Worlds 2021 kicked off today with the first day of play-ins, where competition for the four remaining main event spots began. Though both play-in groups have clear favorites, upsets have been known to strike in this formative stage of Worlds. The favorites, for the most part, seemed to come out on top with LNG and Cloud9 both having convincing games.

Cloud9 starts off Worlds 2021 strong

Cloud9’s first game against Detonation FocusMe was a convincing win for the LCS representatives. The game was a 28-minute landslide in favor of Cloud9, who picked up their first win of Worlds and an early lead in Group B. Though all members seemed on point today, Luka “Perkovic” Perkz particularly performed well as he found 8 kills and provided countless vital ultimate steals on Sylas.

With players who historically have stepped up their 메이저사이트  play for Worlds, including Perkz and their bottom lane duo, it seems increasingly likely that Cloud9 will escape play-ins and make it to groups. North America has a general trend at Worlds though, to start out strong and slowly fizzle out later in the tournament. Undoubtedly, if C9 make it to groups they will have to face a significantly harder group. Should Cloud9 keep up their performance from today, than they may be the LCS’ best hope.

Are LNG a sleeper pick to win it all?

Day one of Worlds is often a hotbed for wild predictions and overreactions. That being said, LNG were clearly the strongest team on the Rift Today. The LPL 4th seed made quick work of both Hanwha Life and PEACE.

Though Lee “Tarzan” Seung-yong has been heralded as the best performing member of the team and potentially top jungler at Worlds, the solo laners shined today. LNG have a long road ahead of them, but the play-ins may be the perfect ramp-up before the Groups Stage start.