The LCS Spring 2023 play-offs continue. With $200,000 and two tickets to the Mid-Season Invitational 2023 at stake, there are only 4 competitors left in the race for the prizes.
After this match, there will be 3 contenders remaining. In the match for life at LCS Spring 2023, Evil Geniuses and Golden Guardians will face off.
Evil Geniuses finished the regular season in 5th place, one win short of making it to the top of the main draw. In the first round of the playoffs, CLG were shut out 3-0 with no problems.
Golden Guardians stayed in a lower position, finishing the regular season in 6th place. The first round of the playoffs for them ended with a win over 100 Thieves.
We wonder which team will make it through the LCS Spring 2023, and which one will be left out of the competition after this meeting.
Evil Geniuses form
We will start the showdown with a review of Evil Geniuses uniforms. "The Evil Geniuses will return as the favourites.
The bookmakers highly rate the EG's chances of winning as for a fight at this stage. The odds for success in this bo5 are at 1.4.
A figure like that hints at a serious advantage for EG. As far as I'm concerned, Evil Geniuses is the favourite, but by a small margin.
EG's lineup
Before the start of the season, there were minimal changes to EG's roster, which resonates well with their success over the course of last season. The team welcomed a new shooter to their ranks, which was FBI.
Evil Geniuses players
- Ssumday
- Inspired
- Jojopyun
- FBI
- Vulcan
Overall, the roster is very combative and full of big names. On the positive side, the core team of Ssumday, Inspired, Jojopyun and Vulcan, who finished in the top 4 of MSI last year, stand out. Yes, and the newcomer FBI is not lost on the established company.
The undisputed leader of the team is Forest's Inspired. The Polish international picked up six regular-season MVP titles.
Evil Geniuses' effectiveness
Last season EG made a quantum leap, finishing in the Top 1 on the LCS SPring 2022, reaching the Top 4 on the MSI and Top 11 at Worlds 2022. With the start of the new season, there were misgivings about their success as the team played rather questionably in the regular season.
Evil Geniuses finished in 5th place in the group stage of the LCS Spring 2023, playing it 10-8. The 100 Thieves, who beat the Evil Geniuses in 3-team replay games, were not allowed to start the play-offs from the top of the grid.
In the first round of the playoffs, Evil Geniuses outplayed Counter-Logic Gaming, who took EG's place in the winger's net. The match ended on 3 cards, with only Matchpoint giving EG a bit of trouble.
Evil Geniuses Champions
The most popular EG character on the top line is KSante (6 matches, 16% wins). Also picking Sion (3 matches, 66% wins), Jax (2 matches, 50% wins), Fiora (2 matches, 100% wins), Renekton (2 matches, 100% wins).
The most frequent guest in the jungle is Sejuani (3 matches, 66% wins). Next are Vi (3 games, 33% wins), Maokai (3 games, 66% wins), Elise (2 games, 0% wins), Gragas (2 games, 50% wins).
Azir and Jayce are equally favoured in the centre. The two champions have 3 matches each, but the former has won all games, and the latter only 1. Then there was Sylas (2 matches, 100% wins).
The most popular shooters are Varus and Lucian. Both characters have been picked 5 times, but the first has 3 wins, and the second has 2 wins.
Nami (4 games, 25% wins), Thresh (4 games, 50% wins), Lulu (3 games, 66% wins), Ashe (2 games, 100% wins), Lux (2 games, 50% wins).
Golden Guardians uniforms
We'll now proceed to the analysis of Golden Guardians' uniforms. In this match, they are playing in the status of the outsider.
The bookmakers do not have much faith in GG after a tough bo5 series with 100 Thieves. The odds on the team's success are estimated at around 2.8.
The almost two-fold gap to EG is due to GG's overall performance, including their performances in previous seasons, and indeed in the LCS Spring 2023. The team has already achieved the best result in the club's history.
Golden Guardians roster
The Golden Guardians are only just beginning to establish a battle-tested and competitive roster. Prior to the start of the season, the team made a lot of substitutions, which should have affected their overall performance.
Golden Guardians players
- Licorice
- River
- Gori
- Stixxay
- Huhi
As we can see, we've managed to put together a brisk roster, and without the help of extra-class players.
The obvious drivers of GG's success are the South Korean players: River, Gori and Huhi were named MVP twice in the regular season, and Licorice came through in the play-offs, being named Most Effective Player against 100 Thieves.
Golden Guardians' performance
At the last LCS 2022, the team finished in the Top 6 in the Spring Split and Top 8 in the Summer Split. Already they have managed to break the club record, guaranteeing themselves a place in at least the top 4.
The team finished the regular season 9-9 in the LCS Spring 2023, giving them a chance to qualify for the LCS Spring 2023 playoffs.
In the first match of the playoffs, Golden Guardians put up a real brawl with 100 Thieves. A game that should have ended with a convincing win for the latter turned into a full fledged battle5 with GG winning on the fifth map.
Golden Guardians champions
The most popular GG champion in the TOP is Renekton (6 matches, 83% wins). Also picked Jax (3 matches, 33% wins), Sion (3 matches, 33% wins).
The most frequent visitor to the Forest was Sejuani (6 matches, 66% wins). In addition Vi (4 matches. 75% wins), Wukong (3 games, 0% wins) have appeared.
LeBlanc (3 matches, 33% wins) and Yone (3 matches, 66% wins) are used abundantly in the centre.
The ADC position takes Zeri (4 games, 50% wins), Varus (3 games, 33% wins), Ezreal (3 games, 66% wins), Lucian (3 games, 66% wins).
Of the supporters, Nami (3 games, 66% wins), Karma (2 games, 50% wins), Lulu (2 games, 50% wins), Thresh (2 games, 50% wins) and Soraka (2 games, 1 win) have been picking.
History of head-to-head encounters
In the course of the group stage, the teams have played each other twice. Each side has won one match.
Result of the match
Given the experience of GG in the playoffs, you can expect really any result in this matchup. I wouldn't be surprised to see Golden Guardians win, although I'll bet on EG.
Evil Geniuses have already gone through a formative process, having proven their strength last season. Golden Guardians, though with the same EG vibe, is still a bit early to break into the top region, and their current result is already commendable.
I'll allow the Golden Guardians' map, but no more than that.
Bottom line: 3-1, 3-0 win for Evil Geniuses.
