In a surprising turn of events, the LCS has secured a spot in the knockout stage of the 2023 League of Legends World Championship after a dominant victory against Europe’s G2 Esports. This momentous occasion not only marks a significant milestone for North American fans but also brings a new hope to the region.
For the first time since TSM’s achievement in Worlds 2014, a team other than Cloud9 has broken into the knockout stage, ending almost a decade-long drought for North America. Cloud9 has been the sole representative of the region in this crucial stage for years, but now NRG has emerged as the new face of North American League of Legends on the world stage.
Over the past nine years, the LCS has only managed to reach the knockout stage four times at Worlds. In each instance, Cloud9 carried the weight of North America’s aspirations, earning the title of the region’s last hope. However, this year, Cloud9’s journey was cut short as they were swiftly eliminated after winning one game and suffering defeats against LNG Esports, T1, and Fnatic.
On the other hand, NRG is a fresh organization that recently joined the league as a franchised team by acquiring Counter Logic Gaming in April. Although the team has previously participated in the LCS, taking over one of the longest-standing organizations in the region required significant effort to establish their reputation among North American fans.
Through exceptional gameplay from the former CLG core and strong fan engagement, NRG has won over the LCS faithful and now triumphed over Europe’s top seed, setting their sights on a deep run at Worlds. As the Swiss stage concludes on Sunday, Oct. 29, the team eagerly awaits their quarterfinal draw to determine their next opponent.
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Source: DOTESPORTS
