It was elimination time in the MSI 2023 play-in stage, with Rainbow7 and GAM Esports being the two teams first on the chopping block today.
headline image courtesy of LoL Esports
After we witnessed two team already qualify for the Mid-Season Invitational 2023 Bracket Stage, Bilibili Gaming and G2 Esports, it was time to move into the lower bracket of the play-in stage, which came with the first eliminations. Neither Gam Esports nor Rainbow7 were able to offer much resistance in their opening series, and the two teams would be happy to have another chance to move forward – but a gruelling lower bracket would need to be survived first.
Going into the series, it seemed as though R7 would quickly run away with the first game, showing a strong early game with little to no response from GAM. The Latin American team made fantastic moves across the map, winning every lane with relative ease. However, one team fight turned everything around, as GAM suddenly found themselves on the front foot, and knocking on the LLA team’s door. A back-and-forth ensued, but once the dust had settled it was GR7 who found the perfect opening to defend their base and claim a much-needed victory.
It was another intense game between these two juggernauts of their regions in game two, with individual plays keeping things swinging in either direction. With that said, GAM were in control, and R7 went for a hail Mary Baron play, which ended with Levi stealing the objective away, taking the team fight, and tying the series at 1-1. With elimination now on the line for one of these teams, the final game was another brilliant showing from both sides.
It took nearly half an hour in the third game, but R7 managed to take the first-ever victory for the LLA in a best-of-series in a League of Legends international event. The team now have a new challenger, as they go up against Golden Guardians in their next elimination matchup. Unfortunately for GAM Esports, their MSI 2023 comes to a crushing end, after they showed some magnificent resolve in their final series.
