League of Legends World Championships Play-In Day One Recap

The League of Legends World Championship is finally upon us, with he best teams from around the world competing for glory and a chance to prove that their region is the best in the world. The action is starting off with the Play-In stage, where the teams from minor regions and third-seed teams from major regions will battle for a spot at the main event later this month. Here’s a brief breakdown of the action from today’s games.

Cloud9 vs KaBuM! e-Sports

An excellent opening match for fans of the NA LCS, as Cloud9 showcased why they have been able to attend Worlds every year they have existed as an organization. Both teams showcased early skill in lane, but it was Cloud9 who surged ahead to gain an insurmountable lead and claim first blood for the tournament.

Gambit Esports vs G-Rex

The second match of the day was fairly similar to the first, with G-Rex showcasing their skill in both skirmishes and objective control. Gambit may have been able to strike blows as the match drew on, however the advantage gained early by G-Rex proved too much as they surged ahead to claim their first victory.

DetonatioN FocusMe vs KaBuM! e-Sports

This match was a lot closer than the previous two, with both teams playing a much more cautious game. KBM seemed to pull ahead after a string of team-fight victories and objectives, however DFM were able to turn the tide of this fight and swing the lead back in their favor, ultimately securing victory for themselves.

G-Rex vs Kaos Latin Gamers

Another slow-burn match in the beginning saw both teams probing defenses as they looked for an opening. When the action intensified, it was G-Rex who firmly held the reins of this match, sweeping the field with a series of team-fights and objectives that put them firmly in the lead overall.

DetonatioN FocusMe vs Cloud9

An extremely back and forth clash that saw both teams take turns dominating the field. DFM seemed to have the match well in hand after a string of victories over objectives but were unable to close out the match quickly enough. Cloud9 managed to pull the game back into their grasp before they once again lost control of the match and were forced to scramble to avoid a loss. Ultimately, Cloud9 were able to hold on long enough to avoid losing control again, picking up their second win of the day.

Gambit Esports vs Kaos Latin Gamers

A fairly straightforward match to close out the first day of action, as Gambit quickly took control of the game and surged ahead to a strong lead. KLG seemed unable to breach Gambit’s defenses as they slipped further and further behind, before Gambit sealed the match and ended the day with their first win of the tournament.

With the first day’s matches complete, a couple of teams look to be in dominant form, while a few others will need to go back to the drawing board is they want to advance further. For more on when these teams will clash again, check out the official schedule page, here, and for more information on the rest of the tournament, check out our breakdown, here.