The play-in for the 2022 LOL Worlds begins with plenty of high-profile matchups on the slate. With plenty of North American teams in this Play-in things could get interesting quickly.
Thursday's action kicks-off a full weekend of Play-In matches between two different Groups. Group A features teams like Beyond Gaming, Evil Geniuses and Fnatic. As for Group B it features teams such as DRX, Isurus and MAD Lions.
Four spots in the Main Event await any one of 12 teams in the play-in. The Asian teams look to be the favorites to at least grab two or three of the four spots on the line. The rest will be up for grabs between teams like Argentina's Isurus or Europe's MAD Lions.
This play-in should feel like the Main Event itself. Let's look at Thursday's slate, including a clash between Isurus and MAD Lions, and a huge match-up between Fnatic and EG.
MAD Lions have edge against Isurus
| What | MAD Lions v Isurus |
| Where | United States |
| When | 21:00, Thursday 29th September 2022 |
| How to watch | LOL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | MAD Lions 1/9, Isurus 5/1 |
Isurus enters the Play-In from the Latin America region, as a one-seed. They will be trying to make their first run since the 2019 Worlds. It has been a real rough couple of seasons for this well-known organization. Things won't get easy as they draw MAD Lions in their first match in Group B play-in action.
The MAD Lions enter as a four-seed out of the EU region. They got that spot by the skin of their teeth after finishing in fourth place at LEC 2022 Summer. The Lions finished in the 5-8 placement at Worlds 2021. They have their eyes on improving that place. Isurus has some major momentum after winning the LLA 2022 Closing Playoffs.
It hasn't been an easy road for either of these organizations, but it is only the opening match of Worlds 2022 Play-In. Both have hopes of making some noise, but given Isurus lack of experience on this stage, the edge goes to MAD Lions here.
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EG and Fnatic will fight to the end
| What | Fnatic v Evil Geniuses |
| Where | United States |
| When | 22:00, Thursday 29th September 2022 |
| How to watch | LOL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | Fnatic 4/5, Evil Geniuses 10/11 |
Evil Geniuses have plenty of work ahead of them as they enter as a three-seed into this play-in tournament. They were able to secure a third-place finish at the LCS 2022 Championship.
They were able to edge out Liquid for the final LCS berth at Worlds. They came all so close to reaching the Grand Final at LCS 2022, as they came up short 3-2 against 100 Thieves.
Their opening foe in Group A, is fnatic who didn't have a smooth road to this event. As they also sit as a three-seed for this event. They grabbed the final EU spot at Worlds with their third-place finish at LEC 2022 Summer.
Fnatic hasn't had that much to be happy about, but they have been a team that has been to Worlds often. Their run at Worlds 2021 didn't end well as they finished in the 14-16 place. That was far worse than their 2020 performance.
Evil Geniuses have a lot on their shoulders as they are one of LCS best hopes of having a shot to win it all. They have been one of the top teams in the world as of late with two Championship wins in 2022 at LCS 2022 Spring Playoffs and the LCS 2022 Summer event as well. Yet they lack Worlds experience as they haven't played in such an event.
This match could go either way, and it might be the most exciting of the opening day of competition. EG might lack the experience, but their team leader Impact should have something to say as EG has the edge here.
Beyond Gaming is the favorite against LOUD
| What | Beyond Gaming v LOUD |
| Where | United States |
| When | 23:00, Thursday 29th September 2022 |
| How to watch | LOL YouTube / Twitch Channel |
| Odds | Beyond Gaming 8/15, LOUD 11/8 |
Beyond Gaming might be the best team that was relegated to the play-in at Worlds 2022. They were at least good enough to be the PCS 2022 Summer Runner-up. They also open as a two-seed in Group A of the Play-In.
They will face LOUD in their opening match-up. LOUD comes in from the Brazilian region after winning the CBLOL 2022 Split 2 Championship. This is a big opportunity for the team. Especially if they can get a win over a usual participant in Worlds. This Brazilian upstart team could be the biggest spoiler in the Play-In stage.
They will likely have a slow start given the level of the stage, but they could make things interesting for anyone in Group A. They defeated paiN Gaming to earn this spot. They aren't a joke, but Beyond Gaming has far more experience in this level of competition and are the right bet for this match.
