Top Three Reasons RNG will,or won’t win Worlds

Why RNG won’t win Worlds.

1. “Group of Death”

RNG was drawn into Group C alongside Fnatic, SKT and Clutch Gaming, the group many are considering a “Group of Death.” RNG sits as the third best-rated team in the group, based on our ranking, behind SKT and Fnatic and ahead of Clutch Gaming. If the ratings indicate where they will finish, they would fail in groups for the first time ever.

SKT are the favorites to win the group, if not the entire tournament and have been a thorn in the side of RNG at Worlds. Clutch should be the easy team for RNG but could upset them if RNG gets lazy. That leaves the matchup with Fnatic to decide who gets the last spot out of groups.

Fnatic is probably favored due to higher rating, yet the last time these two squads met at Worlds in 2017 RNG eliminated Fnatic in the quarterfinals 3-1. It is a coin flip matchup that the winner will have earned their right to get out of the group. Unfortunately, RNG could be the victims of too three good teams, only two spots available in the bracket.

2. Korean Overlords.

SKT has been a thorn in the side of RNG at worlds, so much so I think it deserves its own section. Starting back in 2013, the first time these two teams met at Worlds SKT ran through groups and their half of the bracket. Royal Club was seeded directly into the bracket but proceeded to win two series to reach the finals. SKT then proceed to sweep Royal Club 3-0 for their first World Championship.

2016 Worlds saw RNG finish second in their group, while SKT won theirs. This forced the two foes to matchup in the quarterfinals. RNG took a game off SKT, an improvement over their 2013 battle, yet SKT finished them off 3-1 on the way to another World Championship title.

The next matchup between the two teams was a year and round later, as they met head-to-head in the 2017 Worlds semi-finals. RNG played it closer than the 2016 series, but SKT won the five-game match 3-2 to make another Grand Finals.

SKT is the Korean Overlords of RNG, stomping on them on matter what round of the bracket the matchup occurs in. Once more RNG’s run to a Worlds title has to go through SKT and unfortunately for RNG it’s at the group stage. SKT will be a prime reason that RNG’s run is the least successful they ever had, should RNG not make it out of groups.

3. European Overlords

RNG will be tested in the bracket if they get out of the group, and it won’t surprise me if the team to send them home is G2. If SKT is the Korean overlord of RNG, G2 is the European overlords of RNG.

G2 is placed at the number three ranking on our list, which is three spots ahead of RNG. G2 also is considered one of the overall favorites to take it all, against RNG being more of a contender or dark horse candidate.

The big reason I feel like RNG isn’t going to beat G2 is because of 2018 Worlds, where G2 was the team that sent RNG home in the quarterfinals last year 3-2 in the best of five series. RNG will be seeking revenge, but with G2 being a different and stronger team than a year ago, I feel like revenge isn’t going to be served. History will repeat itself as G2 becomes the European Samurai overlords of RNG, much like SKT before them.

RNG is a storied franchise with a lot to be proud of. Unfortunately, it just feels like a couple better teams could lurk over them and eliminate them early.

The League of Legends World Championship resumes Saturday, October 12 at 8:00 EST / 14:00 CEST on Twitch.tv/Riotgames.