Worlds 2024 Swiss Stage: Opening Games Predictions
The opening day for the main event of Worlds 2024 is almost upon us! All opening matchups have been set, and some exciting games await us to start the Swiss Stage with a bang this Thursday, October 3rd.
To know exactly how the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2024 works, visit our complete guide.
For now, let's go over the eight opening games to start off the Swiss Stage. Which teams will take a lead on opening day?
Swiss Stage Opening Matchups
Bilibili Gaming vs MAD Lions KOI
Truth be told, BLG aren't just the favorites to win this game, they're one of the favorites to win Worlds 2024 altogether.
Consistently triumphing over far stronger opposition over in the LPL all year long, the LEC's third seed of MAD Lions KOI should pose no immediate threat to BLG.
And yet, the match will be a best-of-1. If there's one thing we do know, it's that anything can happen in a Bo1. MDK are a fearless team that thrive in chaos and, perhaps more importantly, that has a history of playing to the level of their opponent.
Expect MDK to throw a spanner in the works for their opening game against BLG, as the LPL's first seed will need to make sure they stay sharp and focused if they want to make sure they take a quick 1-0 lead in the Swiss Stage. BLG's Bin and knight, more specifically, should look to leverage their superiority in lane over their European counterparts.
Due to the relentless pace at which these two teams like to play, expect this game to be one of the shortest ones of Day 1. Make no mistake, however, BLG are the absolute favorites to take the win.
BLG won't stop until the Worlds 2024 trophy is theirs. (Credit: Tom Chansiraphet/Riot Games)Top Esports vs T1
One of the toughest opening matchups at Worlds 2024, when TES and T1 load up for their game on Thursday, there will be a total of 8 former World Champions on the rift.
Both TES and T1 are strong teams that boast incredible caliber in their rosters, and yet, neither team comes into Worlds in particularly good run of form.
Particularly explosive should be the bot lane matchup, as all four of JackeyLove, Meiko, Gumayusi and Keria are superlative mechanical players who are not afraid to test their own limits.
Despite the volatile nature of the bot lane, however, the game's result will largely be up to Tian. The current LPL MVP, Tian's consistently great early games led his team to several wins throughout the Summer Season, but failed to maintain that form for playoffs.
As the reigning World Champions, in turn, T1 are a team that seldom breaks under pressure.
In the end, we expect T1 to make the most of their ice-cold nature to take the win over TES in what should be a competitive and exciting game.
Faker won't want to let TES stand on the way of a 5th Worlds title. (Credit: Tom Chansiraphet/Riot Games)Gen.G vs Weibo Gaming
Gen.G have been so incredibly dominant all year long that there is hardly a team in the world you would choose over them in a Bo1.
As for WBG, the team were the runner-ups at last year's Worlds, being swept by T1 in the finals, but have undergone a full top-side rebuild since.
The LPL's fourth seed team has not shown a consistent enough level of play through the Summer Season to cause Gen.G to lose any sleep prior to their opening match.
Though the jungle matchup between Canyon and Tarzan will be exciting to behold for sure, Gen.G are too clinical a team in the end. As such, it should be them that move up to a 1-0 scoreline in the Swiss Stage.
After winning MSI earlier in the year, Gen.G will want to add another international title to the tally at Worlds 2024. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)Fnatic vs Dplus KIA
Oh, boy. Truth be told, this game could very well end up being an absolute fiesta.
Both Fnatic and DK are extremely volatile teams, as capable of incredibly well-executed plays as they are of leaving you scratching your head wondering what it is exactly that you just witnessed.
In DK's favor, the team competes in a much tougher league, measuring up against some of the best teams in the world day in and day out. Moreover, DK has a tried and true star in Showmaker in the midlane, who is capable of taking over games on a moment's notice.
Fnatic showed some great early games in the LEC to close out the year. And yet, the team consistently failed to turn those leads in to wins. Against DK at Worlds, that laxness simply will not fly.
Though this Fnatic team certainly does have it in them to take games over DK, do not expect that to be the case to start things off at the Swiss Stage.
