The competitive League of Legends scene has had an incredible year, captivating fans with new champions and thrilling storylines. However, amidst the bright lights and trophies, there are always some regrets and missed opportunities.
Many teams and players have wondered what could have been: if they had played a teamfight differently, chosen a different champion, or executed a different strategy. It’s natural to dwell on these ‘what if’ scenarios, but the key is to learn from the past and prepare for the future. As 2022 comes to a close, let’s revisit some of the storylines that fans wished had unfolded in professional League.
Back-to-back for Evil Geniuses
Evil Geniuses’ young squad represented a new era of growth in the NA League scene. With experienced players like Impact, Vulcan, and Inspired, along with promising prospects Danny and Jojopyun, the organization had a strong team. They even won the 2022 Spring Split championship, positioning themselves as the rising stars of the LCS.
However, despite a dominant regular season, Evil Geniuses faltered in the playoffs with an early exit against 100 Thieves. The departure of Danny from the starting roster added to the disappointment. While they did qualify for Worlds and even eliminated MAD Lions, a back-to-back trophy run would have solidified their status as the new LCS kings.
Uzi makes a triumphant return
The departure of Uzi, a legendary AD carry, from professional League was heartbreaking for his fans. After an eight-year career plagued by health issues, Uzi announced his return to stage play at the end of 2021 with Bilibili Gaming.
However, Uzi’s return was limited, and he only played nine games throughout the year. The organization heavily relied on its starting marksman, Doggo. While fans had realistic expectations about Uzi’s return, many still longed for him to compete at the World Championship, the one tournament he hadn’t captured.
T1 complete the most dominant split in League history
T1 made history by winning the LCK without a single loss in the spring split. Their dominant performance raised hopes for a successful run in the Mid-Season Invitational. Unfortunately, they dropped games in the rumble stage and lost to RNG in the finals, missing out on the opportunity to achieve the most dominant split in professional League history.
Rogue avoid the dreaded Nasus incident
Rogue, the defending champions of LEC, had a strong start at the 2022 World Championship. After three games, they sat at the top of their group, demonstrating their form and potential. However, a questionable pick of Nasus support stifled their momentum, leading to two consecutive losses and an eventual defeat against JD Gaming.
If they had made a different champion pick and drafted a more cohesive team composition, they could have maintained their confidence and faced the tough representative from LPL with more conviction.
Faker finds four
The Worlds 2022 tournament was filled with excitement, especially with DRX’s Cinderella story. Faker, the legendary player, had a chance to secure his fourth Summoner’s Cup if DRX were defeated. However, fate had a different plan, and Deft and his underdog squad emerged victorious. Despite this setback, Faker’s determination for gold remains strong, as he has re-signed with T1.
Reflecting on these missed opportunities and hypothetical scenarios reminds us of the unpredictable nature of esports and the constant pursuit of excellence. As we look ahead to the future, let’s celebrate the achievements and learn from the setbacks of the past.