The biggest event in the League of Legends calendar - the World Championships - are on the horizon and the tournament's play-in stage is in full swing.
On Friday, there is more action in Groups A and B as 12 teams battle it out for only four places in the Worlds tournament.
Fnatic are the early pacesetters in Group A while a strong Group B is led by MAD Lions, who have also begun with a 2-0 record.
Fnatic starting to stabilise
| What | Fnatic vs DetonatioN FocusMe, LOL World Champs Play-In |
| Where | Mexico |
| When | 21.00pm, Friday 30th September 2022 |
| How to watch | Riot Games Twitch channel / LOL Youtube channel / bet365 Live Streaming |
| Odds | Fnatic 1/6, DetonatioN FocusMe 7/2 |
It has been a turbulent year for followers of Fnatic, who nearly missed out on the playoffs at the LEC Summer in August, only to go on and make the event's semi-finals.
They were then rocked in the build-up to the play-in stage of this year's Worlds with Zdravets Iliev "Hylissang" Galabov having been unavailable for their opening matches in Group A.
As a result, they were allowed by Riot Games to draft an emergency roster with academy player Ruben "Rhuckz" Barbosa coming into the fold.
But after two games, it is clear the team were not fazed by the changes and they have started with wins in both of their matches against Evil Geniuses and Chiefs Esports Club.
And with things starting to look up for the LEC outfit, they are 1/6 to make it three wins on the spin in the play-in stage when they take on DetonatioN FocusMe, who are 7/2 to prevail.
"Hylissang" could well return for Fnatic for this one which should give them a boost, as should the fact that FocusMe lost their opener in convincing fashion against LOUD.
DetonatioN FocusMe actually allowed their opponents to rack up 21 kills in that contest and Fnatic could therefore be worth chancing at -9.5 on the kill handicap at 5/6.
Evil Geniuses can get back on track against LOUD
| What | Evil Geniuses vs LOUD, LOL World Champs Play-In |
| Where | Mexico |
| When | 22.00pm, Friday 30th September 2022 |
| How to watch | Riot Games Twitch channel / LOL Youtube channel / bet365 Live Streaming |
| Odds | Evil Geniuses 1/5, LOUD 10/3 |
LOUD got their first win on the board in the World Championship Play-In stage last time out, comfortably beating Detonation FocusMe, but they were outclassed by Beyond Gaming beforehand and could also struggle against Evil Geniuses.
Evil Geniuses lost their opener against a strong and resurgent Fnatic outfit but they are one of the strongest teams in the LCS region and are typically at their strongest against the lesser lights.
That was evident in the LCS Summer 2022, in which they dominated the group phase with a 15-3 record, only to fall in round four of the playoffs against big guns 100 Thieves.
Should Evil Geniuses reach the World Championships, they could struggle against the bigger outfits but this is the kind of match they should be expected to win and a bet on them at -8.5 on the kill handicap at 8/11 could be a wise move.
Saigon fancied to overcome Isurus
| What | Saigon Buffalo vs Isurus, LOL World Champs Play-In |
| Where | Mexico |
| When | 23.00pm, Friday 30th September 2022 |
| How to watch | Riot Games Twitch channel / LOL Youtube channel / bet365 Live Streaming |
| Odds | Saigon Buffalo 4/11, Isurus 2/1 |
The first match in Group B of the World Championships Play-In stage on Friday pits Saigon Buffalo against Isurus and it is expected to be a one-sided affair.
Saigon Buffalo are 4/11 to get the win in this match, having opened with victory over Istanbul Wildcats, while Isurus began with defeat against MAD Lions.
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That loss was largely expected and, in truth, Isurus are likely to just make up the numbers in this section, which looks seriously tough for a play-in section.
Saigon Buffalo of Vietnam, meanwhile, will be expecting to make their mark in Group B and harbour hopes of making the knockout phase.
They showed their class on the international stage in the Mid-Season Invitational earlier this year, reaching the Rumble Stage after finishing second in Group A.
They will have their work cut out against the big guns but Isurus are a team they can be expected to beat and, knowing this is a must-win contest, Saigon Buffalo are worth a bet at 8/11 to record the match's first blood, while backing them at -9.5 on the kill handicap at 5/6 also makes an appeal.
