The 2023 World Championship (Worlds) is approaching, and JD Gaming will be the most watched team. If they win this tournament, JDG will be the first team in League of Legends history to achieve a “Grand Slam of Titles” in a single season, which includes winning all major domestic championships, the MSI and Worlds. Additionally, Ruler will achieve a personal “Grand Slam of Titles” by winning all major tournaments in League of Legends, including those in LCK and LPL. The achievements of JDG and Ruler will surpass even T1 and Faker.
However, before JDG, there were 3 teams in the past that reached the “Grand Slam of Titles” milestone and all “fell short at the gates of paradise.” Among them, one team even fell short three times throughout its history.
Royal Never Give Up (2018)
For the star-studded lineup of RNG featuring Mlxg, Uzi… 2018 was a dream year, of course, if they hadn’t faced G2 Esports. At that time, G2 was the leader of the LEC with overwhelming strength compared to other teams in the region, as well as top-notch skills and exceptional gameplay.
Uzi and his teammates had won MSI, as well as two domestic championships. The RNG players also secured a victory at the ASIAD against the Korean League of Legends team. However, a top-notch Perkz, along with a performing Jankos and the “Monster Top Laner” Wunder, extinguished RNG’s “Grand Slam of Titles” ambitions with a thrilling 3-2 victory in the semifinals of the 2018 Worlds.
G2 Esports (2019)
From being the team that “crushed the dreams” of RNG, G2 was immediately “knocked down” the following year, also by a team from the LPL. After winning 2 domestic championships, in addition to MSI that same year, and even achieving 2 victories against the powerful T1 led by Faker, it seemed G2 would be the first team in League of Legends history to secure a “Grand Slam of Titles.” But FunPlus Phoenix had other plans.
The “Phoenix” of Doinb that year also showcased gameplay that was just as unpredictable as G2’s. Moreover, Doinb and especially Tian had an outstanding final match. G2 fell with a score of 0-3 and had to accept that the glory might never return again.
SKT T1 (2015 – 2016 and 2018)
However, the teams above could hardly compare to SKT T1, as even at their peak, they also missed the chance to collect all titles in the same season. In 2015, SKT T1 suffered a defeat against Edward Gaming at MSI. The following year in 2016, SKT T1 faltered again, this time in the domestic league. KT Rolster managed a rare victory in the “Media War” and caused SKT T1 to miss the LCK Summer Championship 2016.
As for Faker, the year 2018 can be considered a “blank failure” for him and also the final season for this team under the name SKT T1. That year, Faker completely failed in the domestic league and also lost at ASIAD. It can be said that although he didn’t win all titles, 2018 marked a sad record for Faker: a “Grand Slam of nothing” across all fronts.
Conclusion
If JDG can win the 2023 Worlds, they will etch their name in history with achievements surpassing the great SKT T1 and many legendary names of the past. But if they fail, it will just be another regret like the three predecessor teams before them.