Welcome to EGamersWorld.
Professional League of Legends is in full swing this summer. It's no wonder: the regions are hosting the final splits of their local tournaments. North America is no exception.
As one of the Major Regions, North America offers plenty of fights. The group stage of LCS Summer 2023 is heating up there.
One of the central fights of Day 1 of Week 6 is the clash between Team Liquid and Golden Guardians. Let's talk about it.
Both teams are clearly aiming for high places in the course of the season and they are doing everything necessary for that. So, Liquid and Golden Guardians have already guaranteed themselves passage to the play-offs. GG are in the top 2, while Liquid are in the top 4 and still have a chance to get into the top 2 to guarantee a better seeding in the playoffs.
Trying to figure out how this bo1 clash between two top LCS clubs will end.
Let's go.
Team Liquid's uniforms
We start the match analysis by analysing Team Liquid's form. In this match they will play as favourites.
Despite the lag in the standings, bookmakers are still cautious to single out Liquid as favourites. The chance of their success is estimated at odds around 1.7.
However, we should not forget about the format of the match. It is bo1 and 1.7 on the favourite is nothing. We expect a clear parity in the match.
Team Liquid is one of the central teams of LCS. However, in recent times, the team is clearly experiencing difficulties.
If in 2022 the team was constantly in the top of the local league, taking the top 1 at LCS Lock In 2022, and then the top 3 and top 4 at LCS Spring 2022 and LCS Summer 2022 respectively, then in 2023 the situation has changed. At LCS Spring 2023, the team finished Top 8, which is clearly not the level of a top club.
- Team Liquid lineup: Summit, Pyosik, APA, Yeon, CoreJJ .
After the unsuccessful LCS Spring, the team changed the player of the central league. The newcomer was APA, who previously played for Team Liquid Challengers.
So far it seems to be going well. Team Liquid share the 3rd place with EG with the score 9-6.
Team Liquid's most popular champions
Kenen (3 matches, 100% wins), Gnar (3 matches, 33% wins), Jax (2 matches, 100% wins), Rumble (2 matches, 100% wins) are the most popular top line.
Foresters pick Vi (4 matches, 50% wins), Wukong (4 matches, 75% wins), Sejuani (2 matches, 50% wins), Lee Sin (2 matches, 50% wins).
In the mid are Ziggs (2 matches, 100% wins), Tristana (1 match, 100% wins), Cassiopeia (1 match, 0 wins), Neeko (1 match, 1 win).
On Shooters Aphelios (6 matches, 66% wins), Ashe (3 matches, 33% wins), Lucia (1 match, 1 win), Samira (1 match, 1 win), Xayah (1 match, 0 wins).
On supporting champions Rakan (4 games, 50% wins), Renata Glasc (3 matches, 66% wins), Milio (3 matches, 66% wins), Rell (3 matches, 33% wins).
Golden Guardians uniforms
Opposing Team Liquid in this Bo1 will be Golden Guardians. In this match they will play in the status of outsiders.
However, bookmakers leave a lot of space for the "guards". The odds on GG's victory are estimated by the indicator in the region of 1.9.
Again, in the case of a bo1 fight, this is a normal situation. Golden Guardians are a bit behind due to the overall status of Liquid, because in terms of performance the latter have not really shone in recent seasons.
Throughout the club's existence, Golden Guardians have been "middling" at best. They occupied places around the top-6, but a qualitative boost happened last season.
Quite unexpectedly for everyone, and I think for themselves, GG took the top 2 in the league. This guaranteed them passage to the first international event in the club's history - Mid-Season Invitational 2023. There were no sensations there, but the Guardians got their Top 8.
- Golden Guardians lineup: Licorice, River, Gori, Stixxay, huhi, Array .
After a successful spring split, Golden Guardians didn't change their lineup, which isn't surprising. At the LCS Summer 2023 Group Stage, the team is still in second place with a 10-5 statistic.
The most popular Golden Guardians champions
Gwen (3 matches, 100% wins), Fiora (3 matches, 66% wins) are the top line favourites.
In the forest, Wukong (5 games, 80% wins), Sejuani (3 matches, 100% wins), Nautilus (2 matches, 0% wins), Kindred (2 matches, 100% wins) are most often played with.
KSante (4 matches, 75% win rate) appears on the centre line, as well as Azir (4 matches, 75% wins), Yone (2 matches, 50% wins), LeBlanc (2 matches, 100% wins).
Aphelios (7 matches, 100% wins), Zeri (4 games, 50% wins), Lucian (2 matches, 0% wins), Varus (2 matches, 100% wins) are the most frequent shooters.
From the supporting champions Rell (3 matches, 100% wins), Nami (2 matches, 0% wins), Leona (2 matches, 0% wins).
Head-to-head history
Liquid and Golden Guardians have played each other three times in the 2023 season. Two times, during the spring split, Liquid won. The last meeting took place in the first half of the LCS Summer Split and ended in a GG victory.
Outcome of the match
Predicting the winner of a Bo1 match is always a lost cause, but we will try. Considering the significantly increased level of GG's play in the last season, I think they will be able to take the match and further strengthen their lead.
Bottom line: GG win.
