Ranking every team participating at Worlds 2023
Hello,
with less than 30 days until the start of World Play-ins I would like to spark the debate on all the participating teams. It will also be interesting to rate this ranking after the Worlds.
About me: I am casual LoL player who enjoys watching LoL esports. I have mostly watched regular seasons of LPL, LEC and LCK,; for playoffs, I also followed matches from all the other regions.
About ranking: I don't want to create a ranking about how those teams performed right now, but more like how they will look at playing at world's stage (considering team potential, experience at a bigger stage, changes of meta, etc.)
- Bilibili Gaming: I know they struggled the entire year to beat JDG, but everyone watching LPL saw they were the most dominant team in the regular season and they UNDERPERFORMED against JDG (mental boom??). I feel like they also drafted pretty poorly against them. Why number 1? I think Bin is the best toplaner in the world, XUN knows how to play for him. ON and YAGAO are always active on the map. And Elk is adc that is not afraid to die, if this means winning teamfight and dropping tons of DPS. Be prepared for BLG to stomp your favorite team in 25 min!
- T1: T1 had a lots of struggles this year with Faker injury, however, they still managed to get second in LCK only losing to GENG in finals (3:0 but this doesn't matter now). We all know this T1 can look dominant and their only curse are finals. However I think this year is perfect for them: everyone is putting JDG or GENG for the favorites to win it all, but T1 is dark horse here. They are an unexperienced team anymore and you better not let T1 reach finals this year. Because they will NOT bottle it that time.
- JD Gaming: SUPERSTARS on every role and they look like they draft well, and also play those drafts to perfection. They looked dominant throughout the entire season, however, worlds are different. They have high expectations and you better hope they don't do another FPX (do not trust LPL number 1 seed )
- Gen.G: GenG has really improved from winter split and now they look like the well-oiled machine. They have amazing laners and jungle who can wil gank them, even if this means losing camps. And I think they have the best midlaner in the world: Chovy. He is not farming simulator anymore but he also plays for the team, has a large champion pool, and does not make mistakes. They are dangerous!
- G2 Esports : "Did you see how they performed at MSI???". Yes, but watching G2 in the summer playoffs felt different. They were dominant, making plays all the time and innovative. They have different playstyle and draft priorities from eastern teams and I think this is their advantage. They will definitely be a fun team to watch and wouldn't be surprised it they reach semi finals.
- LNG Esports: This team is dangerous. They have exceptional players on all their roles and play calculated and precise. I think at world's everything will depend on mid-jungle synergy from their team. Scout and Tarzan performed very well, however, they sometimes had a little unfortunate series (ex. Zeka absolutely gapping Scout in the deciding game). PS. don't give GALA kaisa angle.
- KT Rolster: Don't get excited! But this team is exciting. They have one of the best top sites, however, I still don't trust their botlane 100%. Aiming truly improved, but is still often caught and costs their team. I expect this team to be dangerous to everyone, however, I don't see them winning it all (but KT does the best when you at least expect it :) ).
- Dplus KIA : Gauntlet was Showmaker show. This team is IMO the most unpredictable out of all. Deft is still world-class adc, and I can't remember last time he looked bad on the lane. The core of the team is their jungle (Canyon), if meta somehow shifts to more carry junglers I believe this team can make some noise. The weak link is probably Canna, but let's see how other teams will punish it.
- Weibo Gaming : I lied. DKIA is not the most unpredictable. Weibo is. Why? Because of their toplaner: theShy. I watched many games of Weibo and theShy was 90% the X factor. Either winning 1 vs 2 top laner, or being 0-5 running it down. I don't believe this team will become reliable at worlds. They can win the series against JDG and then lose the next one to Cloud9 #LCS for the win!
- MAD Lions: mad lions at the international stage haha. Times can change and this is the time for MAD Lions to shine. They have an experienced roster and when watching them I feel like they go in together. They also die together, but in general, I think that is the way to play the league. If everyone follows the call, the bad call might not be bad. I have high hopes for them and hope that they can make it out of the group.
- Cloud9 : Although they lost in the finals to NRG, I think they are the most dangerous NA team. Watching them play in playoffs seems like they were not proactive enough. Mechanically they are a talented team, but for worlds they need to change their playstyle a bit. I want to see them making some dives and jungle-mid-support synergy. Berserker is IMO the best player from NA but you need to provide him with tools to carry.
- Fnatic : I hope Oscarinin fully recovers from surgery and that FNC again shines and makes some groups spicy. I am putting them quite low, because of some inexperience on their players (let's try to forget the start of Oscarinin LEC career).
- Team BDS : I think BDS will win against Golden Guardians, but they need to be less predictable. You know they always play for drakes, but they need to sometimes change their game plan. They were playing very solid in spring and I think they can get back in that form, especially since they seem to have nice reads on the meta.
- GG : Golden Guardians dropped their form at the wrong moment, but they still managed to qualify. Watching them it felt like they had a plan for how to win the game. I think BDS will knock them out, but let's not be surprised if this goes to 5 games.
- Team Liquid: Watching their games they always seem to get a lead but then somehow throw it. However, I think this is a good sign: they apparently have good laners for LCS standards. How will they perform at worlds? I think they will win against a team from minor regions, however, I don't see them winning against Eastern ones + G2, where you can't just win through lane advantages.
- PSG Talon : PSG Talon looked absolutely dominant in their region, however watching them they still were not clean compared to major regions. They have some experienced players and I think they might take some games even from Eastern teams, however I think group stage is where they will end their tournament.
- NRG : Reigning LCS champions ... They look good against good teams and bad against bad teams. Palafaker is the core of the team and looked really good, however, I don't think they are capable of competing against other top teams. Getting out of the group would be a HUGE surprise. I just don't see them doing damage this year, but I am hoping I am mistaken.
- DetonatioN FocusMe : They have solid players already playing on the international stage. I expect them to make the group stage, however, other teams will be happy to have them in their group = probably last place.
- CTBC Flying Oyster: 2# seed from PCS, only losing to PSG in the finals. Oysters will be fun to watch but not much more than that.
- GAM Esports: Watching VCS was rough, games were fun and bloody, but they did not improve from the previous years. This is not the year GAM makes it out of groups.
- Team Whales: Second place in VCS, but still tier below GAM. I don't expect much from them, but hoping the international stage will be nice experience for them
- LOUD : Brazilian playoffs is always interesting, however, compared to other regions the games look wild and I don't think they play the best league. But lets hope for some KABOOMS.
- Movistar R7 : They were dominant in LLA playoffs, but I think this league is tier below others. The only teams I think they can beat are LOUD and Team Whales, but let's hope for some surprises.
Which team is your dark horse? Which team should be ranked higher/lower? Which team will this year make DRX's cinderella story?
Lets hope for worlds full of surprises and silver scrapes!