The first match of the Knock-out stage in the CKTG 2021 play-in round took place with intense tension between Beyond Gaming and Galatasaray Esports. The final victory belonged to the representative from the PCS region after a spectacular comeback when the Turkish representative led 2-0 in the first two games of the BO 5 series.
In BYG’s performance, the name Doggo became the center of attention. The Taiwanese AD carry, only 18 years old, displayed incredible prowess, especially in the “nothing to lose” situation where every game was a decisive one. Even in the 2 matches that BYG lost, Doggo outperformed the Korean ADC Alive from GS, from the laning phase to skirmishes, it’s just unfortunate that BYG gave GS too many advantages, especially the Elder Dragon buff and counterattacks in the mid-game.
By defeating GS, BYG will advance to the BO 5 match to decide the ticket to the Main Event group stage of CKTG. Their opponent is Hanwha Life Esports – a representative from the region with a League of Legends scene far superior to PCS, which is LCK. But at this moment, the League of Legends community has “gone crazy” over Doggo’s five-star performance and hopes that the two illustrious “golden backs” of the play-in stage will deliver the strongest team-carrying moments possible for the audience.
– Simply Doggod.
– Doggo 5-0 GS. Really looking forward to Doggo Gaming facing Chovy Life Esports tomorrow.
– Beyond Gaming meets Hanwha Life Esports. Doggo faces Chovy. It will be like an explosion.
– Sorry Doggo, but Chovy will end your journey here.
It can be said that alongside DetonatioN FocusMe, the journey of Doggo and BYG at this moment can also be seen as surprising many, especially with Doggo’s performances – a newly 18-year-old player experiencing the CKTG atmosphere for the first time. The year 2021 can be considered a good year for this AD carry as in his first international tournament (MSI 2021), Doggo (wearing PSG Talon colors) reached the top 4 strongest teams. Moving into CKTG 2021, Doggo continues to deliver performances that resonate with fans.
However, alongside Chovy, HLE also has an advantage over BYG as they possess jungler Willer and ADC Deft, who are in relatively stable form, although Deft still makes some movement errors. Additionally, on a day when Morgan is “not himself”, HLE’s top lane can be a surprise factor. Overall, BYG’s roster does not match up to HLE’s quality, and despite Doggo being very talented and capable, facing an experienced ADC like Deft will also be exceptionally challenging.
Moreover, just before the crucial match against HLE, BYG also lost mid-laner Maoan due to involvement in betting activities. This loss is significant and may likely lead to BYG ending their journey at CKTG 2021 this year as Maoan is a key member of the team. This also means that Doggo’s “team-carrying” mission, which was already heavy, has now become even heavier.
Regardless of the outcome of the match on the afternoon of October 9 (Vietnam time), Doggo can be satisfied with what he has shown. With an outstanding performance, it would not be surprising if after CKTG 2021, Doggo becomes a target sought after by major teams in regions like LPL, LCK, and participates in bigger tournaments that befit his talent.