TSM’s Group Possibilities at the 2016 World Championship
TSM, the No. 1 seed from North America, is heading into the 2016 Season World Championship with high hopes. The tournament is taking place on home soil, making it an even more exciting time for fans. The group draw will be held at 2 p.m. EDT on Saturday at the North American League Championship Series studio. Let’s take a look at the best and worst possibilities for TSM in the group stage.
Group of… Death?
- Team SoloMid
- SK Telecom T1
- Royal Never Give Up
- Splyce
This is considered to be the toughest group for TSM, but it’s not as scary as it seems. Swapping out RNG and Splyce for G2 Esports and INTZ e-Sports would make the group even more challenging. However, the final verdict on the group’s difficulty remains open to interpretation.
SK Telecom T1 is the biggest challenge for TSM in this group. Despite not winning the LCK this split, SKT is still one of the favorites to win the entire tournament. TSM will need to perform well against SKT’s top laner and jungler to secure a victory.
Next, TSM will face Royal Never Give Up. The key battle will be in the bottom lane, where TSM’s top-tier duo will need to hold their own against RNG’s strong bot lane players. The rest of TSM should be able to handle their matchups.
Splyce is the weakest team in the group, but they shouldn’t be underestimated. TSM’s top laner and jungler will need to work together to keep Splyce in check, but overall, TSM should be able to handle this game.
Even though this group is challenging, TSM is expected to make it out of this group stage in most scenarios.
Just Too Easy
- Team SoloMid
- I May
- ahq e-Sports Club
- Albus NoX Luna
This is the easiest group TSM could potentially be in. While arguments could be made that H2k-Gaming would be a weaker choice than I May or ahq, the outcome would remain the same.
I May, China’s No. 3 seed, is the strongest team in this group apart from TSM. However, they are not on the same level as EDward Gaming and RNG.
Next up is ahq, the same roster that finished in the top eight at last year’s Worlds. Expectations are low for this team, but they managed to qualify for Worlds by defeating J Team. However, they are unlikely to match up well against North America’s top teams.
As one of the International Wildcard representatives, Albus NoX Luna is expected to struggle in this tournament. While it’s possible for them to cause an upset, TSM would likely defeat them with ease.
The problem with this group is that it’s too easy for TSM. While making it to Worlds is an achievement, the lack of competition would hinder TSM’s growth. TSM needs challenging opponents to improve, and this group wouldn’t provide that.
The Perfect Group
- Team SoloMid
- SK Telecom T1/Royal Never Give Up
- G2 Esports
- INTZ e-Sports
In this ideal scenario, TSM would face strong opponents that would truly test their skills. SKT or RNG would be the top-tier opponents that TSM needs to prove themselves against. G2 Esports would also provide a tough challenge, especially for Svenskeren facing off against Trick in the jungle. Though INTZ is one of the International Wildcard representatives, they are a strong team and should not be underestimated.
This competitive group would push TSM to their limits and allow them to showcase their strategies while still facing tough opponents. TSM has the potential to come out of this group stage stronger and more confident than ever.
How far TSM will go in the tournament remains to be seen. Let us know your predictions in the comments or by tweeting us at @GAMURScom.
Spencer Hester is an editor for GAMURS and can be contacted by email at [email protected] or on Twitter – @SpenceGAMURS.
Note: esports, TSM, Team SoloMid, North America, World Championship, group stage, SK Telecom T1, Royal Never Give Up, Splyce, G2 Esports, INTZ e-Sports, I May, ahq e-Sports Club, Albus NoX Luna, competitive, tournament, League of Legends