NRG Esports Overcomes Low Scrim Win Percentages to Find Success in Worlds 2023
For any competitive League of Legends team, good practice is always a sign of success to come on the Summoner’s Rift. But for North America’s first seed NRG Esports, practice might not always make perfect—and that’s a good thing.
In a recent interview with Korizon Esports’ Ashley Kang, NRG’s veteran support Lee “IgNar” Dong-geun revealed that the team’s scrim win percentages in NA were only around 30%. Things were even worse during their scrims in Korea, where they only won around 10% of their games.
“There were many [scrims] when we barely won a game, so I wasn’t feeling confident [against G2],” IgNar confessed. “It was the same back in NA—we performed better when we’re on stage, especially when we don’t make early-game mistakes. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting anything out of today, and now I feel like I’m in this daze since I had no expectations yet won.”
IgNar also acknowledged that NRG has been one of the more underrated teams in the tournament so far. Being an underdog has actually worked in their favor, as it allowed them to play without fear. IgNar himself felt a sense of calm compared to high-stakes games he had played in the past.
As a result, he viewed the game with a broader vision and subsequently made better decisions for himself and his team as the intensity ramped up. This underdog mentality has been seen throughout the history of League esports, from NRG’s win against G2 Esports to DRX’s Cinderella run to the Summoner’s Cup last year at Worlds 2022.
NRG’s Miraculous Run in the Knockout Stage
Looking ahead, NRG will have to continue their miraculous run in the knockout stage as they battle against some of the best teams in the world. But before that, the Swiss stage will have to reach its epic conclusion, with six more teams fighting to move forward in the tournament. Don’t miss out on all the action, catch the Swiss stage’s thrilling conclusion tomorrow on Sunday, Oct. 29.
NRG Esports, League of Legends, Worlds 2023, scrim win percentages, underdog mentality, knockout stage