The LCS Makes it to the Knockout Stage at Worlds 2023
In an unexpected turn of events at the 2023 League of Legends World Championship, the LCS has advanced to the knockout stage with a decisive victory against G2 Esports from Europe. This victory not only marked a significant moment for North American fans but also made history on the Summoner’s Rift.
For the first time since TSM in 2014, a team other than Cloud9 has made it to the knockout stage at the tournament. It has been nearly a decade since North America has seen another organization represent the region at the biggest League event of the year. This time, NRG will be the hope of North America in the toughest phase of Worlds.
Nearly nine years have passed since the LCS last made it to the knockout stage at Worlds. During this time, Cloud9 has been the only representative from North America, carrying the region’s hopes. However, this year, Cloud9 was quickly eliminated from Worlds after winning just one game and losing to LNG Esports, T1, and Fnatic.
On the other hand, NRG is a relatively new organization that joined the league as a franchised team after acquiring Counter Logic Gaming in April. Although the team has previous experience in the LCS, taking over one of the longest-standing organizations in the region required them to work hard in order to establish their reputation among North American fans.
Thanks to incredible play from the former CLG core and strong fan engagement, NRG has gained the support of LCS fans and has now defeated Europe’s top seed in their quest for a deep run at Worlds. The team is now eagerly awaiting the draw for the quarterfinals, which will take place after the final day of the Swiss stage on Sunday, Oct. 29.
LCS, Worlds 2023, knockout stage, Cloud9, NRG, League of Legends, North American fans