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What does Worlds mean to you? - It was like a faraway star.
Being legendary...
Fulfilling my dream...
Fame? Glory?
Like a dream?
Fun matches.
The stage I’ve always dreamed of.
The stage all wish for. But only a few can take it.
What if you stand on the final stage? - So many fans...
I’d be worried...
Butterflies in my stomach…
Thrills...
A big turning point…
My heart would go crazy.
A special stage only for the top class toward No. 1
No one remains a winner or a loser forever.
Carpe Diem.
So, what’s in your mind now? - That I’ve been so focused...
I’m the best in the world.
As a top mid laner...
I’ll beat any team.
To show that we are strong...
I’ll pour my heart into Worlds.
But, the throne favors no one. Tears and sweats paid only for this moment.
What’s your ultimate goal? - Winning!
As the top seed, we need to win!
I’d like to seize the title...
I bet we can.
The only thing we’ve missed.
Go to the final stage...
I’d like to have a match at Sangam.
Who will be the new world champion?
Welcome to LoL World Championship Inside! I’m Iseul.
And again we’re joined by NoFe and RapidStar.
Thanks for coming out.
My pleasure.
We just saw how passionate the players are.
You know, Worlds is obviously the biggest LoL event.
And this time it’s at home where their family and friends are.
So, the title seems more precious than ever.
Right.
But, what’s as important as the title is the prize, isn’t it?
I can’t say no.
Even if you lose the quarterfinals, the prize is as much as that for an OGN Champions winner.
I see.
So, fighting at Worlds already means a lot to players.
That was a very down-to-earth comment based on experience.
After witnessing their strong passion, now I really can’t wait to see their matches in Taiwan.
First, let’s check out Group Stage schedules and major matches.
After winning through Regionals, teams will start Group Stage matches on 18th September in Taiwan.
The round-robin Stage will take 4 days with 6 matches per day.
Its intense schedule has been fully released.
On 18th September, the 1st match of Worlds will be played by Samsung White.
Yes, it’s a match between China’s top seed EDG and LoL master Samsung White. That’ll be a tough and thrilling one.
We’ll see whether White will make a successful 1st step or not.
And the next day has another match we’d better not miss.
It’s between NA’s TSM which has Korean coach Locodoco and support Lustboy and Taiwan’s TPA led by Manager Sim.
What’s more interesting is they both got the top seed so the match would be really fiery.
That sounds like a must-watch.
And as the match takes place in Taiwan, TPA might have a bit of upper hand.
And we shouldn’t miss matches on Day 3, too right?
Of 3 Korean teams, White is the only one that fights in Taiwan. So, Korean fans’ attention would be focused on them.
Since ahq and Dark Passage are new to Worlds and less tested at global events, I believe White is in a better position for the next round.
But still, I hope they try their best.
And next, Sunday matches where the rankings will be finalized.
The first match is between TSM and Royal Club. Both have Korean players.
We can focus on a brotherly support fight between Lustboy and Zero as well as crazy inSec kicks!
Personally, I’m so excited to see my old colleagues’ fearless play at Worlds.
So, that was the first Group Stage schedule.
I bet still many are confused about teams.
Last week, we looked at teams from Korea, Europe, and SEA. Today, we’re going to talk about NA, China, and IWC teams.
16 teams won through Regionals for 2014 Worlds!
Now, the first Group Stage is about to start in Taiwan.
Last week, we took a look at Korea, Europe, and SEA teams. This time, it’s time for NA, China, and IWC.
First, the Korean Wave at Worlds!
Korean teams’ strength lies at their play optimized for victory.
It’s neatly organized. Their performance is on a higher level.
From picks/bans to laning, team fights, and macro, many foreign teams even study Korean metas as a standard.
Truly, Korean players are second to none.
And the Korean Wave has swept some teams at Worlds that are...
TSM, Royal Club, and C9!
TSM is the only team that never missed a Worlds so far.
Despite a strong presence in NA, their performance at Worlds has been disappointing.
After Lustboy joined the team, they seized the No. 1 seed for Worlds.
On the other hand, China’s Royal Club has two Korean stars, inSec and Zero.
Though the team backslid a bit after losing S3 Worlds Finals, they’ve recovered quickly since LPL Summer 2014.
This team emerged so suddenly!
NA’s hope! NA’s source of pride!
There’s one team that doesn’t have a Korean member but loves Korea so much.
NA’s hope, Cloud9!
Cloud9 took a No. 2 seed, being defeated by TSM by 2-3 at NA LCS Summer Playoff Finals.
