At this point, the domestic leagues have concluded, and the champions have been determined. These teams will be heading to the MSI 2023, taking place in early May in London. This year, the four major regions will each have two representatives at this MSI. However, only two teams from the LCK will advance directly to the group stage. The runners-up from LPL, LEC, and LCS will have to compete in the Play-in stage.
This means that the Play-in stage of MSI this year will be much more intense but also more challenging for teams from minor regions and wildcard regions (developing regions that usually only have a wildcard spot at the World Championship). In other words, the decision to select only three additional representatives from the Play-in stage amidst the presence of three major region runners-up will make MSI more competitive but narrow the chances for smaller regions.
However, there is one team that is predicted to have a 100% chance of reaching the finals of MSI 2023, even though the tournament has yet to occur. Specifically, after winning the LPL Spring 2023 championship, JD Gaming (JDG) is highly regarded. On various forums, international fans have predicted JDG will be 100% in the finals. The argument is that JDG is performing exceptionally well in all positions. Furthermore, Knight and Ruler, along with Kanavi, are experienced veterans. Meanwhile, 369 has played much more reliably this season and gained international experience from last year’s World Championship.
However, these are merely predictions from fans. The current players of JDG are participating in their first MSI tournament, and the nature of this event is quite different from the World Championship. Moreover, with a short tournament duration and a lineup of champions, JDG will certainly find it challenging to progress if the players do not stay focused. Additionally, both representatives from LCK have advanced to the group stage. Last year, JDG, entering the World Championship as the LPL champions, was defeated by T1 with a score of 1-3.
JDG is still a top contender for the MSI 2023 championship. Historically, LPL teams, formerly known as Royal Never Give Up, have a strong connection to this tournament. However, T1 and Gen.G, along with other names like G2 Esports and Cloud9, will be the biggest obstacles. In fact, on a lucky day, a VCS representative could also make LPL teams “suffer.” JDG must perform at their best if they do not want to return in disappointment like last year’s World Championship.