Which Teams Have Been Eliminated in the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2023?
Every team’s journey at Worlds is unique. Their path to, their run during, and every heartbreak and triumph amplified to a thousand - for that is Worlds. Here at Worlds 2023, with the conclusion of the Swiss Stage, out of a starting 22 teams, only 8 remain. From the 22, 14 of them began in the Swiss Stage, 2 from the Play-Ins. 50% of the teams that stepped onto the stage for Swiss, never made it past. This, is their story.
First to Fall
Finishing in the top 15th-16th, we have Team Liquid and Team BDS. The North American 3rd seed had an unenviable start to the Swiss Stage. They faced off against T1 in their opening bout. Despite that, or perhaps because it was T1, Team Liquid had their strongest performance of the tournament in that first game.
They later played a domestic matchup against NRG, which led to their second loss. With a whimper, they exited the tournament after a poor third game performance against GAM. Team Liquid had begun the year with so much promise, and a dedicated will to create an NA superteam of all-Korean speakers. To the dismay of many, this project failed to bear sufficient fruit.
In the other corner, we have Team BDS, who also exited the tournament in 15th-16th place. Having risen up from the Worlds Qualifying Series, few could say BDS did not earn their way to the Swiss Stage. They defeated Golden Guardians, overcame PSG Talon’s in the qualifying series in reverse sweep fashion, only to face JD Gaming in their first game.
Of all the Western teams, BDS was easily one of the most exciting. Their cavalier approach to the game, combined with one of Europe’s boldest top laners, garnered an almost sensational cult following behind this team. However, like Liquid, they ended up exiting the Swiss Stage without notching a single win. JD Gaming in the first round, MAD Lions in the second, and Dplus KIA sealed the deal against them. It seemed like much like their other compatriots, BDS could not really get their bearings in this competition.
At Least They Got One
In the next slate of eliminations, we have MAD Lions, GAM Esports, and Cloud9. All three teams exited Worlds 2023 with a 1-3 record, finishing top 12th-14th.
Truthfully, there is very little to say positively about MAD Lions. They more or less turned EU against them by scoring against BDS whilst managing to lose not once, but twice to North America. In the end, their loss to Weibo was sound, swift, and merciful.
Despite coming in as one of Europe’s stronger teams, and having won the Spring Split, it felt very much like MAD Lions simply passed by Worlds with very little impact.
Vietnam’s sole representative in the Swiss Stage and the resident wild card amongst the other four ‘big’ regions. Considering their pedigree and experience, GAM could have done better in the competition. They did draw Gen.G in their opening series. But, Fnatic and Dplus were certainly beatable opponents. In the end, it was the latter that sent them home. However, their one victory, against Team Liquid, showed some serious strength when they managed to get rolling.
Cloud9. Of the three teams that only finished with this record, Cloud9 certainly deserved it the least. They opened their Swiss Stage run with a victory over MAD Lions. They then proceeded to draw LNG, T1, and Fnatic back-to-back. The LNG and T1 games were massive landslide victories for the Eastern teams, but the Fnatic series opened with Cloud9 taking the series point. Despite that, they allowed Fnatic back into the game and fumbled it from there.
Just One Off
To be so close and yet fall short. Such was the fate for Dplus KIA, G2 Esports, and Fnatic. All three of these teams exited Worlds 2023 with a 2-3 scoreline, finishing in 9th-11th place.
Dplus KIA was perhaps the most bitter to swallow, having won two consecutive elimination series, only to fall at the final hurdle against KT Rolster. Their performance throughout Worlds was certainly not without fault. However, there were moments where it appeared as if the individual prowess on that team was capable of keeping the afloat. Unfortunately, in terms of team-fighting and late-game navigating, they fell far below the rest of the top teams at the event.
Fnatic’s run at Worlds, or rather even their attendance this deep, was a pleasant surprise for many. A multitude of internal issues continously plagued this besotten team over the course of the year. Three of their players changed over the course of the year: ADC, Support, and Top. From near last place in the Winter Split to second in Summer Playoffs and a series win off top 8 at Worlds.
Then, there is G2. To be up 2-0, lose to Gen.G (which, fair enough, it’s Gen.G in top form), then NRG (this one is unforgivable to be honest), and a close series against BLG where it looked like G2 was on the cusp of regaining their form. Their run at Worlds may have ended but it was a spectacular roller coaster. A massive positive to take from G2’s short-lived presence at Worlds was their fearlessness in the face of adversity and strong opponents. They remain as the only Western team to take victories over the Eastern teams.
Conclusion
These names may have already fallen. However, the quest for the Summoner’s Cup continues. 14 teams have already been eliminated since Play-Ins, 15 if you count Golden Guardians. As the casualty list continues to rise, pay attention to the losses as much as the wins. Each team’s results amount differently, and it all comes together as a spectacularly unique journey for each and every one of them.
Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games
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