The key to C9’s good showing in NA is that they study a lot, not only OGN Champions but also less known but crucial matches in Korea.
But their interest in Korea doesn’t stop there.
After winning NA LCS 2014, they partied at a Korean fried chicken restaurant.
Also, one member often plays K-pops on his live stream. As we can see, C9 is really interested in Korea.
But even if you study and like Korea, that doesn’t guarantee success.
What made them successful is their hard work combined with intense study.
C9 is known to train conservatively unlike any other Western teams.
More like Asian ones. Their showing is not like NA.
C9 is also one of this season’s favorites.
Their keen interest and understanding of Korea helped them go into Worlds.
At the same time, there are teams that not just studied the metas but actually recruited Koreans and made it to Worlds.
Namely, China’s Royal Club and NA’s TSM!
Many said TSM has a long history and that’s all they have.
They’ve been quite popular and steady at home, but stumbled through every international match.
Then, this far-from-perfect team got Lustboy.
Lately, their jungler and support have got much better at map control.
In the past, TSM was always feeble before C9, but at Playoff Finals, they outdid C9 by 3-2. And at the center of that success was Lustboy.
Well, he alone does almost everything
including vision control, initiating, counter initiating, and bruising.
I’ve met a great team and got a precious chance. Everything has gone well so far.
Behind his outstanding showing was TSM’s coach Locodoco’s leadership.
He’s a member of Mensa. He’s really brilliant.
He’s a good friend. Well, outside the game he’s really cool-headed and smart.
I agree. Without me, TSM would have never made it to Worlds with the top seed.
Maybe thanks to Locodoco, TSM seized the No. 1 seed. And Lustboy finally makes debut to Worlds.
Also, China’s Royal Club made it to 2014 Worlds with their Korean members.
You may remember them as the 2nd place at S3 Worlds. They’ve recruited inSec and Zero as well as Couch VicaL from KT Rolster.
They’ve totally changed their attitude and improved performance.
Royal Club and TSM both got significantly better after locking in Korean players.
But, their debut was not always celebrated.
Royal Club suffered a communication issue around ***.
Luckily, they settled it and *** will play at Worlds.
But, it’s true that at first they struggled over communication issues with Korean players.
When Lustboy first joined TSM, his showing was far from perfection. As far as I know, it was because of communication barriers.
In my first match in NA, Bjergsen asked me where I was gonna place a pink ward.
I didn’t get it and kept asking back, “What? What?” So, he ended up repeating the question word by word for 5 min.
But, overcoming communication problems, they still remain a strong team.
Then, why Koreans are popular among foreign teams?
To be simple, ‘made in Korea’ is excellent now. They are really great.
In Korea, inSec, Lustboy, and Zero had been solid and almost got a spot for Worlds, too. Now they finally secured it,
I wonder how they feel now.
How much they struggled to survive and get the seed in the foreign lands...
Even though the teams have been tough in their region, no one can guarantee a spot at Worlds.
I guess recruiting them was a good choice both for the teams and the players.
So, it’s true that the Korean Wave has swept C9, Royal Club, and TSM!
And they have one more thing in common.
Their carries are exceptional.
They definitely have key players carrying games.
For TSM, Bjergsen is a carry. And Lustboy now takes a part of his load. Royal Club’s carry is ***, one of China’s top ADCs.
He’s really aggressive and bold, making a lot of variables in games.
His play is threatening enough to be compared to imp.
In case of C9, Meteos used to draw almost all the attention. But, lately Hai is rising again, propping up the team together.
As the rest are picking up, super players are feeling less pressured and the teams are growing more evenly.
Then, where should we focus on for their matches?
I’m personally very curious about how Bjergsen will fight against Korea’s best mid laners. He’s Faker of NA.
I wonder he can still show up amazingly against Korea’s top mid laners.
If he really can, then he’s not Faker of NA. Faker will be Korea’s Bjergsen.
In addition, these 3 teams pursue Korean playstyles a lot and incorporate them to stay powerful.
That means, if Korean teams lower their guard even for a moment, they might be knocked down.
Outstanding carries, Korean playstyles, and Korean couch and players!
We’ll soon see how the Korean Wave will affect 2014 Worlds and especially Korean teams.
I see. The Korean Wave is taking not only Worlds but also every LoL scene.
We can say that the wave started when SKT T1 K achieved a landslide victory at S3 Worlds.
It’s amazing that those young game geeks are winning hearts around the world.
RapidStar, have you ever felt the Korean Wave by yourself?
Of course! Foreign teams are extremely interested, often asking me like... “Is he good? And how about him?”
