A Korean Team Absent from the League of Legends World Championship Final for the First Time
For the first time since season one, a Korean team will not be in the final at the League of Legends World Championship. That year, Fnatic won the title, and they’re the favorites again tonight.
Korean Talent Still Shines Through with Invictus Gaming
But there are a few Koreans playing in the final. They’ll be on the side of China’s representative, Invictus Gaming. And even though they’re going into the last battle tonight as underdogs, they just might be good enough to pull out one more series and keep alive the legend of Korean talent.
Five Reasons Why Invictus Gaming Will Win
So what chance do IG have at winning it all tonight and redeeming Asia? Here are five reasons they’ll take home the Summoner’s Cup.
The Irreplaceable Rookie
Any discussion of IG’s chances tonight has to start and end with Rookie. He’s the best player in the world and IG’s best shot at winning it all tonight.
Rookie was the first player that IG focused on when they started building a championship-worthy roster. His journey has been long and difficult, which makes his moment even sweeter.
Back on Korean soil, Rookie is playing like an absolute monster. He destroyed Fnatic mid laner Rasmus “Caps” Winther, one of the best mids in the world, in their group stage games. If he pulls off another incredible performance and wins Worlds, he’ll invoke the name of another Korean giant: Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok.
IG’s Flexibility
Rookie’s map pressure enables a playstyle that IG have honed throughout the year, their 1-3-1 split push. But when that doesn’t work, IG can fall back to other styles as well. They have expertise in splitting, teamfighting, and adapting to different situations. They will test Fnatic in many phases of the game.
The Fast Pace of IG
G2 Esports has been one of the slowest teams in most of the tournament. In contrast, IG has shown incredible speed and aggression. They have the ability to snowball relentlessly and catch their opponents off guard. Fnatic will be challenged to stabilize the map if things move too fast.
JackeyLove’s Talent
If IG can secure an advantage, it enables one of their most talented but inconsistent players, JackeyLove. He is known for his mechanical skill and smart decision making. If he performs at his best, Fnatic may struggle to contain him and IG could dominate all three lanes.
Solo Lane Domination
We have a feeling that the team that dominates the solo lanes will bring home the trophy. IG’s solo laners, including Rookie, TheShy, and Duke, give them a unique advantage. However, IG’s jungler and support must continue playing at a high level to match Fnatic’s strength in those areas. It will also be crucial for IG to avoid bad fights and maintain ward control.
It would be a strange irony if these three Korean players won the Summoner’s Cup on Korean soil while playing for a Chinese team. But this Worlds has been filled with upsets and crazy stories, so one more wouldn’t be surprising. We’ll find out tonight if IG can pull it off.
– League of Legends World Championship, Invictus Gaming, Korean players, Rookie, solo lane domination, JackeyLove