Worlds 2021 Quarterfinals Preview
After a wild and exciting Group Stage, the top eight teams have been decided and will continue their journey to hoist the Summoner’s Cup at the 2021 Worlds Championship. It’s been three years since all four major regions met in the Quarterfinals, and now it’s “Make or Break” time for them to take it all.
HLE vs T1
A rematch of the LCK Regional Qualifier Finals will be the opening match of the Worlds 2021 Quarterfinals. T1 won 3–2 against HLE in that series to earn the third seed slot, allowing them to avoid Play-ins. T1 is without a doubt the most successful organization in League of Legends history, with the king himself Faker currently holding the most Summoner’s Cup wins (3). They started off strong this year, coming out ahead in first place from Group Stage.
Despite a disappointing LCK Summer Season, HLE managed to break through the World’s qualifiers to get 4th seed, made it out of play-ins, and came very close to taking first place in the Group Stage. The highlight of this series would unquestionably be in the mid lane, where the future young prodigy Midlaner “Chovy” is pitted against the unkillable-demon-king himself, “Faker”, for a spot in the Semifinals.
RNG vs EDG
The LPL Civil War is back again this Worlds, with only one LPL team able to advance to the Semifinals. It’s a battle between the defending MSI Champions, Royal Never Give Up, and the recent LPL Champions, Edward Gaming. Surprisingly, these teams did not get to play against each other in the most recent LPL Summer Season Play-Off , as RNG was eliminated early and had to play Regional Finals while EDG went on to win the split. Despite the poor performance of both teams — and the LPL as a whole — in Week 2 of the Groups Stage, they are still a strong contender for the Summoner’s Cup when at their peak. This series’ highlight matchup will be in the bottom lane, between MSI’s MVP “GALA” and the best (arguably) ADC at Worlds “Viper.” It’s expected to be a good LPL fiesta banger, and undoubtedly the most exciting series to watch in the Quarterfinals.
DK vs MAD
The defending Worlds Champion Damwon KIA will face the back-to-back LEC Champions MAD Lions in the third match of the Quarterfinals. This is the third time in a row that the teams will meet at a Worlds competition, and it always seems like anyone can take the series. This sense of rivalry is sure to continue, despite DK’s clear favor due to their 6–0 record from Group Stage. When it comes to highlight matchups, it’s a little difficult to pinpoint because both teams are more focused on team fighting, but I’d say the jungle matchup between “Canyon” and “Elyoya” will end up being be the main focus.
C9 vs GEN
NA’s final hope, Cloud 9, will play against GenG for the final match of the quarterfinals. Both teams had a fairly even run through Group Stage, with both playing tie-breakers to advance to the quarterfinals. Cloud 9 notably had a miraculous run through groups, placing as the second seed being DWG. To be honest, these two teams are arguably the weakest of those in playoffs, so it’s difficult to say who will outperform the other. But, at the very least, the unpredictable aspect can be entertaining to watch, especially if you’re rooting for NA to make the semifinals for the first time since 2018. The highlight matchup would be at the mid lane between the player who carried GenG, “BDD,” and the western GOAT of midlane, “Perkz.”