Then, I have no choice but to sound like a broken record. “They are all good.” Actually, that’s true.
But, what if you pick only one best player?
Well, how about two?
That’s good, too.
I think Faker and Dade are the best in Korea.
I see.
I wonder how Korean teams would lead Worlds as e-Sports powerhouses.
Then, let’s move on to fast-following powerhouses, Chinese teams.
As the reigning champion, Korea is expected to defend the title.
But, there's one country threatening its throne.
Fiery!
Extremely hostile!
They just push in!
They play really aggressively.
They're crazy about team fights!
When they're in the zone,
it's just terrifying.
Undisputedly threatening challenger, Chinese teams!
Yet, why have they failed so far to eclipse Koreans and remained No. 2?
They've been always lacking something.
They're not ingenious like Europeans or straightforward like Koreans.
Then, they should really stick to their own aggressive style. But, they failed to do so.
I guess their extreme offensiveness might make it struggle against Korean teams.
If they come up with a good meta that supports their team fight style,
they might take the No. 1 place at this Worlds.
With a growing attention to Chinese players' potentials at 2014 Worlds,
3 teams show the China style more clearly than any other.
First, LMQ left China for NA with nothing but strong confidence and proved their prowess.
Second, OMG completely shifted the Chinese meta with their wild and speedy play.
Finally, EDG overtook OMG to seize the No. 1 position in China.
Among them, let's first look at OMG which pushed China's scene to a new level.
In some ways, OMG is an embodiment of that distinctive Chinese style.
They play wildly. And they like their game speedy. In the past, Chinese teams were told that their play is too dull.
But, now people say, ever since OMG every Chinese team's born again.
OMG put an end to turtling play and introduced a tough and fast one.
In the middle of that shift was the founding member Gogoing.
He's one of only a few solo top laners that carry.
He doesn't have a known weakness. He's perfect from the champ pool to laning and other macro styles.
He doesn't avoid skirmishes. He's very aggressive with great mechanics, focus, and judgement.
So, he's considered the No. 1 solo top laner in the world.
Also, OMG has Cool who proved his power with 17 kills with Ahri at the Regional.
But, he has a weak wrist that might affect his play. And one more weakness!
And this time, it's critical.
Their bottom lane is not so solid.
Compared to the other two Chinese bottom duos, OMG's seems weakest.
However, LMQ has moved to NA and showed up successfully while keeping the Chinese team fight style.
The team made up the roster with Chinese players and knocked on the door to NA LCS.
Then, they became a successful model for other teams.
LMQ became the champion of the entire NA Challenger Series and NACL
and never lost a single game in Week 1 of 2014 LCS Summer.
LMQ is now joining the ranks of top NA teams.
When we talk about their victory, we shouldn't forget XiaoWeiXiao.
He was already well-known in China to be good at CS-ing. Whether the game goes well or not, his CS is always fine.
When CS is higher, you get a more reliable footing. And also you can build powerful items and that affects the game heavily.
LMQ was on a roll, backed by XiaoWeiXiao.
But, after Week 10 of LCS Summer they lost a top spot to C9, defeated by TSM by 3-2 at Playoffs.
Then, the team started sliding downhill. What was behind their slump?
The most fundamental issue is their attitude is simply 'fight to win.'
Particularly over objectives or the Dragon, they just jump into fight.
To them, a chance of winning doesn't seem to matter. They simply fight and make the game either favorable or not.
Then, they fight again, affecting it more and more. They follow this cycle over and over.
At first, it worked really well for a while. But, other teams started reading that pattern.
To be honest, this kind of push is too simple and limits the diversity of play patterns.
And I think this is why LMQ started backsliding.
Yet, LMQ still has their prowess and proved it once.
So, in the match for the last seed to Worlds, LMQ was at first losing to Curse by 0-2
and turned it around by 3-2 in the end.
And I thought that intense mental strength propped them up through NA LCS
and that may be the team's unique asset.
The world will soon see how LMQ will apply their own playstyle to Worlds.
And China's best team EDG has both OMG's aggressiveness and LMQ's tight playstyle.
Founded in February 2014, EDG is currently a No. 1 team in China.
Former WE coach Aaron left the team and founded EDG by gathering aces from other teams.
EDG recruited WE's star players, Fzzf and ClearLove and Namei from PE.
Their line-up alone has drawn much attention.
As you can see from the fact that Fzzf is vying with Zero for the title of China's best support, he's a really skilled player.
Moreover, their jungler ClearLove has been great since his days in WE.
At least for now, we can say that in China it's the time of EDG.
And EDG is considered the next heaviest favorite after Korean teams.
