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Esports
The 2019 Mid-Season Invitational may define a new era of League of Legends
League of Legends’ Mid-Season Invitational is about to start, and the teams are prepping for what could be the event of the year. Grab your popcorn, as we run through the contenders and their chances.
The battle is brewing for the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational and the teams are lining up for a brawl of epic proportions. Last year, it was China’s time to rule, but the tides are turning, and the playing field is open for the taking. South Korea is back to its old self, and the west is hungry to usurp the eastern crown, with the likes of G2 Esports and Team Liquid flying the flags for Europe and the USA, respectively.
The stage has been set for one of the most anticipated events of the year, and the teams are ready to prove themselves on the big stage – this could be the start of a new era of League of Legends. Join us as we run down the teams competing, and who you should keep an eye on.
The favourite
Rookie could be the best mid laner in the world
© Riot Games
Four teams stand above the rest. China's Invictus Gaming, South Korea's SK Telecom T1, Europe's G2 Esports, and North America’s Team Liquid.
All eyes will be on the favourites of the competition. They have an enormous weight on their shoulders and if they crumble under the pressure, or surrender an early loss, it could be the beginning of the end for their run at MSI.
Invictus Gaming is hot off winning the 2018 World Championship and China’s LPL Spring Split. The roster is jampacked full of star talent, and the young team has only got better with age.
Kang ‘TheShy’ Seung-lok still looks like he could be the best top laner in the world, and Song ‘Rookie’ Eui-jin is the playmaking mid lane carry that has the tools to go head-to-head, or even beat Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok.
To go alongside the South Korean duo is the sleeper carry of the team. Yu ‘JackeyLove’ Wen-Bo was far from the best ADC at Worlds, but he did what he needed to do to support his team. Now, after some well-needed experience and a couple of trophies under his belt, he’s gained the confidence his needs to compete with the best. Jackeylove has matured like a fine wine, and he – much like the rest of China’s top team – should be considered a real threat at MSI.
The Korean comeback
SK Telecom T1 are looking stronger than ever.
© Riot Games
Last year was a disappointment for South Korean fans. Kingzone DragonX couldn’t handle the force of Jian ‘Uzi’ Zi-Hao’s Royal Never Give Up at MSI, and Worlds was even worse. It looked like it was the end of the Korean dominant era, and China and the West had finally caught up.
This year is different. SKT is back, and they’re stronger than ever. It’s no longer the Faker show. The greatest League of Legends player of all time doesn’t have to single-handedly carry his team anymore – he has the support of some of the best players in the world. If Faker fails to perform, Kim ‘Khan’ Dong-ha will step up in the top lane, and if he stumbles, there’s Kim ‘Clid’ Tae-min, Park ‘Teddy’ Jin-seong, and Cho ‘Mata’ Se-hyeong. Together they’re one of the most promising rosters in the history of League of Legends.
They had a slow start to the LCK, losing out to their counterpart, Griffin, but by the time the finals drew closer, the team had found what they were looking for. They dominated Griffin, 3-0, and they did it with style and sophistication. They looked hungry for the win, and they proved that they were the best team to represent South Korea.
The naysayers doubted Faker. They thought his reign had come to an end, but that’s far from the case. He’s back where he belongs, and he’s ready to regain his title.
The kings of Europe
Perkz isn’t afraid to pick unorthodox champions in the bot lane
© Riot Games
With the addition of Rasmus ‘Caps’ Winther in the mid lane and Luka ‘Perkz’ Perković switching over to the bot lane, G2 Esports have transformed into the titans of Europe. They took the Spring Split in their stride, and plowed through the competition, all while barely showing any weaknesses.
Perkz isn’t the best marksman in the competition, but his flexibility is one of the biggest strengths of the teams. He’s not afraid to pick unorthodox champions in the bot lane, and with his skill, and his experience, he could be the crux of G2’s success in Vietnam and Taipei.
The team has a distinct advantage in the pick and ban phase, where they can, and should, utilise flex picks in the top, the mid, and the bot lane. If they can hide a surprise pocket pick, or two, it could make or break a potential series.
Caps made it to the grand finals of Worlds last year, with Fnatic. But when it came down to the nitty-gritty, he was decisively defeated by IG. MSI is the opportunity for Caps to get his revenge on Rookie. He’s stronger than ever and he’s willing to bounce back from defeat.
G2’s brute force playstyle and cohesive team play, with Caps at the helm, could be the defining factor for they run at MSI.
The underdog
Doublelift is determined to perform on the international stage
© Riot Games
While the above three teams head straight into the main group stage, 10 teams will battle it out through the Play-In Group Stage before emerging into the wider pool. Eight teams from some of the lower leagues are vying for contention, while the LCS’ Team Liquid and the LMS’ Flash Wolves head straight to the Play-In Knockout stage, but that doesn’t guarantee them success. Both of those teams are no wildcards, either. Flash Wolves made it out to the Worlds 2018 group stage, and have showed plenty of success in the LMS over the past season, but it’s the North American side you shouldn’t quite count out.
Team Liquid may be the underdogs, having struggled to take on Team SoloMid in a best-of-five series in the Spring finals, and showed off some glaring weaknesses – but they’re still a real threat. They could be the team to surprise the top dogs at MSI, and they mustn’t be underestimated.
Jo ‘CoreJJ’ Yong-in is legitimately one of the best players in the tournament and he shouldn’t be taken lightly. His presence on the map is unparallel, and he’s a player that has the tools to snowball his team to the win. His bot lane partner, Yiliang ‘Doublelift’ Peng, has seen better days, but he’s still a strong carry that has the potential to sway any given game in his direction. By the side of Core, Doublelift has all the resources he needs to thrive. He’s a player with cocksure confidence that, when needed, can, and will step up to the plate.
Doublelift’s shortfall, however, is his seeming inability to perform internationally. Despite being the best ADC carry in the LCS, he hasn’t yet proved himself where it matters the most. He’s a strong player, but he’s fallen short with his repeat lacklastre performances on international soil. He’s rarely to blame for his team’s mistakes, but his fight or flight passive play hasn’t helped his chances. MSI is the perfect opportunity for Doublelift to cement his legacy in League of Legends.
With the clock ticking down until we see the world’s top teams duke it out on the world stage, who will reign as this year’s winner? We’ll find out soon.
