In the early hours of October 16, during the second round of the group stage of Worlds 2022, GAM Esports faced off against opponents DRX, RGE, and TOP Esports. This match day was also the last chance for GAM to achieve their goal of advancing past the group stage of the biggest League of Legends tournament in the world. However, in their first match against European representative RGE, GAM was unable to create any surprises against their extremely tight gameplay. At this point, the champion of the VCS had a very slim chance of progressing.
However, GAM had a classic match against the runner-up from the Chinese region (LPL) – TOP Esports. Choosing a jungle carry lineup with the signature champion Karthus in the hands of Levi, GAM troubled their opponents by continuously creating fiery skirmishes in the mid-game. Controlling objectives and playing effectively, GAM gained many advantages. Moreover, the AD carry Sty1e also performed excellently in this match.
However, the skirmishes prior were perhaps just a backdrop for the final moments of this match. GAM unexpectedly lost the Elder Dragon buff to their opponents and was wiped out. TOP Esports attacked directly into the Nexus to finish the game; however, the strong defense from Ornn and Karthus helped GAM Esports successfully defend and make a thrilling comeback. The “elimination” of TOP Esports – a powerhouse from a major region, drew cheers from thousands of fans watching live in the US, who continuously supported the Vietnamese representative. This was undoubtedly the most exciting and dramatic match of Worlds 2022 so far.
Nevertheless, GAM’s hopes of progressing officially ended after RGE’s loss to DRX. They could not stop DRX in the final match of this Worlds 2022.
Ending the group stage with a total score of 1 win – 5 losses, GAM officially bids farewell to the biggest League of Legends tournament in the world. Although this is not an achievement that meets the expectations of the team and fans, GAM fought their hardest and delivered the most exciting matches.