In their very 1st season, 2014 LPL Spring, EDG took the 2nd place, eclipsing WE.
At IET 2014 Finals, they 2-0ed OMG, then champion of the national league.
EDG boasts their qualities as a Chinese powerhouse. Yet, people are quite critical of them.
Well, since some left WE for EDG, fans are not so happy with them.
Some even say they'd rather root for foreign teams than EDG.
So, EDG might see Worlds as a great chance.
If they become a champion and bring glory to home, they may win the hearts of WE fans.
All of them are aiming for the world champion's podium.
Will China's storm blow down Korea's stronghold this time?
Or lose its momentum and disappear?
So, we just saw how powerful Chinese teams are.
China is seen as the next most powerful region after Korea. Technically, we have 4 Chinese teams this year.
So, Korean teams should never let the guard down and make sure everything is ready.
Right. LMQ moved the entire team for the NA league. This kind of case seems quite rare, isn't it?
TSM's coach Locodoco tried once with Korea's amateur team MiG,
and Korea's Winged and SuNo once joined Key Stars in the Brazilian league.
But, both didn't end so well. In this sense, LMQ's entry through NA to Worlds is surely amazing.
So, it's another team we need to keep an eye on. Now then, let's talk about less known teams.
They are sort of hidden gems. 2 International Wildcard teams are making debut at Worlds. Let's check out Dark Passage and KaBuM.
For regions other than Korea, China, NA, Europe, and SEA,
there's a chance for Worlds called International Wildcard!
Among IWC teams, only two teams can compete on the Worlds stage.
This year's IWC teams are Dark Passage and KaBuM!
Dark Passage is the undisputed champion of Turkey.
They won Riot S3/S4 Turkish Championship and 2014 Turkish Champions League Spring/Summer.
Brazil's rising star KaBuM!
They ranked 4th in 2014 Brazilian League Champions Series and won S4 Brazil Regional Finals.
Dark Passage was founded in 2012 as Turkey's first-ever professional LoL organization.
While their name is obscure to LoL fans worldwide, their power is far from mediocre.
All of their rankings at home are first. And that's what we call dominance.
Dark Passage's unique playstyle elevates them to a level above other teams.
They like to engage. From the start, they're looking for a fight.
They tackle their opponents head on, and when they win, they win big.
Of course they occasionally overextend, but they also get ahead.
Because of this they've dominated the playing field back at home before coming to the Worlds.
At the IWC Finals, Dark Passage played to their strengths
dominating in Legacy eSports by 3-0.
Following Samsung Blue, they scored a spot at the Worlds early on,
demonstrating the potential of a IWC team.
Yet, there is another IWC team.
Emerging as victors against PEX in the South American finals,
KaBuM! e-Sports won a ticket to the 2014 Worlds.
Really, these guys are not bad at all.
They've shown that they have the ability to introduce unexpected variables.
The team has had a tough time, even against Keyd Stars
Nobody expected the rise of KaBuM! e-Sports!
They went 2-0 against Keyd Stars, which included a Korean player
winning a ticket to 2014 Worlds
as well as making their mark as a rising star of the Brazilian League.
They've been able to follow their winning scenarios.
When they pick champs that are good in the current meta, their play seems quite good.
Despite their exciting playstyle however, they are considered the underdogs.
Since they're wildcard teams, they come from places where LoL isn't that widespread.
Maybe they won't be a sensation, but perhaps they might do well compared to previous IWC teams.
International Wildcards have excellent potential!
There is a reason why people expect them to do well.
It's because of the key players in these teams.
As the captain and the mid laner,
Dark Passage' Naru is very versatile.
He has a broad champ pool.
He's been good at playing any type of champs from champs that scale well to assassins.
So, I expect the team's solid play anchored by the mid laner.
He has confidence in his champ pool and the game itself. That's where his good performance comes from.
When Dark Passage has its mid laner, Naru, KaBuM, a pure-Brazilian team, boasts its own key player!
Its ADC Minerva caught my eye. His play somehow reminds me of imp's. But, that doesn't mean he carries heavily like imp.
It means he can show a striking play.
Their obscurity makes them potentially threatening.
Dark Passage and KaBuM e-Sports!
They probably lack something compared to Korean players.
Yet, I guess the gap has been narrowing this season.
Their market is expanding and they are getting better. So, we can expect a good showing from them at Worlds.
IWC teams, Dark Passage and KaBuM!
Will they be able to rise to the ranks of world-class teams?
Or, will they kneel down before the world's heavyweights?
