An interesting fact is that since SKT T1 won the MSI championship in 2017, no other LCK team has claimed the title at this prestigious tournament. Meanwhile, representatives from the LPL have continuously won MSI with notable achievements from RNG (2018, 2021, 2022), JDG (2023). Therefore, ahead of MSI 2024, the LPL Spring champion this year – BLG is highly regarded by experts. Some even place BLG above Gen.G or T1.
One notable opinion came from the famous former caster – Caedrel, who believes that BLG is the strongest team at MSI 2024. However, this statement from Caedrel sparked quite a controversy on social media. Just days after Caedrel expressed his opinion, former player Doublelift spoke out against it, claiming it was a misguided assessment. Doublelift even stated that BLG is currently “not on the same level” as LCK representatives.
“Honestly, I think ranking BLG above Gen.G or T1 is completely wrong. Based on the performance in the recent LPL finals, BLG is not at the same level as Gen.G and T1 at this moment. Why? BLG did not play excellently in that match, and Knight made numerous mistakes, performing poorly at certain points. I believe T1 and Gen.G will be the top contenders for the MSI title this time. I lean towards T1 winning” – Doublelift responded to Caedrel’s assessment that BLG was stronger than Gen.G and T1 at MSI 2024.
Indeed, looking at the LPL Spring 2024 finals, BLG’s overall performance or Knight’s individual showing was not very convincing. Knight himself made quite serious positional errors in that match, putting himself and his teammates in difficult situations. In fact, in game three, Knight’s risky positioning during the Baron fight cost BLG dearly as TES went on to win thereafter.
In contrast to the inconsistency of BLG or TES, Gen.G and T1 have shown a very solid and systematic style of play. The LCK Spring 2024 finals is a clear testament as both teams demonstrated superb macro and team-fighting abilities. Clearly, from the perspective of a former player like Doublelift, the gameplay exhibited by Gen.G and T1 is far more convincing compared to BLG.
Of course, BLG still has its own advantages at MSI 2024, such as home crowd support and historical backing. However, they must work much harder in the coming time to compete fairly with Gen.G or T1. It would be a sad scenario for the LPL region if they were to end the MSI championship streak on home soil in the upcoming tournament.