After a crazy set of Week 2 group stage games, the League of Legends (LoL) World Championship knockout stage is upon us. Eight teams remain to duke it out in best-of-fives to advance through a single-elimination bracket. Here are our predictions for the Worlds 2021 quarterfinals round.
The format made it so that teams hailing from the same groups could not have drawn one another for the knockouts. Because of that, we have some spicy quarters matchups where representatives from the same region will have to face each other this early on in the brackets.
Since LPL's Royal Never Give Up (RNG) and EDward Gaming (EDG) are set to clash, China can only have one team moving forward at the expense of the other. With all four LCK representatives also qualifying for the knockouts, the match between T1 and Hanwha Life Esports (HLE) will at least ensure that Korea has one less squad after this round.
Worlds 2021 quarterfinals predictions
T1 vs Hanhwa Life (HLE)
Prediction: T1 3-1 HLE
With Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok still as their crucial centerpiece, T1 are continuing to make a statement for themselves as they climb back to the pinnacle of League of Legends. While Faker's role in his team is now much more of an enabler rather than as the player that has to carry, T1 fans can perhaps rest easy given the matchup is against an evidently weaker Korean side in Hanwha. In theory, the team should have very little problem with eliminating their LCK brethren.
Between the two, T1 had a more convincing showing during the group stage, dropping only one game. They made effective adjustments to keep down EDG, who had gotten off to a 3-0 start during the first round robin. HLE, to their credit, also made a revitalized Week 2 run, climbing up to second seed and very nearly even topping the group.
These wins largely came through Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon and Kim “Deft” Hyuk-kyu, who have perennially been putting the team on their back. Any other team in the tournament—barring Damwon and perhaps EDG—and you best believe that the pair can carry. But their counterparts in Faker and Lee “Gumayusi” Min-hyeong hold enough of a threat to keep the two HLE stars down and help book T1's ticket to the semifinals.
Royal Never Give Up (RNG) vs EDward Gaming (EDG)
Prediction: RNG 2-3 EDG
This series perhaps is the toughest to call, because all the Chinese teams came much too close to imploding in Week 2. The two also clinched quarterfinals in almost similar fashion, going neck-and-neck with the LCK representatives in their groups. The only difference, T1 overtook EDG for Group B's top spot, while RNG barely held off Hanwha in back-and-forth tiebreaker to retain first seed.
RNG had a clean 2-0 win over EDG in their last encounter during the LPL Summer round robin. During the playoffs, however, LNG Esports took care of RNG early in the bracket, so the two never got to meet as EDG went on to claim the crown. While RNG built the team around Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao up top, however, China's top seed may have the advantage in spreading the firepower a bit more around the map.
Lee “Scout” Ye-chan could be pivotal for EDG, especially against Yuan “Cryin” Cheng-Wei, who has had a fair showing this year, but isn't a strong enough central point to pull RNG through. Moreover, EDG's bot lane duo are among the strongest in the tournament. By neutralizing Xiaohu, especially through aggression from jungler Zhao “Jiejie” Li-Jie, they have a good chance at emerging the victors, even if the meta may not favor hard-carry ADCs. It could honestly go either way, though, and it wouldn't be surprising for the series to go down the wire.
Damwon Gaming KIA (DK) vs MAD Lions (MAD)
Prediction: DK 3-0 MAD
Despite not wanting to write off EU's top seed right away, there's little evidence to suggest the possibility of an upset, especially as MAD Lions are up against arguably the favorites to lift the trophy at the end. Even at the positions that are considered the LEC team's strong suit—including mid-jungle duo Marek “Humanoid” Brázda and Javier “Elyoya” Prades—their Damwon counterparts inherently outclass them. There's no sugarcoating it, although we've seen miraculous runs in the past.
As the only undefeated team left at Worlds, the defending champions swept through their opponents with relative ease, going 6-0 in what was touted as the group of death. The next best team's record was at 2-4, and while C9 kept the game not-so-lopsided during their Week 2 meeting, Damwon continued to showcase why the wheels have never stopped turning for them since winning the title last season. Not to mention, veteran top laner Kim “Khan” Dong-ha has been playing out of his mind, having the form of his life for his swan song tournament.
Unless Damwon absolutely crumble on the day, I have a hard time believing that MAD Lions would take anything more than a game—if any at all—from the LCK powerhouse.
Gen.G (GEN) vs Cloud9 (C9)
Prediction: GEN 1-3 C9
After their thrilling, odds-defying stint to secure a quarterfinals berth, Cloud9 have a real good shot at making it to the semifinals this year. The matchup won't be easy, though, and it could readily go to all five games or be an utter stomp on one side.
Even if Gen.G takes things much slower than C9's all-in pace, both teams are extremely volatile. There have been many instances where Gen.G has suddenly collapsed. In the LCK, for example, they have at times looked lost in the midst of a best-of-three, especially when they jump ahead 1-0 then drop the next game. But perhaps this is where C9 can shine, with a knack for reversing the cards after going down early.
Ultimately, both teams may be battling themselves more than fighting each other. The ceiling is extremely high for the likes of Gwak “Bdd” Bo-seong and Luka “Perkz” Perković, who can both put up monstrous performances yet also make questionable plays. But C9 fans will bank on how their mid laner has shown up so far, especially in the clutch. Alongside Perkz, Robert “Blaber” Huang is another unknown, but if he gets his hands on the likes of Olaf or Lee Sin, he's going to be the difference-maker between the two sides.
Meanwhile, Jesper “Zven” Svenningsen and Park “Ruler” Jae-hyuk are similarly reliable AD Carries yet with the capacity to turn the tide of the game completely. If Cloud9 can prevent Gen.G's bot lane talisman from popping off while continuing their crisp Week 2 showing, the series is theirs for the taking.
Should T1 and Damwon live up to these quarterfinal predictions, fans may very well see another all-Korean matchup in the next round at Worlds 2021. And in the chance that Gen.G do overcome Cloud9 and beat out whichever LPL team advances, an all-Korean finals is also on the table.
The first knockout series kicks off between T1 and HLE on Friday, October 22 at 5 AM PDT, while the all-Chinese clash takes place the day after. Next, Europe's last hope will look to become giantslayers when they battle the titleholders Damwon on Sunday. Finally, two highly unpredictable teams in Cloud9 and Gen.G will close out the quarterfinal round on Monday—sure to deliver an exhilarating set of games this Worlds 2021.
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