All hopes of North America and the West rest on the laurels of NRG.
NRG has been a success story so far in its return to League of Legends. Having bought over Counter-Logic Gaming's franchise slot in the LCS and acquired its squad in the process, some crucial changes ensured that NRG became an instant hit to secure its first-ever LCS title. While many speculated that it was just a one-time thing, NRG earned its number one seed spot at Worlds 2023 and so far, they have proven to be the LCS' only worthy contenders.
They are set to play Weibo Gaming in the quarterfinals of the Knockout Stage, a rematch that NRG will be looking forward to as that has been its only blemish at Worlds 2023 so far. Being the number one seed from the LCS, NRG started from the Swiss Stage and were humbled by Weibo in their opening game. However, they were since able to bounce back with three crucial victories over the likes of fellow LCS counterpart, Team Liquid as well as two LEC titans – MAD Lions and G2 Esports.
With the rematch being a best-of-five series, NRG will have at the very least, three games to show what they are truly made of. However, it will be an arduous ask given the level of experience and talent Weibo have at its disposal. Three of NRG's starting line-up have limited international experience with Niship “Dhokla” Doshi and Cristian “Palafox” Palafox making their Worlds debut this year.
In retrospect, Weibo have two players who were world championship winners in the form of Kang “TheShy” Seung-Iok back in 2018 and Liu “Crisp” Quing-Song in 2019. There is also the three-time Mid-Season Invitational winner, Yuan Hao “xiaohu” Li at the mid-lane to consider. Weibo was able to outclass NRG fairly easily during their best-of-one match during the opening day of the Swiss Stage, but can they do it again in a best-of-five?
On paper, it is more than believable given the number of major title winners there are on the LPL third seed's squad. But with great talent and experience also comes great expectations. While the LPL has all four teams in the Knockout Stage, they will be going up against the very best the LCK has to offer. Bilibili Gaming has a date with the LCK's undisputed champion this season, Gen.G Esports while JD Gaming will have its hands full against one of the region's dark horses, KT Rolster. And of course, there is the T1 versus LNG Esports match-up to consider, which many are predicting to go to all five games.
But NRG has managed to overcome all adversity that have been aimed towards them this season. Before being acquired by NRG, the then-CLG squad finished in fifth/sixth during the LCS Spring Split while the org was going through its own internal turmoil. And it wasn't all smooth sailing the moment NRG had acquired both CLG's franchise slot and roster as a month later, they made a double-player change by bringing in Victor “FBI” Huang and Dong-Geun “IgNar” Lee. Even then, the roster didn't find instant results as they finished fifth during the LCS Summer Split group stage.
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It was still enough for them to qualify to the knockout stage, which was where NRG started to truly shine. Decisive victories against the likes of Team Liquid, Golden Guardians, and a revenge series against Cloud9 in the grand finals were proof enough as to why NRG has been the standout squad in the LCS this season. With the likes of Cloud9 being ever so consistent while Golden Guardians and Team Liquid invested heavily in imported players, NRG made do with just two proven LCS stalwarts.
The odds of NRG taking a win over Weibo is quite unlikely, but stranger things have happened at Worlds before. With this being NRG's debut, it is also the first time an LCS team has qualified to the Knockout Stage of Worlds that isn't Cloud9. By all accounts, it's very much a ‘David versus Goliath’ series and it will be exciting to see who goes through to the semifinals, where either one of Gen.G Esports or Bilibili Gaming will await. That should be fun.
