The group stage of the 2022 World Championship has concluded, and we have identified 8 representatives from League of Legends (LoL) from 3 different regions that advanced to the knockout round. Among them, the LCK region has all 4 teams present, the LPL has only 3 representatives left, and the LEC managed to squeeze in with just 1 team. After the draw, the LoL community worldwide is extremely excited as many long-standing rivalries are being rekindled in this round. Let’s take a look at the matchups in this year’s World Championship quarterfinals.
Jindong (JDG) Gaming vs Rogue (RGE)
According to community predictions, the matchup between Jindong Gaming and Rogue will have the largest skill disparity. JDG comes to the World Championship as the number 1 seed from the LPL, having convincingly defeated Damwon KIA to top Group B, despite the Korean representatives performing excellently as well. After the tie-break match, JDG’s morale is at its peak, with top laner 369 in outstanding form.
Additionally, they boast a superstar jungler, Kanavi, who can create opportunities when his teammates need him. JDG’s weakness lies in mid-laner Yagao, who has only performed adequately in past matches. Meanwhile, Hope and Missing, JDG’s bot lane duo, have not met fan expectations, even though they played exceptionally well during the summer split.
Rogue has been on a high during the first half of the split, but the European representatives have not performed well in the second half. RGE’s bot lane duo, Comp and Trymbi, have been improving as they play more. This duo is not only strong in individual skills but also knows how to create impactful moments in team fights. However, the other positions in Rogue have not been particularly outstanding, while JDG is very strong in the top side of the map. Furthermore, entering this best-of-five matchup, the European representatives RGE will face significant challenges against the number 1 seed from the LPL region of China. Additionally, the European representatives once used Nasus to achieve an unfavorable result against Top Esports, and JDG surely won’t forget this scenario in the upcoming quarterfinals.
– Prediction: JDG has a 95% chance of advancing to the semifinals – RGE has a 5% chance of advancing to the semifinals.
T1 – Royal Never Give Up (RNG)
T1 is reaching its peak form at the 2022 World Championship. If you have been following T1 since the start of the season, you will notice that the number 2 seed from Korea primarily relies on individual skills, without showcasing much strategic depth. This year, while the trend focuses on the bottom lane, T1 chose to go against the grain, opting to play towards the top side of the map because the Korean representatives understand Zeus’s current talent well. Therefore, T1 is very confident for the upcoming quarterfinal match, with all team members in top condition.
Royal Never Give Up is the number 1 hope for Chinese fans as this team has 5 domestic members and no foreign players. Adding to RNG’s disadvantages, they are currently suffering from illness affecting most of their key personnel, so their morale and physical condition are not at their best. If this situation persists, it will significantly impact their performance. In terms of form, RNG is rated as relatively stable in this year’s tournament, but when considering all aspects, T1 is still perceived to have the upper hand over Royal Never Give Up in the upcoming quarterfinal match. This matchup is filled with history; will the Korean representatives be able to settle scores after the MSI 2022 finals?
– Prediction: T1 has a 55% chance of advancing to the semifinals – RNG has a 45% chance of advancing to the semifinals.
Gen.G vs Damwon KIA (DK)
The clash between Gen.G and Damwon KIA is the only all-Korean battle in the quarterfinals. In terms of performance in the LCK Summer Split, Gen.G is certainly considered stronger than DK by the community. However, Damwon KIA is beginning to find their best form at this year’s World Championship. Meanwhile, after the first 3 shaky matches, Gen.G also found themselves by winning all matches on the final day to finish first in Group D. In summary, Gen.G is still rated stronger than Damwon KIA, but the gap is no longer as large as it was during the LCK Summer 2022.
– Prediction: Gen.G has a 60% chance of advancing to the semifinals – DK has a 40% chance of advancing to the semifinals.
Dragon-X (DRX) vs Edward Gaming (EDG)
The final quarterfinal matchup is another epic showdown between China and Korea. Among the 4 LPL representatives advancing to the World Championship, Edward Gaming is considered the weakest despite being the number 3 seed. This year, Edward Gaming did not leave a strong impression in Group A, suffering poor losses to T1 in both matches. In fact, the number 2 seed from the LCK did not even need to implement strategies, using only individual skills to easily defeat EDG. Therefore, Edward Gaming does not appear strong in the quarterfinals of the 2022 World Championship.
As for DRX, they have been playing with the highest determination from the play-in stage to the group stage. Although they are only ranked as the number 4 seed from the LCK and have not received much media attention, the Korean representatives have been improving and making a noticeable impression in the tournament. Most notably, the “Time Mage” Deft is showing signs of returning to his peak form, Beryl remains crafty in the support role, while Zeka is showcasing his youth in the mid lane. Therefore, Dragon-X will be rated higher than Edward Gaming in the 4th quarterfinal matchup. Both teams have very strong bot lane duos, so all eyes will be on Deft and Viper in the upcoming China-Korea showdown.
– Prediction: DRX has a 60% chance of advancing to the semifinals – EDG has a 40% chance of advancing to the semifinals.