Worlds 2022 Group Stage: Day 1 Recap

Time Stamp: October 7, 2022 10:10 PM

Worlds 2022 Main Event hype is finally in full force with the Group Stage kicking off in New York.

Coming into the Groups and especially on Day 1, there were many questions we as fans were looking for answers to. How would the NA vs EU rivalry go in the C9 vs FNC game? How would the dominant first seeds from LPL and LCK start the event? Or, would the dominance of picks like Maokai and Aatrox continue through the Group Stage as well?

You can learn more about the Worlds 2022 schedule and previous results here.

Cloud9 vs Fnatic (Group A)

Just like Play-Ins, we started the Main Event groups with an NA vs EU bout as well. While FNC opted into a well-scaling teamfighting comp, C9 drafted with a more 1-3-1 style with Fudge’s Fiora. The game started with a C9 first blood in the bot lane but with teams splitting first objectives, the gold stayed even in the early game. The mid game however did not contain much action, with both teams seeming content with just farming and waiting for objective setups until FNC made a big play with two flank Teleports to swing the momentum of the game toward themselves. C9’s side laning wasn’t very effective and FNC was the team finding picks around the map and they were stacking drakes, even with their better scaling comp. FNC was even able to force a Baron and the Mountain Soul in 5v5s as C9 couldn’t deal with their two tanks in Maokai and Ornn and C9 did not have any tanks to stop FNC carries. With both buffs in their pocket, ending the game was a cakewalk for the LEC representatives.

  • Teams: C9 0 – 1 FNC
  • Time: 32:19
  • Kills: 6 – 15
  • Turrets: 3 – 9
  • Gold: 52.1k – 60.5k
  • Dragons: 1 – 4
  • Barons: 0 – 1

G2 Esports vs DWG KIA (Group B)

We continued with another rivalry for Game 2, this time not between regions but two teams used to facing each other at international competitions, with caPs on Seraphine and DK fielding Nuguri in the top side.

The game started with a 1-for-1 trade in the bot lane but unfortunately for G2, they got aced a couple of minutes later in the first Herald, which gave DK a massive early game lead. DK had grown their lead to 8k when their Soul point drake was about to spawn. While G2 tried to contest this objective, it was futile as DK took both the drake and another ace. G2 was able to find some kills around the map but it did not lead to any objectives as DK secured the Infernal Soul and a Baron, while also breaking two inhibitors. Even with their 15k gold lead, the first Baron was not enough to break G2’s hold. But when DK came back with their second Baron to siege, G2 did not have any more resistance to hold onto their base.

  • Teams: G2 0 – 1 DK
  • Time: 32:23
  • Kills: 7 – 17
  • Turrets: 0 – 11
  • Gold: 50.4k – 68.4k
  • Dragons: 0 – 4
  • Barons: 0 – 2

CTBC Flying Oyster vs 100 Thieves (Group D)

The first impression of the PCS champions at Worlds 2022 came with a great 2v2 kill in the bot lane, giving Shunn the first blood. Despite this and giving up the first drake, 100T was able to make plays around the map to get some advantages, but CFO jungler, Gemini, was always there to counter these plays, keeping his team in the driver’s seat. The game was very in the middle with both teams trading objectives and kills in the side lane, but eventually, 100T tried to start the Baron and bait a fight. Unfortunately, it turned bad quickly after they gave up four kills and the Baron. With the buff, CFO was able to siege and grow their lead. They decided to get a second Baron to end the game safely, and despite it being stolen by Closer, they won the ensuing fight thanks to their fed ADCs, and they ended the game to win their first-ever Worlds game.

  • Teams: CFO 1 – 0 100T
  • Time: 31:41
  • Kills: 16 – 9
  • Turrets: 10 – 2
  • Gold: 62.1k – 52.5k
  • Dragons: 3 – 1
  • Barons: 1 – 1

JD Gaming vs Evil Geniuses (Group B)

Not the NA’s day, as EG gave up first blood before the first minute to the first seed of LPL in their tough match-up. EG was not only quick to answer with a level one 2v2 kill in the bot lane, but they also successfully dove the enemy bot lane once more and put them really behind. The top side of JDG though was able to get some kills back and also secure Herald to keep the LPL team close in the early gold. While EG’s strong members weren’t as impactful around the map as JDG’s during mid game, their drake lead meant JDG had to contest the third drake. The 5v5 was really favored by the NA team, as EG got a very clean ace to put themselves on Soul point, despite still being behind in gold.

It fell apart a little after EG’s two carries got caught by an engage from 369 in the mid lane and with the next drake fight as JDG found back-to-back aces to secure themselves a Baron and delay the EG’s Soul. Despite this drake coming up, EG then decided to try their chance with a Baron attempt but once JDG contested, they once again got aced. With minions already in the EG base’s footsteps, ending the game was just a formality for the LPL champions thanks to a jungle domination from Kanavi.

  • Teams: JDG 1 – 0 EG
  • Time: 29:40
  • Kills: 24 – 14
  • Turrets: 9 – 2
  • Gold: 60.5k – 49.7k
  • Dragons: 1 – 3
  • Barons: 0 – 1

T1 vs EDward Gaming (Group A)

The game of the day between T1 and the reigning World Champions EDG had a bit of a slow start. Both teams were focused on creating leads with their laning, Zeus with a very big cs advantage in the top and mid/bot for EDG with rather smaller leads. EDG managed to get the first couple of objectives and also the first blood during the second drake. But a couple of missteps and overaggressive moves from EDG were punished by T1 during the mid game as they found dive after dive on the EDG backline behind the Faker’s Akali, and the LCK second suddenly exploded their lead to over 7k. EDG secured themselves a Baron after finding a pick on Zeus, but they just got completely wiped clean after it and with just two minions T1 pushed for the end in under 23 minutes in the most dominating game of the day.

  • Teams: T1 1 – 0 EDG
  • Time: 22:48
  • Kills: 18 – 6
  • Turrets: 8 – 0
  • Gold: 45.6k – 36.8k
  • Dragons: 2 – 1
  • Barons: 0 – 1

Gen.G vs Royal Never Give Up (Group D)

First Gen.G game of the tournament and we already got blessed by the Lehends Singed pocket pick, paired with a fasting Senna from Ruler. But the early game was all RNG as Wei ganked all three lanes, blowing two flashes and eventually getting the first blood in the top lane. With Wei and Xiaohu having control over mid lane, RNG had complete control over early game objectives, but GEN solo lanes kept the gold lead close with their cs leads. But those cs leads did not translate into much as RNG’s teamfighting was simply better and after finding a great engage at the third drake, the LPL fourth seed secured the Infernal Soul point along with the first Baron of the game. With the lead so far gone, GEN tried to start a Baron but RNG once again found a great engage and handily won the fight, ending the game.

  • Teams: GEN 0 – 1 RNG
  • Time: 30:04
  • Kills: 5 – 14
  • Turrets: 2 – 8
  • Gold: 48k – 56.8k
  • Dragons: 0 – 4
  • Barons: 0 – 1

For more coverage on Worlds 2022 Play-in and the main event, you can follow us on ESTNN.

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