The largest League of Legends (LoL) tournament of the year is approaching its conclusion. The 2022 World Championship (Worlds) is highly anticipated by experts, bringing strong emotions to the community worldwide. The Semifinal 1 matchup between T1 and JD Gaming will take place in the early hours of October 30th, Vietnamese time.
At Worlds 2022, T1 possesses a playstyle vastly different from previous years. They have completely changed their approach to the game, utilizing individual skills to overpower opponents instead of establishing a slow and steady playstyle. Therefore, the second seed from Korea is regaining form and gradually thriving recently.
As for JD Gaming, they are also showing quite high performance, but their approach to the game is completely opposite to that of their opponents. The LPL representatives prioritize teamwork, operating all five positions like a well-oiled machine. Therefore, in terms of individual positions, T1 is certainly rated higher than the first seed from China.
The focal point of the match lies in the top lane: Zeus vs. 369. Both players have showcased superior strength at Worlds 2022, dominating every opponent on their way to the semifinals. For T1, Zeus is always prioritized as the focal point of the match. He only uses carry champions, showcasing peak individual skills, making it hard for opponents to cope. Even when being heavily camped by the enemy jungler, this player still contributes significantly in the match.
In previous matches, 369 has utilized a more versatile champion pool compared to Zeus. The top laner of JD Gaming can perform well with both offensive and tank champions to support his team. However, 369’s current form is not particularly stable. If he can find his best form in the upcoming match against T1, the clash between 369 (using tank champions) and Zeus (with damage champions) will be an extremely exciting matchup.
In the jungle position, Oner is somewhat less polished compared to Kanavi from the other side. Oner possesses stable gameplay and often uses champions that support his teammates. Therefore, he struggles to create impactful plays during matches. Kanavi is completely different from Oner; he leans towards an aggressive playstyle, becoming the focal point of the match and often carrying JD Gaming on his shoulders.
As for the mid lane, both Yagao and Faker are currently seen as evenly matched. Yagao has a stable playstyle and will take on the responsibility of supporting his teammates and creating setups in team fights. The mid-laner of JD Gaming has performed relatively well in this tournament. Regarding Faker, the global League of Legends icon is very confident ahead of the Worlds 2022 Semifinal. Faker can play any champion type, showing no signs of fear against younger players. Faker and Yagao will be a matchup that competes both in lane control and in movement to support their teammates. It is very difficult to find a difference in skill level between the two mid-laners of T1 and JD Gaming.
In the bot lane, the T1 duo is shining brightly at the Worlds 2022 tournament this year. With each match, Gumayusi and Keria are becoming more confident, supporting each other to shine from laning phase to team fights. The T1 bot lane duo holds impressive personal statistics leading up to the semifinals.
As for Hope and Missing, they still do not provide reassurance to Chinese fans. In crucial situations, the duo still has minor blemishes. Especially for Hope, the young talent of the LPL has yet to display the devastating form he had during the summer season. When considering the bot lane position, the T1 duo is still rated higher than the first seed from the China region.
As for team cohesion, JD Gaming is rated slightly higher than T1. They know how to operate the team, handle situations very precisely, provide adequate information, and do not rush into fights.
For T1, they are also very strong in team fights thanks to the leadership of “Chairman” Faker. However, when compared to JD Gaming, T1 is rated slightly weaker in member cohesion. The LPL representatives are not as strong as T1 in the early game, but they set up an extremely classy team fighting setup, often making their opponents fall into a passive state.
In summary, T1 is still rated slightly higher by experts compared to JD Gaming. Currently, over 80% of people predict the Korean representative to win. However, anything can happen when the matchup has yet to begin; T1 will pay a heavy price if they underestimate the first seed from the LPL.
Prediction: T1 3-2 JD Gaming