The play-in for the 2022 LOL Worlds continues with plenty of high-profile matchups on the slate.
It has been a high-paced start to the play-in with plenty of drama for some of the more well-known teams.
It has been a surprising start for several of the teams favored to advance to the Main Event later this month. Fnatic has been hot in Group A with a 3-0 start to the Group. They have a shot to make it four victories with a clash against LOUD.
Group B has had many surprises with DRX standing out at the top, and Isurus really struggling in their first Worlds appearance since 2019. There are plenty of interesting matches on the slate including MAD Lions looking for their third win in Group B, as they take on SGB. Isurus has two very tough matches ahead, the first of which comes against RNG.
Fnatic continues to push the competition
| What | LOUD v Fnatic, LoL Worlds |
| Where | United States |
| When | 16:00, Saturday 1st October 2022 |
| How to watch | LoL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | Fnatic -700, LOUD +400 |
Fnatic continues to thrive in Group A as they easily took care of DFM in Friday's action, earning their third win and remaining unbeaten atop the standings. Things don't slow down for Fnatic as they next face LOUD Gaming.
LOUD had an ugly performance to start the play-in with a loss against Beyond Gaming, but they were able to pick up a win against DFM in their second match of the opening day. They sit outside the top four in Group A and could be going home early.
A third loss all but puts them en route for elimination as they have already played the top-four teams in Group A after this match with Fnatic. That all but leaves them only one more match against no win Chiefs Esports Club.
LOUD will need to make something happen fast or their run at 2022 Worlds is over before they can even make any real noise.
Fnatic has way too much firepower, with each of their first three matches lasting no more than 33 minutes. Fnatic is the obvious choice in this clash.
MAD Lions must find an edge over Saigon
| What | MAD Lions v Saigon Buffalo, LoL Worlds |
| Where | United States |
| When | 17:00, Saturday 1st October 2022 |
| How to watch | LoL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | Saigon +200, MAD Lions -275 |
There is a lot of Asia represented in this play-in. One such organization is the Saigon Buffalo and they have to be ready for the fight of their lives as they square-off with the team they are currently tied for second in the Group B standings.
This might be the most important match of the day, as Both teams have proven they can win matches, but both also have a loss that will be tough to overcome later in the event.
MAD Lions started out hot with convincing wins over Isurus and Istanbul Wildcats. They then completely fell apart in their third match against RNG, who is another team in contention to get to the play-in playoffs.
Saigon has a little more wiggle room with their one defeat coming against the top team in Group B, DRX, who is clearly the best team in this group. Both organizations will likely be in the running for one of the four berths to the Main Event of 2022 Worlds but either team can take the advantage here.
The cohesiveness of the Lions could play a role, but this match could go either way. Saigon doesn't have the Worlds experience, so the Lions get a slight nod here.
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Beyond Gaming has edge against DFM
| What | Beyond Gaming v Detonation FocusMe, LoL Worlds |
| Where | United States |
| When | 18:00, Saturday 1st October 2022 |
| How to watch | LoL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | Beyond Gaming -150, DFM +110 |
A duel for the third spot in the Group A standings is on the line as Beyond Gaming and DetonatioN FocusMe square-off. Both teams have put themselves in the top four in the Group but they both need to add more wins if they hope to have a shot in the bracket section of the play-in.
DFM fell in the hole with an opening day loss against LOUD. That was further impacted with a ugly loss against Fnatic on day two. They did recover with a win against last place Chiefs Esports Club.
Beyond has only played two matches thus far with the first being a win against the same LOUD team that beat DFM. Their second match was a loss to second-place Evil Geniuses.
Something must give for these two teams as both still have matches against the top two teams in Group A. A win here for Beyond hopefully gives them some confidence with a match against Fnatic still on the horizon on the final day of action in Group play at the 2022 Worlds Play In.
Beyond Gaming has the edge over DFM and should get a well-needed victory.