So, today we took a deep look at Chinese, NA, and IWC teams. Now, we have a better understanding of the 8 teams.
This season and so, this Worlds are full of issues. Koreans went to other regions.
Plus, changes in key members, new teams, 'overnight' meta, bulldozer meta, and assassin meta...
Just like this, even metas change so radically. Now, no match result is utterly unpredictable.
I see. Then, let's move on to Korean teams.
I expect a great showing from Najin Shield.
Why Najin among others?
Now, they're on fire.
As you know, they seized the last seed for Korea. And as I see the matchups for Group Stages, Najin Shield has better matchups heading to the Finals.
We'll wait and see if it goes as you predicted.
So, that concludes Part 1 of today's LoL World Championship Inside.
In our 2nd part, reporter Jin Wook and Jeong Seok will join us.
Also, we'll hear hidden stories of Worlds from star LoL reporters, and LoL Detective Kang will predict the rankings of Group Stages.
We'll come back soon. So, please stay tuned.
Last week, OGN's star shoutcaster Yong Jun dug up happenings at Worlds and players' personal jinx with three eSports reporters.
Today, what stories behind the scene will they share?
Let's meet them now! First, 2014 Worlds' new challenge!
It's called LoLdcup in Korea, putting LoL and world cup together.
Since S2, it's been really successful in a grand scale. It's just amazing to see how fast it grows.
I heard the viewership has increased four times And this time, the global leader of eSports, Korea, hosts the competition.
This might draw much more attention.
This year, Worlds is held in 3 countries including Singapore and Taiwan.
Plus, there're 3 venues in Korea, too.
3 countries and again 3 sites in Korea... So, given all of that, many guess Riot invested most heavily in this year's event.
That's why I believe Riot when it says it takes LoL eSports very seriously and tries to foster it further.
Riot lives up to its words. Well, in a way we may say that Riot didn't have to do this much.
It looks like Riot really doesn't spare anything. In a sense, I think this year might be really challenging for it.
You know, Sangam World Cup Stadium is extremely huge!
US Staples Center's max capacity - 20,000, Sangam - 60,000
I don't think Riot naively believes fans will come and fill the stadium no matter what.
What is necessary to make that happen?
Well, an eye-catching matchup seems essential. If at least one European or NA team advances to the Finals, that'll attract more.
Actually I think that's possible, because this year Alliance has been rock solid and Froggen is in a good shape.
TSM's mid laner Bjergsen is seriously on a roll lately. He was a rising star at the All-Stars.
So if TSM makes it to the Finals and meet a Korean team,
Lustboy will fight against his fellow Koreans. Wouldn't it be fun?
Yeah, that does sound fun. That can be inSec not Lustboy!
Right.
He may grab $1m with his signature inSec kicks.
He might blow a Korean team away with inSec kicks. Isn't this an amazing scenario?
When Korean players left for foreign teams, they vowed that they would come back for Worlds.
Actually in their interview before leaving home, inSec and Zero said
they'd come back and compete with Koreans for the title.
As this will be the first Worlds ever in Asia, a sensational return of Korean players from foreign leagues is expected.
Yet??
here's one super player that Worlds should never forget
Worlds' hero Faker!
Faker was once called the Michael Jordan of LoL.
The world's unshakable No. 1 player, Faker
No one dared to dispute it. Faker was absolutely revered.
Unfortunately, he couldn't make it to Worlds this year though, I bet almost everyone agrees that he's still the best.
We all saw from this year's All-Stars.
Spectators chanted Faker and also the team name, SKT T1 K...
Right! He had something around that time. Wedding?
What?! No!
It was his 'birthday'!
Ah, right. So, all the spectators sang Happy Birthday to him.
That reminds me of Fnatic and SKT T1 K's match. SKT T1 K tried to use their Worlds skins.
They tried the combination of Jax, Lee Sin, Zed, Vayne, and Zyra.
And when only Zyra was left to pick...
YellOwStaR suddenly stole Zyra.
Then instantly, fans shouting Fnatic started...
Boo!
So, he changed to Leona.
That moment! I can still feel that thrill like it was yesterday.
Faker dominated S3 Worlds with a phenomenal play and lifted the trophy triumphantly.
Though sadly we can't see him at this year's Worlds, we still have a lot of competitive players.
Then, who will be the next Faker?
Rising stars of 2014 Worlds!
Faker is absent this time. Who do you think will take his place?
I guess it will be Dandy.
Ah, Dandy?!
Yeah, he's really on fire lately.
He can be as famous and admired as Faker around the world.
My pick is also Dandy.
We used to pick Dandy, Bengi, and KaKao as big 3 junglers.
