Western teams are off to a strong start in the League of Legends World Championship Swiss stage. After two days of intense competition, LCS and LEC squads find themselves in favorable positions to advance in the tournament. The Swiss format has proven to be beneficial for the Western leagues, allowing struggling teams to face off against minor region underdogs or fellow major-region teams that are also struggling. This gives them a fair chance to turn their fortunes around and secure a spot in the next round.
The luck of the draw has played a role in the success of Western teams so far. For example, G2 Esports could have faced the tournament favorites JD Gaming, but instead, they will be matched up against Gen.G, which gives them a better chance of maintaining their undefeated record. MAD Lions, the third seed from the LEC, has been particularly fortunate with their draws, avoiding powerhouse teams from the LPL and LCK. This has given them a fighting chance to qualify for the knockouts while potentially avoiding Eastern squads altogether.
However, not all Western teams have been as lucky. Team BDS, for instance, faced JD Gaming on day one and will now go up against former World Championship winners Dplus KIA. This is a challenging scenario for any team. Fnatic also faces a tough road ahead with matches against LNG and Bilibili, two strong Chinese teams.
Despite the challenges, the Swiss format provides Western teams with a more level playing field. While it is still difficult to avoid the LCK and LPL powerhouses, the format increases the chances of stealing a game against these top Eastern teams.
| Team | Current Record | Next Opponent |
|---|---|---|
| G2 Esports | 2-0 | Gen.G (Bo3) |
| Cloud9 | 1-1 | T1 (Bo1) |
| NRG Esports | 1-1 | MAD Lions (Bo1) |
| MAD Lions | 1-1 | NRG Esports (Bo1) |
| Fnatic | 1-1 | Bilibili Gaming (Bo1) |
| Team Liquid | 0-2 | GAM Esports (Bo3) |
| Team BDS | 0-2 | Dplus KIA (Bo3) |
The Western teams will continue their quest for victory in the coming days. JD Gaming and LNG will face off in a highly anticipated rematch, with a spot in the knockouts on the line. G2 Esports and Gen.G will also battle it out for a place in the top eight. Cloud9 will return to action against T1, while Team Liquid will have a do-or-die match against GAM Esports.
Source: DOTESPORTS
