Royal Never Give Up’s Mixed Performance at the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational
Royal Never Give Up (RNG) has had a rollercoaster journey at the 2018 Mid-Season Invitational. After three days of competition, they find themselves with a 3-3 record. On the third day, RNG faced tough challenges from Team Liquid and Fnatic.
RNG lost their first game against Team Liquid due to their dominance in the bot lane. Liquid was able to extend their advantage across the map. In their match against Fnatic, RNG struggled against Rasmus “Caps” Winther’s roaming plays and fell behind early. However, RNG dug in and managed to secure a victory against the European champions.
RNG’s Lack of Convincing Performances
On the whole, RNG’s performances have not been entirely convincing, except for their game against EVOS Esports. They have struggled against top teams like KINGZONE DragonX and Flash Wolves, losing both matches. Apart from some impressive teamfights and mistakes made by Fnatic, RNG could have easily lost both games against them and be sitting at a 1-5 record.
Throughout the tournament, RNG heavily relies on one player to carry the team to victory, Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao. Uzi has been the shining star for the Chinese team, and it often feels like RNG’s success depends on how well their ADC performs.
Reliance on Uzi
Uzi stands out among many superstar ADCs in the tournament due to his international reputation. While he has been a part of multiple World Championship finals, he has yet to win one. Nevertheless, Uzi consistently reaches new heights during Worlds and outshines both his teammates and opposing ADCs.
RNG puts a tremendous amount of pressure on Uzi to carry them to victory, and although he usually rises to the challenge, there are times when the pressure gets to him. This leaves RNG with very few options to secure wins. In the game against Fnatic, for example, mid laner Li “xiaohu” Yuan-Hao fell behind early, and the rest of the team struggled to keep up with their opponents. The bot lane was the only area where RNG had an advantage.
Despite his teammates’ struggles, Uzi used their early advantage to keep the team in the match and eventually win crucial teamfights, allowing RNG to take the lead. Uzi took command of the game and led his team to victory.
The Need for a Second Carry
For RNG to make it to the finals, they will need support for Uzi. Another player must step up and show that they can also be a carry threat, making other teams respect their presence. Without a second strong player, RNG’s chances of success become limited.
The upcoming matches against KINGZONE and Flash Wolves will be the toughest for RNG in this tournament. In their previous encounters, RNG struggled under the pressure and were reactive rather than proactive. They need to change their approach and play more aggressively to secure an advantage.
For RNG to contest these top teams, Uzi needs to be at the top of his game. However, he will also need help from his teammates. Yan “LetMe” Jun-Ze, xiaohu, or Liu “Mlxg” Shi-Yu must showcase their skills and provide a second offensive threat.
RNG’s first game is against KINGZONE DragonX at 4am CT. Stay tuned!
Royal Never Give Up, 2018 Mid-Season Invitational, RNG, ADC, Uzi, superstar, carry, pressure, second threat, teammates