Can Dplus KIA find consistency in their game against Fnatic? (Credit: LCK)Team Liquid vs LNG Esports
Another game from which we should expect great things.
Team Liquid has shown an amazing level of play all summer long at the LCS, even despite their title loss. The team's synergy and cohesion is simply undeniable. And while LNG does come from the far stronger league, TL has done enough to warrant being taken seriously.
Ultimately, the deciding factor may end up being star mid laner Scout being finally allowed to play for LNG at Worlds after his initial write-off due to a travel ban. With Scout on the roster, LNG simply boasts too much individual superiority over TL for the North American team to make up for it through the power of friendship.
Even if LNG do end up the victors, however, expect TL to put up a great fight against a very strong international team on their way to making the LCS proud at Worlds one last time before the league's overhaul in 2025.
With Scout on the roster, LNG are back to full strength. (Credit: Tom Chansiraphet/Riot Games)Hanwha Life vs PSG Talon
PSG were incredibly dominant against 100 Thieves at Play-Ins, and have given fans of the PCS much to be hopeful for at Worlds. But then again, Gen.G were as dominant against far stronger opposition in the LCK, and Hanwha Life managed to defeat them in the LCK Summer Finals all the same.
While PSG are a very attractive team who is not afraid to play their way and aggressively reach towards their win conditions in games, HLE is simply at another level.
We would not be too surprised to see PSG pull off something exceptional at Worlds 2024, but do not expect that magical run to begin with their opening game against the first LCK seed. Hanwha Life are coming into Worlds as one of the biggest favorites to take home the trophy, and will not let PSG stand in their way so early in the tournament.
HLE are one of the strongest teams in the World, and will look to prove so against PSG. (Credit: LCK)FlyQuest vs GAM Esports
Like Team Liquid, FlyQuest has shown a level of play in the LCS that has left fans feeling hopeful to an extent they hadn't experienced in several years.
Over their incredible closing run at the LCS Championship, in which the team defeated a strong Team Liquid team twice in a row, FlyQuest showed an innovative, aggressive and direct approach to the game.
It is true that GAM possibly had the best showing out of any team at Play-Ins, but that may largely be due to the level of their competition. In FlyQuest, however, GAM will encounter a whole different caliber of team to what they're used to facing.
The first seeds from both the LCS and VCS should put up a great game regardless, especially with each region's pride on the line. This match will promise aggression and the possibility of unexpected picks as the teams can look to use this opportunity to test out the meta for the remainder of the tournament.
FlyQuest will look to take their momentum into a strong showing at Worlds 2024. (Credit: Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games)G2 Esports vs paiN Gaming
PaiN only just managed to squeeze their way through Play-Ins and into the Swiss Stage of Worlds 2024. At this point, however, the team has nothing left to lose. Not least because the CBLOL will be no more once Worlds wraps up. With the entire of weight of one of the most passionate regions on the planet on their shoulders, paiN will look to leave it all on the rift against G2.
G2, who, it's worth noting, have had a perfect year in the LEC. Despite their remarkable year in terms of trophies, however, G2, like MAD Lions, also have a history of playing to the level of their opponent (perhaps we should start calling that the LEC syndrome).
Throughout the years at Worlds, G2 has shown an uncanny ability to win games they should not be winning as much as lose games that they should not lose.
As one of the biggest western hopes at Worlds 2024, however, G2 will want their opening game to set the tone for what is to be expected of them for the rest of the tournament. And yet, expect G2 to have fun as always as they are likely to set out the meta as well as their own limits against what should be a weaker team.
Can G2 make the LEC proud at Worlds 2024? (Credit: Wojciech Wandzel/Riot Games)Where to watch Worlds 2024?
Make sure you catch all of the opening Swiss Stage action at the official LoL Esports channels on Twitch and YouTube.
For the latest League of Legends news, follow Strafe Esports. To follow everything on Worlds 2024, check out our full guide. Also, follow the Strafe YouTube channel for exclusive interviews with players and coaches.
Image source: LoL Esports
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