And among them, Dandy is slightly ahead of the rest.
He's good at ganking.
Dandy's perfect ganking timing
And supporting.
Dandy's strong presence in team fights
Triple kills! Dandy!
And even vision control. He's just flawless.
And both Dandy and his team are in prime, so I think he can show up impressively at Worlds.
It's funny that you both pick the same player among many.
Ah, one more reason why I picked him! I heard he's 21 years old.
Once he said he thought I was around his age.
Well, I couldn't see her face when we first met. But anyway she looks young.
One thing you should know is he does the same to everyone.
-You don't need to say that. - To every older woman.
OK. I get it.
I choose Watch, another jungler.
You know, SKT teams all didn't make it to Worlds. That's bad, but against them Watch was really impressive.
I bet I wasn't the only one impressed by his play.
As you know, he started the career as a StarCraft player and went through so many ups and downs.
And he's not only talented but also a hard worker.
And I guess that's why he was able to go to Worlds three years in a row.
I see.
If he plays at Worlds as well as at the Regional, I bet he'll rise to stardom and I really hope to see that.
Rising stars' great performance leads to their teams' victory.
And the victory leads to $1m of prize.
Now, let's check out stories behind Worlds' prize.
In any competition at home and abroad, how do they divide the prize money?
Is there any rule around it?
As far as I know, their contract stipulates that the organization takes a certain part of it.
And that rate varies by team.
Then, what about SKT T1 K?
The winner of 2013 Worlds, SKT T1 K earned $1m as a prize.
Well, that's a really huge money. I heard the organization decided not to take it, giving all to the players
and even planned to give bonuses away.
It's not confirmed, but that's what I heard.
To be honest, that's a sensitive topic in Korea.
So even if you knew it, it'd be hard to disclose it in public.
Then, how about foreign teams?
I heard the organization doesn't take any and players share it out.
And LCS players get salary, too.
Korean and foreign teams have both pros and cons, but Koreans' pros can't be easily reproduced abroad.
Korean teams are well-organized and well-managed. And that's because they are not only sponsored but also managed by businesses.
And there're a lot of advantages out of that system.
So, talking only about prize shares might oversimplify things.
- So, they have a better player management system... - Then, they can stay focused more easily.
Or, get training abroad or build an established training system...
One StarCraft team were taken care by swimmer Park Tae-hwan's health trainer.
In this way, corporate-managed teams are different from corporate-sponsored ones.
You know, pro soccer clubs have a bonus system, like giving out a bit of bonuses for wins.
What if they beat rivals? Do they get bonuses?
Absolutely, yes. Once in an interview, they said they must win.
So, I asked, "Why? Because they're rivals?" Then, they said, "No, we'll get a bonus." Very frankly. I didn't write it in my article though,
bonuses like this heat up rivalry and motivate players more.
Let me just add to that.
I heard if a team secures a landslide win, a person from top management visits them.
Then, he calls the players' name one by one and gives each a bonus envelope.
That's a huge motivation.
Of course...
That answers the questions about prize money. And one last question is about...
the opening ceremony of 2013 Worlds Finals! Many expect a more special event this year.
Then, what awaits us on the grand final stage?
I'm not familiar with rock bands though, last year, really famed rock musicians performed at the Finals.
I'm not familiar, either, but Limp Bizkit's guitarist was so famous that even I noticed him.
2013 World Final opening ceremony featured The Crystal Method.
I heard this year's ceremony will be as grand as last year's. Performers are...
Are they confirmed? I bet they are.
Riot says they're not confirmed yet. But, that doesn't make sense. I think actually they are.
Last year's guest The Crystal Method is a duo. There, they performed with Limp Bizkit's guitarist.
It was really awesome. And once I asked if K-pop bands may feature the show, because it's held in Korea.
But, the answer was not so optimistic. Those uppity bands... Oops...
No, I mean, after the event fans who come only for the band try to leave, making a chaos.
Well, another thing I heard is... The Crystal Method is one of most revered electronic bands.
This duo also play bottom duo and that's one of the reasons behind the casting.
Riot doesn't simply look for someone famous. They want someone who knows and likes LoL.
So, we don't know who will come yet. But, what we know is anyone who will be on stage plays LoL.
- Oh, I see. - What we know now is it's an American band who play LoL.
But, still it should be a popular one, right? So of popular artists, only those who like LoL are eligible for the event.
- Exactly. - Well then, casting won't be tough.
I dare to say Worlds is the biggest event across the entire global e-Sports scene.
I really can't wait to watch it and I'm sure that it'll be successful.
