If you had asked any league of legends fan or reporter which team they thought would win Worlds on Friday night, 9 times out of 10 they’d say Damwon KIA. The defending champions, Damwon KIA (DK) has never been a team to underestimate, but between a stacked roster, incredible teamwork and an excellent ability to adapt on the fly, DK has earned every accolade they’re given. Undefeated until the Semifinals, DK faced SK Telecom T1 in what turned out to be a nail-biting 3-2 series. DK’s early game has been a weakness compared to their incredible ability to execute on a midgame lead but while T1 did their best to exploit that, ultimately DK proved that they’re championship material, taking early games and beautifully gaining control over the map. In a jaw-dropping moment late in the series, DK allowed T1 to draft the assassin Aphelios and then built their team around outranging Aphelios. Full of bravado and no shortage of strategy, DK seemed to have it all.
EDward Gaming (EDG) is a team that would be a solid pick against any opponent. Founded in 2013, they secured the #1 seed in China for the 2014 Season World Championship but then floundered at worlds. The pattern’s kept up for the last few years. This year, with the #1 seed again, it was looking like the curse would continue, after a great season, EDG would collapse under the pressure of Worlds Quarterfinals. But this year broke the curse, after a thrilling 3-2 win against Royal Never Give Up, they were ready for another toe-toe against Generation Gaming in the Semifinals. GenG fought hard but were ultimately outclassed in another 2-3 that proved EDG’s adaptability and Scout’s dominance across the map.
Going into Worlds, it was easy to think that the only way EDG would win is if DK didn’t show up at their prime, but that couldn’t have been farther from the way these five games played out. Both teams proved incredibly flexible, adapting to each other’s strategies, taking control of the map and playing some really great League of Legends.
Game 1 | DK 0 – EDG 0
Game 1 begins without too much upset. Both teams start with common bans (Aphelois, Nami and Lissandra on DK’s part and Yuumi, Twisted Fate and Lee Sin from EDG) and draft for feast or famine team fighting – an area that both teams are known to excel in. Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun is able to nab Jarvan IV for the seventh time this series and most interestingly, in what was probably an attempt to replicate T1’s success from the semifinals, botlaner Tian “Meiko” Ye grabs Zilean in aggressive support play. This game is all about team fighting and as hard as they try, DK can’t break through Meiko’s Zilean. After an intense Baron fight, EDG shut DK down with an ace and go on to win the game.
Game 2 | DK 0 – EDG 1
Game 2’s drafts start similarly as before, though DK finally bans Flandre’s Jarvan IV. Respecting DK enough not to try to pull the same trick twice, EDG completely changes tactics and builds a volatile team around skirmishes and picking. DK says two can play at that game and for the most part mirrors strategies, putting Kim “Canyon” Geon-Bu on Qiyana and picking Malzahar to counter Leblanc. Although DK’s early skirmishes fail to draw first blood until 14 minutes in the match, DK bully EDG into spending resources early and are able to collect in midgame. EDG wins an early teamfight but DK are able to stabilize and hit back twice as hard. Ultimately, even though Zhao “JieJie” Li-Jie steals DK’s baron, DK is able to close out the game and tie the match.
Game 3 | DK 1 – EDG 1
EDG takes their chance to ban Graves giving DK the opportunity to lock in Aphelios. EDG grabs Twisted Fate, who DK attempts to counter with Sylas. EDG controls the early game and Lee “Scout” Ye-chan’s Twisted Fate shows exactly why the champion is so often banned as he teleports across the map. With their backs against the wall in the midgame, DK groups into midlane and defends it 5v5. Incredible teamwork and tight play allow DK to push EDG into the river and run over them in a game winning ace.
Game 4 | DK 2 – EDG 1
At match point, DK bans out EDG’s comfort picks, removing Jarvan IV, and later Ryze and LeBlanc. When EDG picks Lucian, DK steals Nami for themselves, to put together with Jhin in the absence of Lucian. EDG combines Lulu and Graves and picks up Zoe. DK counterpick Orianna but it’s not enough to save them. Although there is excellent gameplay on both sides, Scout’s Zoe dominates skirmishes and the game is stolen from DK when minions spawn and JieJie runs up to DK’s jungle and steals blue buff from right under Canyon’s nose. Flandre is left alone to farm in the top lane and the early game gold and levels result in a win for EDG, bringing the series to a 2-2 tie.
Game 5 | DK 2 – EDG 2
It’s make or break time and the drafting reflects it. Relying on Canyon’s flexibility, DK targets junglers with their bans. With only a single ban left, Dk has the option to ban Xin Zhao but goes for LeBlanc, one of Scout’s comfort picks, instead. Scout grabs Zoe instead. Before EDG can even pick up Xin Zhao, DK counterpick Trundle and Syndra.
Unwilling to be outscaled again, Canyon goes for an early game dragon and both teams trade objectives as they vie for the lead. DK makes a gutsy play – as they’re pushed back in midlane, Khan and Canyon sneak off to steal the Baron. Ultimately they can’t pull through in the dragon teamfight and Scout and Viper chase each member to make sure no one leaves that pit alive. EDG take the elder dragon and then push into DK’s base. DK fights back, defending their nexus and their title with everything they have but it’s not enough. EDG destroys the nexus and becomes 2021’s Worlds Champions.
