In League of Legends, the big tournament “MSI 2023” for fans of teams from Europe and North America has already passed. It was the worst beating that many western LoL fans can remember. The gap to teams from South Korea and China is wider than ever.
This is the situation:
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G2 plays 2-6 against Asia and is still the best
Who got kicked out last? The European team G2 was the “bravest” one, they could win at least 1 match in their defeat against the Chinese from BLG and lost only 1-3. Before that, they had already picked up a win in a 1-3 loss to favorites Gen G with Chovy.
With that, G2 have won at least 2 games against teams from Asia and lost 6.
At the USA, the “Golden Guardians” managed to win a single game in a 1-2 loss against BLG.
The other two teams from the US and Europe, Mad Lions and Cloud9, both went down without a win against teams from China and South Korea.
Cloud9 was the last to get kicked out.
Why were there no duels between EU and NA? That was bad luck. In the Loser’s Bracket, the two regions did not cross over, but each played against a team from their own region. G2 took out the MAD Lions, Cloud9 sent the Golden Guardians to the airport.
In the round that followed, however, it was the end for both winners against a team from Asia.
The 4 teams from Asia make up the first 4 places among themselves
What’s next? All 4 teams from China and South Korea are still in the running and will now decide the winner in 4 “Best of 5” series.
It could end up being a South Korean final between T1 (Faker) and Gen G. (Chovy). But JDG and BLG could still make it.
Has it always been like this? No, 5 years ago it looked like the western teams could catch up with the teams from China and South Korea:
In 2019, a super team of the best players in Europe, G2, even made it to the final. But the team fell apart in the years following the final defeat. The stars scattered to the four winds, the ambitious CEO stumbled upon a crude video showing him with Andrew Tate.
In South Korea and China, on the other hand, more and more extremely strong young players came along, who formed top teams and challenged each other. The Asian players also seemed to develop much stronger and faster. While G2 were still able to beat young stars like Showmaker and Canyon in 2019, they already had no chance in 2020.
In recent tournaments, the skill gap between west and east has grown. In this tournament, the MSI 2023, teams from the West played no role at all.
Fans from Europe and North America are disappointed and bitter
What the fans say: They see it with gallows humor (via reddit). It is said: You could add a loser’s round to the losers’ round and then call it the “West round”.
For years it’s only been about who is less reluctant to the Asians? Europe or the US? Can’t say that this time:
A user says: It is particularly tragic that “G2” renamed itself “T1-Killers” and now don’t even have the chance to play against the team whose “fearful opponents” they are supposed to be.
A user says:
“This is the worst tournament the West has had that I can remember. There is nothing to argue or debate about, we both looked so much worse than the East this time. Feels like 10 years ago.
Before the tournament he was still in a good mood:
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