My husband (CloudTemplar) and I make a living mostly out of LoL.
So, I'd like to thank Riot Games personally. I'm very happy that LoL is successful.
I'd like to say a word to Korean fans. Usually, fans overseas come there not to watch matches live
but to enjoy a festival, enjoy that moment. And I'd like to see Korean fans enjoying Worlds.
More amazing stories will begin at this year's Worlds. On 18th September, 2014 Worlds finally starts.
Don't miss that grand opening.
Welcome back to Part 2 of LoL World Championship Inside.
Now, we're here with Jin Wook and Jeong Seok. Thanks for coming.
Always a pleasure.
As you know, Koreans are really excited about hosting this year's Worlds.
About 16% of tickets for Korea were purchased abroad.
When a world-class event is held in Korea, foreigners visit the country a lot.
But, 16% is a bit disappointing. However, 32m watched S3 World Finals.
And we expect the same number of viewers this year, too. It'd be a great chance to promote Korea as an IT and video-game powerhouse before the world.
And what do you think, Jeong Seok?
I was dispatched to cover 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2004 Athens Olympics.
There, broadcasting of Taekwondo and archery games were lead by not local broadcasters but Korean ones,
because we made Taekwondo and we're so good at archery, so, Koreans are so good at broadcasting those games.
In this sense, OGN is the best e-Sports event broadcaster. And it's a main broadcaster of 2014 Worlds.
So, I think it's an excellent chance to show the world Korea's advanced e-Sports broadcasting system.
Your words made me feel so proud of my country. Then, this week again LoL Detective Kang is coming back.
Let's meet him right now.
Where is it? Where is it?
Eww, dirty dishes.
What are you doing? We don't have time for this.
Oh, a wine glass! Great! I'd like a glass of wine, or soju maybe?
Just keep looking for it.
Oops. Sorry.
- Well, thanks for the mess. - Where in the world is it?
Finally!
My L-file!
Hello. I'm the world's first ever LoL detective, Detective Kang.
Ah, here are my beloved cue cards. Then, let's open the file.
- So many unnecessary things here. - It's you who put them there.
Approaching the 2014 Worlds opening, matchups are disclosed for Group Stages.
So, I'm here today to predict who will be the 2nd in each group.
Why not the 1st place but 2nd?
Let's just say that Korean teams will top all the groups.
In fact, most of LoL commentators abroad picked Koreans as the No. 1 of each Group.
Detective Kang for the win!
First, Group A has each region's top seeds, Samsung White and EDG along with ahq e-Sports Club and Dark Passage.
Then Detective Kang, who do you think will come second in Group A?
Not to mention that the No. 1 would be Samsung White...
Let's see Dark Passage from Turkey Well, I've never heard of them. So pass.
ahq e-Sports Club... Yong Jun will have hard time speaking it correctly.
So, pass. Not a chance.
That makes EDG the No. 2 of Group A.
What on earth am I doing now?!
If Dark Passage and ahq are dropped out, then EDG will rank 2nd.
Seriously, why does Detective Kang choose EDG?
Usually, Korea, China, and Europe are considered 3 major regions.
So, that means China follows Korea as a LoL powerhouse.
Right.
Particularly, OMG is China's best both in strength and popularity.
And EDG defeated that team at 2014 LPL Summer Finals. So, it's quite right to pick EDG for the 2nd place.
Hmm, you two read my mind. So, we agree that in Group A Samsung White will be No. 1 and EDG will be No. 2.
Group B will see TSM, SK Gaming, TPA, and Royal Club competing over tickets to the next round.
This group doesn't have a Korean team. This will be a brainteaser.
Then, who is he going to pick for Group B?
Hmm, first of all they don't have a Korean team. So, it's much tricky.
Well, TSM immediately caught my eye. They're the only team that never missed a chance to Worlds.
So, TSM is most likely to get ahead of other teams. Then, TPA was the champion of S2 Worlds.
They've already got a taste of the championship, so they are the most likely No. 2.
Do you agree with me?
Let's start from the rest of the Group.
Recently, Royal Club's *** said he won't be playing for S4 Worlds.
Later, he changed his mind, but the internal trouble might still affect the team.
Then, how about Europe's No. 3 seed, SK Gaming?
A No. 3 in the middle of heavyweights... the next round might be elusive.
On the other hand, TPA has vast experience as the winner of S2 Worlds.
And their Championship member, BeBe, is still with them.
He's long been hailed as the best ADC in SEA.
OK. That makes it clear for Group B.
TPA, No. 2. TSM, No. 1. That's more than obvious.
