Esportsgg’s Worlds 2021 quarter-finals preview and predictions

The 2021 League of Legends World Championship returns this Friday. Eight of the best teams in the world will be battling it out as they look to progress to the semi-finals. Esportsgg's LoL experts Marn and Sage sat down to preview the four best-of-fives. Who will come out on top in the Worlds quarter-finals?

For me, there is only going to be one winner and that is T1. Despite Hanwha making great improvements, T1 across the board has been fantastic at the World Championship. They have been the best team at the tournament as far as converting a small lead and expanding that into a major one. Even though Chovy is one of the best players in the world, it is really hard to bet against Faker at the World Championship. The last time Faker and T1 were at Worlds they made the semi-finals. I expect them to make it there again for a showdown with Damwon KIA. - Marn

While many may have this series written off as a Damwon KIA win, I would like to play devil's advocate to Mad Lions before I explain why DWG.KIA will win. Let's start with MAD Lions' strong qualities as a team which is their teamfighting capabilities. I would go as far to argue that they are the strongest late-game team in the entire LoL World Championships. Time and time again, they have proven their ability to take games when they matter most and with best-of-fives now here, they have an opportunity to actually show their stamina for these mentally draining series.

All that being said, my gut instinct is telling me that Damwon KIA will simply be able to close out the early game before Mad Lions can even think about capitalizing on their strong teamfighting capabilities. And with the strength of everyone on DWG.KIA, it does not inspire much confidence that they will be able to control any of the early games against a strong mid/jg duo like Canyon and Showmaker.

This series, I believe, will be closer than people anticipate and I do not think it will be a 3-0 sweep. In fact, I think it will go five games, similar to MSI 2021. The key matchup to pay attention to will be the battle of junglers. If MAD Lions jungler Elyoya can step up and mitigate some of the early game attempts to snowball a lead through top side, then MAD Lions can win.

This is the best of five we were robbed of in the LPL summer split. I think this is going to be one of the closest series of the four we have on offer. EDG will need to come into this with their heads on after an embarrassing loss to 100 Thieves. Many could say it was a blessing in disguise given their side of the bracket. However, the LPL first seed has aspirations of winning the World Championship and should not be run off the rift by 100 Thieves.

If I was going to pick a winner it would have to be RNG, but only by a one-game margin. While RNG did have a shakier second round-robin. They have already shown internationally they can hang with the best. The solo-laners in this match-up will play a big role in the outcome of this series. - Marn

Contrary to most predictions, I do not believe this series will be close. In fact, I believe it will be a 3-0 stomp. However, even though I have a 3-0 stomp in favor of Cloud9, I think it is very likely that Gen.G will also be able to reverse that prediction and sweep this series against C9.

My primary reasons for favoring Cloud9 - hopium aside - is because of two primary key factors. Their momentum heading into the Knockout Stage and midlaner Perkz's strong showings against Korean teams in the Knockout Stages. And if Blaber is able to put up a set of strong games, similar to his play in the Group A second round-robin, Cloud9 will be able to march forward into the semifinals.

That being said, I believe this series will be strictly momentum and confidence based. Specifically, I think it will be a battle of the two mid/jg duos. Whichever of the two are able to snowball a lead in the series, that is who is going to win. - Sage

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