Only a few days remain until MSI 2024 officially kicks off with the Play-In stage. This year, the Play-In stage is expected to be more exciting and intense, featuring a host of powerful teams like T1 and Top Esports. However, with T1, TES, Fnatic, and others only facing much weaker teams, the chances of the anticipated strong teams making it through to the group stage seem very high. At this MSI, teams like T1 and Bilibili Gaming are still considered top candidates for the title. However, there is one formidable opponent that cannot be overlooked: Gen.G – the reigning LCK champions.
With significant roster changes, Gen.G is a top candidate for this year’s championship. They have a stable Top Lane, Canyon brings extensive battlefield experience, and Chovy is currently regarded as the best Mid Laner in the world, while Peyz and Lehends are a combination of youth and experience. It can be said that Gen.G possesses a nearly complete roster. However, there is one factor that is causing them difficulties: psychological issues.
All five members of Gen.G have played for many years, and the least experienced is likely Peyz. However, all five members have had poor performances at crucial moments. For instance, Kiin’s “reverse digging” against T1, or Canyon’s “choke” at Worlds 2022 – the World Championship where he almost led Dplus KIA to defeat Gen.G in the quarterfinals. Lehends is a volatile Support but often makes hasty decisions. Peyz was completely “shut down” by Gumayusi in the LCK Spring 2024 finals. But the most concerning position is that of Chovy.
Currently, Chovy is the best Mid Laner in the LCK, with his fourth consecutive championship. Globally, Chovy is also among the best Mid Laners today. However, there is one crucial fact: Chovy has never won an international title, be it MSI or Worlds. Moreover, the 2022 Worlds was the first and only time Chovy reached the semifinals of an international event. Last year at MSI, Gen.G was defeated by T1 in the quarterfinals and was knocked out by BLG in the lower bracket.
No one can explain why Chovy-LCK and Chovy-international differ so greatly. But clearly, this has likely created a certain psychological pressure for the Mid Laner of the reigning LCK champions. Notably, at last year’s Worlds, Gen.G’s best achievement was a victory over T1. However, as soon as they passed the Swiss round with a good record, Gen.G was completely defeated by BLG in a match where the team did not show any signs of being champions.
Moreover, each time they step into an international tournament, the audience always looks to Chovy with high expectations. Experts and any player must acknowledge that Gen.G is the number one contender in every tournament they participate in. And perhaps that is the invisible pressure that causes Chovy and his teammates to play extremely heavily, far from their performance in the LCK.
Of course, as an outstanding player, and being expected to become a legend of the new superstar generation after Faker, the psychological pressures are something Chovy likely understands he must face. The only question is whether he can overcome them or if it will remain a regret; perhaps only when MSI 2024 begins will the audience get their answer.