Group C seems very tough with Samsung Blue, LMQ, OMG, and Fnatic.
Let's analyze them deeply, then.
This group has Samsung Blue, which is likely to take the No. 1 spot.
Then, I guess Fnatic would take the next one. I'm personally attached to Fnatic.
- As you may know, they came to Korea for training. - Indeed.
They will soon fight against OMG.
Fnatic and OMG... Both have created each Region's unique playstyle.
While OMG has been shaky this season, Fnatic acquired Rekkles and improved their performance.
Plus, Fnatic was the winner of S1 Worlds. So, this European team seems more likely.
That's an excellent analysis. How about coffee sometime?
- What's wrong with him? - Absolutely, no.
Fnatic is considered powerful enough to tackle down Korean teams.
I'm not fully satisfied with their showing though, I choose Fnatic for the 2nd spot.
In Group D, Najin Shield, Cloud 9, Alliance, and KaBuM are likely to have close matches.
Then, who will come second in Group D?
So, let's take a look at our last group.
I bet Najin will definitely beat the rest and make it to the next round.
KaBum e-Sports... Never heard of it. So, pass.
This is tough. C9 and Alliance.
Who will seize the last ticket? It's a brain twist.
Well, I shall leave this question to you two.
And you get paid for that?!
As both are neck and neck, a small difference might make or break them.
So, we need to focus on the mid lane that affects the game most.
C9 has Hai in the mid lane while Alliance has its star player Froggen.
Since Froggen is currently the No. 1 mid laner in the world, Alliance is more likely to get ahead.
Interesting... If you say so...
Najin Shield will take the first place and the second place will go to Alliance.
That's perfect.
So, we just predicted who will come second in each group.
In Group A, China's super nova EDG. In Group B, TPA, the champion of S2 Worlds.
In Group C and D, Fnatic and Alliance, respectively.
And that wraps up Detective Kang's predictions.
That's all for today. And by the way, it's simply based on my personal analysis, so don't attack me for this.
Then, I'll see you next week from Taiwan where the first round of Worlds begins.
Until then, goodbye.
Thanks Detective Kang for your predictions.
It's quite funny, but he's actually a professional shoutcaster and he added some grounds, too.
So, he actually has a point in a way. But, we all know Pele's curse.
I'm thinking about what if the teams he picked are eliminated
Then, LoL will have Kang's curse.
Come to think of it, his predictions on the last OGN Champions Summer were wrong.
So, we'll see. It's true that many experts said Korean teams are likely to top each Group.
Almost all of them predict Finals would be a teamkill match between Koreans.
To be honest, Group Stages are more dangerous than knockout stages.
At Group Stages, teams have only two matches with each other.
In this case, teams sometimes focus their offense on a specific team.
Then, Kang's curse might hold true and every Korean team might be eliminated.
I wish that never ever happens. So, again they should keep their guard up. Excitement is growing in the air on the road to 2014 Worlds.
Now, it's time for this week's news briefs.
The rest of the documentary has been released.
Unveiled on 12th September, Road to Worlds: The Next Level features stories behind S3 Worlds
with SKT T1's Piglet, C9's Hai, and OMG's Gogoing.
And the last chapter, The Road to Seoul, was released on 16th September
and presents the story about SKT T1 K's misfortune, insights about Korean teams,
as well as each team's ambition towards the championship title.
Every chapter of the documentary is available on the LoL official website.
Starting from 18th September in Taiwan, Group Stages will continue in Singapore.
For Korean fans who can't be there, Riot brings thrill home and holds a viewing event.
At Daehan Cinema, Chungmuro, Seoul, you can watch every Group Stage match live in HD on a large screen.
OGN especially broadcast live not only matches from Taiwan and Singapore
but also the scene of the Cinema to Taiwan and Singapore.
And one more thing.
An hour before every match, match prediction, cosplay, photo zone, and lottery events are offered.
So, please don't miss them and win a prize.
I believe last-minute arrangement is going on in Taiwan. From tomorrow, I'll see you from the Cinema.
And I hope you two come to the event, too.
Well, I won't be able to make it at daytime since I have articles to write.
- So I'll be there after work. - Thanks And Jeong Seok, will you be there, too?
Yeah, I'll try my best. Reporters should stay objective though,
we reporters anyway end up cheering for Korean teams in any global competition.
This time, too... I wish Korean teams' victory.
The first match of 2014 Worlds will be played by Samsung White.
I sincerely wish for Samsung White's victory.
This concludes this week's LoL World Championship Inside.
We'll come back next week with more interesting news and deeper insights.
Thanks for watching.