One of the exciting aspects of MSI 2023 is the competition format that leads to intense clashes in the Qualifying Round. Just a few days ago, T1 and JD Gaming (JDG) had a thrilling showdown in the Winners’ Finals. Both teams played very well, but JDG proved to be superior in crucial moments and secured a 3-2 victory overall.
It was assumed that to take down a strong team like T1, JDG would need complex and in-depth strategies. However, JDG’s coach Homme surprised the audience by revealing that the actual method to defeat T1 was quite simple. Moreover, this coach did not forget to praise Ruler’s performance in the recent match.
“In this match, I was a bit worried about the Bottom Lane. As long as our Marksman doesn’t fall behind compared to the opponent and the other lanes hold their own, we can win. Ruler is an outstanding player in the Marksman position. He has great focus in the late game, so as long as Ruler is alive, we will defeat T1,” Coach Homme shared after the match.
Indeed, when looking back at the lineup JDG chose in the match against T1, the audience can see they consistently adhered to the strategy of protecting Ruler. The solo lanes of Knight and 369 played champions capable of holding their own like Annie, Cassiopeia, Gragas, Sion… Even Kanavi played tanky champions to help Ruler deal damage.
The result of being loyal to this strategy came when Ruler played exceptionally well and helped JDG reach the MSI 2023 Grand Finals. It wouldn’t be surprising if JDG continues to implement this Marksman protection gameplay in the upcoming Grand Finals. In fact, they could even clinch the MSI 2023 title if Ruler continues to perform brilliantly like he did against T1.