Thus, the number one seed from South Korea has officially been eliminated from the 2022 World Championship. The League of Legends (LoL) team Gen.G lost to Dragon-X with a score of 1-3, sadly watching their opponents advance to the final match. This was an unexpected result as Gen.G was highly rated by experts. So, what is happening with the current LCK champions at this year’s Worlds?
Declining performance from all 5 members
All members of Gen.G have not showcased good form in this year’s tournament. Top laner Doran continues to be seen as the weakest link of the team. Throughout the entire 2022 Worlds, he did not show his capabilities and rarely shined in crucial matchups. As for Peanut, after reaching peak performance in the summer split, this player has been unfocused, rarely impacting the game as he did before, often getting caught out in sensitive situations.
At the 2022 Worlds, Chovy was expected to become the new League of Legends icon as Faker retires. Gen.G fans were also looking forward to the young talent’s brilliant performance. Although his teammates prioritized resources for Chovy, the mid-laner did not stand out this year in the tournament.
Gen.G’s bottom duo showed the most promise at the 2022 Worlds. After a shaky performance in the first round of the group stage, Ruler began to regain his usual form to fulfill his role as the AD carry. Lehends’ performance closely linked to Ruler, completing his role effectively. In summary, all five members of Gen.G performed below expectations in this year’s tournament.
Making numerous individual mistakes
During their journey at the 2022 Worlds, Gen.G’s best performance was in the second round of the group stage. Upon entering the knockout stage, Gen.G’s mistake rate skyrocketed. In the match against Damwon KIA, Gen.G continuously mispositioned and coordinated poorly, leading to their defeat in games 3 and 4. In game 5, South Korea’s number one seed had to rely on Ruler’s brilliance to secure a spot in the semifinals. In fact, Gen.G nearly allowed their opponents to make a successful comeback due to Canyon’s excellent flank in the deciding game.
Moving into the semifinals, the mistakes from Gen.G became increasingly evident. Doran used Ornn’s ultimate ineffectively, while his positioning in team fights was problematic. In game 3, the top laner frequently mispositioned and went down 5 times. Peanut, on the other hand, played unfocused, often getting caught and overshadowed by Pyosik from Dragon-X.
As for Chovy, the most anticipated player of the tournament had a forgettable Bo5. He frequently made mistakes in crucial moments, such as: Azir trying to stay for farm and getting killed by the opponent in game 3, Ryze rushing to Flash in game 4. These seemingly simple situations had a significant impact on the outcome of a professional League of Legends match. In fact, Zeka’s Galio had better farm than Chovy’s Ryze.
Gen.G’s bottom duo still managed to show themselves at the 2022 Worlds. After three poor matches, Ruler gradually regained his form and carried Gen.G on his shoulders. If Ruler’s excellent play in the quarterfinals had not occurred, it is uncertain whether the top seed from LCK would have made it to this semifinal match. However, both Ruler and Lehends still have not displayed their full potential as they did in the previous summer split.
Lacking competitive mentality
In tense matchups, the aspect of competitive mentality is crucial. At critical moments, a leader will maintain the team’s rhythm, stabilize the mindset, and guide players along a certain path. Therefore, the current LCK champions lack a leader who can shoulder substantial responsibilities, especially when their team is falling behind.
Upon closer observation, it is evident that Gen.G was mentally weak in decisive matches that determined the fate of the entire team. They played with heavy minds, lacking cohesion, and the pressure weighed heavily on their hands. Consequently, they often made mistakes, lost morale, and could not find a way to stage a successful comeback. In the match against Damwon KIA, Gen.G’s weaknesses began to surface. Heading into the semifinals, the number one seed from South Korea exposed all their shortcomings and lost to the fourth seed, Dragon-X. Of course, the global League of Legends community cannot deny that Dragon-X played exceptionally well in this year’s tournament.