League Of Legends Worlds 2016: Group C In-Depth Team Analysis And Predictions

[toc]It’s almost here.

Some of the best League of Legends teams the world has to offer are arriving in the United States to embark on their journey for glory.

This week we’ll be taking a closer look at the teams in Groups C and D for the 2016 World Championship.

Read Also: LoL Worlds Betting

Edward Gaming – China’s premier team

Edward Gaming has been the class of the LPL, winning the first three splits and the inaugural Mid-Season Invitational. They’re the last team to have beaten SK Telecom T1 in a major tournament as well.

EDG has fallen on tough times recently, placing fourth in the 2015 Summer Split. They were swept in the quarterfinals by a strong Fnatic team at last year’s Worlds as well, a mark they would like to improve on this year.

How they got here

The reigning Chinese champions didn’t drop a single game this Summer Split. After losing to Royal Never Give Up in the LPL Spring Playoffs (and missing a chance at defending their title at MSI), EDG finalized their revenge by sweeping RNG 3-0 in the Summer Finals.

Contender or pretender?

Edward Gaming are clear favorites to claim the number one seed from this group. In fact, besides the top two Korean teams, EDG is vying to be the next best team here at Worlds.

EDG features two of the best players at their positions. Clearlove in the jungle is always a tough matchup for teams, and Deft is often considered one of the best ADCs in the world.

In the mid lane at Worlds this year will be former SKT player and Faker prodigy, Scout. Can Scout be the difference, surrounded by an experienced veteran squad? We’ll find out soon enough.

AHQ eSports Club – limping back to Worlds

There are clear flaws with each remaining team in the group. While AHQ returns all five of their starters from last year’s run to the quarterfinals at Worlds, this team hasn’t found its mojo in the current meta.

This is the third straight year that AHQ has made it to Worlds, but this iteration of the team appears to be the weakest. Flash Wolves were able to sweep AHQ during the Spring Split Finals, knocking AHQ out of a chance to compete at MSI.

One player who hasn’t faltered is top laner Chen “Ziv” Yi. AHQ has a legitimate shot at making it out of group stage because of Ziv’s world-class talent.

How they got here

AHQ finished the LMS Summer Split in third place. They were swept once again by the Flash Wolves in the Summer Split Playoffs, finishing in third place.

They outlasted the other LMS teams in the Regional Qualifiers, punching their ticket to Worlds.

Contender or pretender?

If not for a fatal collapse by J Team at the end of the Summer Split, AHQ wouldn’t even be here. AHQ has a tradition of sneaking out of the group stage.

Can they do it again with perhaps their weakest team yet?

H2K Gaming – this group’s dark horse

This team is filled with veteran talent and plenty of international experience, and their steady play could be the difference in this group.

Oskar “VandeR” Bogdan and Ryu “Ryu” Sang-ook have played on international teams, with Andrei “Odoamne” Pascu having started for H2K in the top lane for more than two years now.

H2K’s star player, and one of the main reasons this team could make it out of this group, is Marcin “Jankos” Jankowski. Jankos scored first blood in eight of ten playoff games during the EU Summer Playoffs.

I expect him to provide plenty of early lane pressure for this team, with only EDG’s Clearlove surpassing him in skill.

How they got here

H2K qualified for Worlds thanks to their standings in the Championship Points system.

While G2 eSports has the most points in the EU LCS, their first place finish at the Summer Finals guaranteed them a first place seed. That meant the next highest team, in this case H2K, would claim the second seed.

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Contender or pretender?

The beginning of the Summer Split wasn’t what H2K envisioned.

Aleš “Freeze” Kněžínek had moved back to the EU LCS after his one split playing for North American Renegades. His inability to extensively practice with the team because of debilitating medical issues (he’s had chronic wrist pain) left H2K looking out of sync.

So, cue the return of Konstantinos “FORG1VEN” Tzortziou. FORGIVEN has breathed new life into H2K, provide a super strong laning phase, one of the highest farm rates for ADCs, and a large champion pool.

It’s FORG1VEN’s long-awaited shot at Worlds, and H2K will have a legitimate chance of reaching the Quarterfinals, compared to their horrid placement last year. EDG will still be a tough out for H2K, but at least there is no SKT to battle.

INTZ eSports – Brazilians looking for the upset

Many viewers won’t know who INTZ is (if you don’t pay attention to the CBLoL scene, that is), but this organization has steadily built up to this moment. I

NTZ eSports is a Brazilian powerhouse, owning three League of Legends teams (INTZ eSports, INTZ Red, and INTZ Blue). They aren’t just limited to LoL either, having joint ventures in Smite, Dota 2, FIFA, and CS:GO.

How they got here

INTZ eSports finished in second place during both the regular season of the Spring and Summer Split.

However, this is one of the strongest Brazilian teams we’ve seen in a best-of-three or -five series. Their ability to handle pressure has allowed them to win both splits’ playoff championships.

The team also proved during the 2016 International Wild Card Qualifiers that they’re more then capable of working within the current meta.

Contender or pretender?

INTZ aren’t contenders to win at Worlds, but this is very shallow group aside from EDG. This team has a fast and deadly playstyle, and if H2K or AHQ sleeps on them, this team could sneak out a few wins.

Watch for jungler Gabriel “Revolta” Henud. He’s INTZ’s best chance at overachieving in this group and becoming the first IWC team to advance out of groups.

Esports betting predictions

EDward Gaming: 6-0
ahq e-Sports Club: 3-3
H2K: 2-4
INTZ e-Sports: 1-5

Check the latest LoL Worlds Odds.