PaiN Gaming: The Wildcard Team that Could Make History at League of Legends World Championships
For years, the debate over whether international wildcard teams should be included in the League of Legends World Championships has raged on. Many argue against their inclusion, pointing out that no wildcard team has ever made it past the group stage. However, this year, one team is poised to change that.
PaiN Gaming, the best team in history to compete under the wildcard banner, is out of Brazil. They were placed in Group A with only one Korean representative, KOO Tigers, alongside North America’s Counter Logic Gaming and Taiwan’s top team, yoe Flash Wolves. It was the first time that a wildcard team had a real chance of challenging for a spot in the knockout stages.
Initial losses in their opening matches seemed to set paiN Gaming back, but on the final day of the group stages, they managed to defeat Flash Wolves to end week one with a 1-2 scoreline, just one win behind CLG and KOO Tigers.
PaiN Gaming’s support player, Hugo “Dioud” Padioleau, expressed his excitement about the win, stating that his team realized they were not inferior to the other teams in their group. The victory over Flash Wolves was especially significant for Padioleau, as it was the first time his family had witnessed him play in person.
Despite the odds being stacked against them, paiN Gaming managed to execute their game plan successfully. Padioleau acknowledged that the team made some mistakes but believed that they were improving with each passing day.
PaiN Gaming’s Hopes for Advancement
PaiN Gaming has a short break before their final matches in Group A. Padioleau feels confident that his team will improve the most during this break. He also expects CLG to make the most of the break and bounce back stronger.
While paiN Gaming’s performance as a wildcard team is commendable, it’s essential to remember that upsets have occurred before. However, Padioleau believes that they are the best wildcard team to ever play at Worlds due to having top players in every role.
What Lies Ahead for PaiN Gaming
PaiN Gaming will face a rematch against every other team in the group. If they can secure wins against teams like CLG and KOO Tigers, they could end up as spoilers or even advance to the next stage. Padioleau and his team are solely focused on trying to secure as many wins as possible.
Padioleau believes that both PaiN Gaming and CLG will be the teams advancing to the quarterfinals. With KOO Tigers and Flash Wolves in the group, this statement showcases the team’s confidence. The upcoming matches will put their belief to the test as two teams progress while two teams go home.
Whatever the outcome, it promises to be an exciting finish to Group A.