The draw results for the quarterfinals of the 2022 League of Legends World Championship (Worlds 2022) have brought some very interesting matchups. First up is the rematch between T1 and Royal Never Give Up. Not only is this a “China-Korea showdown” but it also recreates the final match of MSI 2022. Up until the recent MSI 2022 finals, RNG had never beaten T1 (formerly SKT T1) in any Bo5 match. And LPL fans are surely hoping RNG can continue their success from MSI 2022.
However, another equally interesting matchup is the “LCK derby” between Gen.G Esports and DWG KIA. Considering the current power dynamics, it can be said that Gen.G has a slight edge. Except for the Top Lane position held by Doran, players like Peanut, Chovy, Lehends, and Ruler all possess high burst potential. Meanwhile, the DK players have not been performing particularly well, especially Nuguri in the Top Lane.
In the past two domestic leagues, DK has never beaten Gen.G, whether in the Group Stage or the Playoffs. In fact, DK even had to go through the regional qualifiers to secure a spot at the World Championship 2022. Meanwhile, Gen.G is considered the top contender for the championship. Doinb even stated that Gen.G is the only team capable of competing with the LPL representatives.
However, this does not mean DK should be underestimated—a team that has shown resilience since they claimed victory at the 2020 World Championship, even if results have sometimes not met expectations. In the LCK, Gen.G has always faced considerable challenges when competing against DK. And many League of Legends fans are likely aware that DK is the reigning runner-up of the 2021 World Championship.
Among those who believe in DK is Jankos, the jungler for G2 Esports. According to Jankos, he is confident that DK will overcome Gen.G: “This may sound a bit far-fetched [..] but I think DK is really improving their games right now. I know Gen.G is the number one seed while DK is not, but the gameplay has changed. So I’m picking DK.”
In fact, Jankos’s choice is well-founded as DK has always proven to be extremely dangerous in Bo5 matches. It’s worth noting that in the two domestic tournaments (Spring and Summer), DK only lost 2 more Bo5 matches, both against strong opponents (Gen.G and T1), while the roster of the 2021 World Championship runners-up has undergone significant changes. Therefore, fans can fully trust ShowMaker and his teammates to pull off a surprise against the current LCK Summer 2022 champions in the upcoming “LCK derby.”