving much success, culminating in their recent victory at Worlds 2023.
Perhaps, LCK teams need to be bolder, to make significant changes in their strategies and expand their champion pool. Just like Canyon and Chovy when they used unconventional champions like Kha’Zix or Aurelion Sol. This may be the best approach for Gen.G to consider when aiming for the championship at the tournament in Chengdu this year, as they still face formidable names in the international arena like BLG and T1.