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We continue our review of the Worlds 2023 group stage games. Next up is another match between teams from the 2-0 basket: G2 Esports vs NRG.
The match, it should be noted, is very The International interesting. And it's not even about the teams playing, but about the future prospects. No matter how the G2 vs NRG game ends, we will get at least one representative of the Western League of Legends in the play-offs of Worlds 2023, and that's already historic.
Let's see who will be more resilient and make it to the play-offs, and who will have to go to the 2-2 grid and try to get a slot in the main stage.
Let's go.
G2 Esports uniforms
Let's start the match analysis by analysing the form of the strongest team in Europe. G2 Esports play here as favourites with odds to win at around 1.13.
G2 Esports played worse at LEC Spring 2023. They entered the play-offs of the tournament from the second match of their group, falling into the bottom set of the play-offs. While there, they played against the Lions again, but were unable to repeat the success of the LEC Spring 2023: G2 Esports dropped out of the LEC Spring 2023 playoffs, but made it to the Mid-Season Invitational 2023.
- G2 Esports roster: BrokenBlade, Yike, Caps, Hans Sama, Mikyx.
Play-In for G2 Esports is successful and even easier than BLG's. G2 Esports didn't feel LOUD and easily shut down PSG Talon, beating both clubs 2-0.
Things were no longer as rosy in the Bracket Stage. In the first round, G2 Esports played Gen.G, probably the main contender for the championship title, and managed to take a card from them, which in the realities of today's competitive scene is more than good.
In the bottom set, G2 Esports met their main rival, MAD Lions. The European derby on the international stage ended with a confident victory for G2, confirming them as the best team in the LEC.
At the end of the only international event so far, G2 Esports finished in the top 6. The result is a good one.
Before the LEC Finals, the Samurai took another trophy to their headquarters. It was the trophy for the victory at LEC Summer 2023, where G2 easily defeated EXCEL in the Grand Final.
In the first round of LEC Finals 2023, G2 Esports played against Team BDS. The French gave a fight, but failed to pull more than 1 map.
G2 Esports had no problems first with MAD Lions to advance to the grand finals of LEC Finals 2023, and then in the finals they defeated Fnatic.
In the first match on the main stage of the year, G2 Esports played against Dplus. Being an outsider, the team managed to beat the titular Koreans, all thanks to Hans Sama's crowning Draven.
In the previous match, G2 Esports played against Weibo Gaming. It is pointless to recount the events of the game - you need to see it. The Weibo vs G2 match was probably the best match at Worlds so far, and the winner was G2, who outplayed WBG on micro-moments.
In the first match to qualify for Worlds 2023, G2 Esports met Gen.G. As much as the Samurai looked strong throughout the Worlds, they were unable to outplay the first team of South Korea: Gen.G won 2-0.
G2 Esports' most popular champions
Gragas (3 matches, 66% wins) is sent to the top line.
In the forest, either Belveth (2 matches, 100% wins) or Maokai (2 games, 50% wins) or Gragas (2 matches, 50% wins).
On the centre line variety: Yasuo, Sylass, Cassiopeia, Sejuani and Yone have appeared in spades once each and won their game.
Of the shooters, Draven (3 matches, 66% wins) is playing.
On Support, Nautilus (2 matches, 50% wins), Nami (2 matches, 50% wins).
NRG Form
We continue the match analysis with the analysis of NRG's form. In this match they will have to play as a number two with odds to win around 5.
NRG appeared on the scene of the North American professional League of Legends back in 2016. Back then, the club finished Top 6 at the spring split and Top 9 at the summer split. Since then, NRG fell into oblivion and stayed there until 2023.
They managed to return to the LCS after taking over the CLG slot. It's working out kind of well.
At their essentially first split, NRG made it to the top set of play-offs. They won the group stage 9-9, which looks pretty good overall.
- NRG lineup: Dhokla, Contractz, Palofox, FBI, IgNar .
Having taken over the CLG slot, NRG signed former Counter Logic Gaming players. After some minor roster manipulation, FBI and IgNar, formerly of Evil Geniuses and Dignitas, joined the team. So, the club is kind of new, but in essence, it's just a modified CLG, with a slightly more pleasing performance.
The LCS "newcomers" played their first play-offs match against Team Liquid. The game against a nominally stronger opponent ended in NRG's favour with a score of 3-1.
The International was even more interesting, as NRG managed to defeat the top 1 team of the regular season - Golden Guardians. They beat them on class, with a score of 3-1 without any difficulties.
Having earned a slot at Worlds 2023 the team got to the top LCS grid where they met with C9. The game ended expectedly: 0-3 for C9 and NRG's fall into the net of losers.
Already with no margin for error NRG met Liquid. The replay of the first LCS play-offs match was colourful and the result was about the same as it was with only a slight deviation. NRG won with a score of 3-2.
As mentioned above, NRG became the summer LCS champions rather unexpectedly. In the grand finals, they defeated none other than the most titled team in America, Cloud9.
The first match at Worlds 2023 the team expectedly lost. They lost to Weibo Gaming without much chance.
But then NRG got the better of them. First they beat Team Liquid, and then outplayed Mad Lions, thus reaching the basket 2-1.
The most popular NRG champions
The most popular champion on the top line is Gnar (10 games, 90% wins). Jayce appeared 8 times and the winrate was 87%. Kenen was played 4 times and won all matches, KSante 4 times and 3 wins, Renekton 4 times and 2 wins.
In the forest were Vi (11 matches, 72% wins), Sejuani (10 games, 80% wins), Wukong (7 matches, 85% wins), Le Sin (6 games, 83% wins).
On the centre line it was Azir (13 games, 69% wins), Gragas (6 matches, 100% wins), Kassadin (5 games, 100% wins), Viktor (4 matches, 75% wins).
The most popular ADC is Lucian (12 matches, 83% wins). Next are Varus (8 games, 87% wins), Caitlyn (5 games, 100% wins), Zeri (4 matches, 75% wins).
Nami (13 matches, 84% winrate). Ashe and Lux have 4 games and 4 wins each.
History of head-to-head meetings G2 Esports - NRG
Previously the teams have not played each other in official matches. This match will be the debut face-to-face match between the teams.
Predicted result of the match G2 Esports - NRG at Worlds 2023
Frankly speaking, G2 Esports was very lucky. Lucky with the opponent for the Worlds 2023 play-offs.
NRG got here by the will of fate, and also thanks to an incredibly lucky draw with the only opponent from the Eastern Region of the competitive League of Legends. G2 Esports, on the other hand, beat both Korean and Chinese residents, so they should take their well-deserved spot in the Worlds 2023 play-offs easy.
The result: a 2-0 win for G2 Esports.
