We are returning to the main event in the world of competitive League of Legends. We are talking about the unprecedented Worlds 2022, which starts on September 29 from the Play-In stage.
We have group B under consideration with a match between Mad Lions and Istanbul Wildcats. On our screens, two LoL schools collide - European and Turkish, and therefore the confrontation is of interest for sure.
Mad Lions have already met in our forecasts, but we will only have to meet the Istanbul Wildcats in the framework of Worlds 2022. Let's take it conditionally, because the first Turkish team is known to everyone, albeit in absentia.
Let's figure out which teams will win in Group B at Worlds 2022: Play-In and will be one step closer to entering the group stage, and who will have to rely on the next matches.
Mad Lions form
Let's start talking about the teams in this confrontation with Mad Lions. Representatives of the European region in this match play the role of a favorite, and their victory is estimated by the bookmaker with a coefficient of around 1.4.
Analysts are very confident in the triumph of the European club, although I would not be in a hurry with the final choice. It's the last season.
Of course, MAD Lions played in Europe, where competition, although inferior to the conditional LCK and LPL, is still quite strong. The Lions managed to decently manage the group stage of the last split of the LEC Summer 2022, where they shared the 2nd place in the thunderstorm of the European and World League of Legends G2 Esports.
The result is worthy of respect, but in the playoffs the team was completely different. It seems that the loss to Rogue in the first round of the main stage with a rather competitive struggle hit the morale of the Mad Lions to fight for the title and did not allow them to “return” to the title race.
The loss from Rogue led to a fall to the lower bracket, and already there an inglorious relegation from Fnatic. Mad Lions got to Worlds 2022 due to a change in the slot allocation system for the upcoming World Championship due to the absence of LCL representatives.
Mad Lions line-up
- Armut
- Elyoya
- Nisqy
- UNFORGIV3N
- Kaiser
We will pay special attention to Armut. The Turkish topper will play against his compatriots, and for the League of Legends, such things are of a special nature.
Heroes Mad Lions
In the season, Gwen, Wukong, Taliyah, Zeri and Nautilus most often complained to Mad Lions. None of the champions performed by lions has an ideal win rate - Gwen, used on the top lane with an 80% win rate in 5 matches, proved to be the best in the hands of the players of the roster.
Remembering the same Turkish legionnaire Armut: in addition to Gwen, he plays for Gangplank, Ornn, Gnar.
Form Istanbul Wildcats
The debut match for themselves against 4 numbers of the European region will be held by Istanbul Wildcats. The victory of the “Istanbul five” is estimated by the coefficient in the region of 3.4.
The gap between the teams in the understanding of bookmakers is large, but not critical. Keeping in mind the format of Play-In matches - this is a bo1 confrontation, which means that very interesting things can happen there.
Moreover, they can occur with obvious frequency in matches like ours. Like it or not, we have here two-time champions of the Turkish TCL, playing, although against a representative of the title LEC, but a representative who took 4th place and, by chance, got to Worlds 2022
Instanbull Wildcats line-up
- starscreen
- Ferret
- Serin
- Holy Phoenix
- Farfetch
The five Turkish players are nothing special, and in the case of the Instanbull Wildcats, this is a compliment. The main merit of the current roster of “wild cats” is stability.
The club's last reshuffle happened back in December last year. After that, Istanbul Wildcats won TCL Winter and TCL Summer in 2022, and also gained experience at MSI 2022, where they shared 11th place with other participants without leaving the group.
Heroes Istanbul Wildcats
The most favorite characters during the last TCL for Istanbul Wildcats were Wukong, Ahri, Ornn. Samira and Nautilus.
I assume that in this confrontation at the stage of choosing champions, the fight will go for the blacksmith Ornn. Armut from Mad Lions loves and knows how to use this character, and therefore the competition with StarScreen will begin even at pico-bans.
History of personal confrontations
Previously, the teams played twice at MSI 2021. Mad Lions won both times. However, when choosing a winner, I would not judge by two meetings six months ago.
Exodus
Prematching is always a risk. The logical outcome seems to be a Mad Lions victory, but the premonition points to the opposite outcome.
Istanbul Wildcats have looked great during the season and have experience of playing in the international arena. Mad Lions in the LEC playoffs fell down primarily on morale, which definitely plays into the hands of the Turks. As for me, it is the mental component of the teams that will play a key role here, and in this regard, TCL representatives impress me more.
Result: Istanbul Wildcats win.
