Evil Geniuses vs Golden Guardians

On paper, there's really nothing to get excited about here — nothing whatsoever. In actuality, however, it might be a bit more competitive than the odds would imply. We're not saying that an upset will happen, but if Dignitas QNTMPAY could take down 100 Thieves in utterly clean and commanding 2-0 fashion, who's to say what's possible and what isn't?

It all boils down to preparation and execution in the very moment. And if the defending LCS champions and the only team in North America that *hadn't* made any roster changes could drop the ball in such embarrassing fashion (to the unlikeliest of challengers), then by no means should Evil Geniuses be considered an infallible behemoth who cannot be challenged and, potentially, bested. Now, the odds of it happening *are* extremely slim, but they do exist. Dignitas, for instance, did not simply "believe the hype." They doubled down on their strengths, gave the right players enough agency (namely River and Neo), and went to work. And boy was it an incredible display from a team most folks deemed a bottom-dweller!

They're still not expected to accomplish anything once all is said and done, but credit where credit is due: they challenged 100 Thieves across the board and beat the reigning champions with ease. That last part is especially surprising. It wasn't a fluke, but rather an indication that they, too, have ample potential and are not going to go down without a fight.

Could the Golden Guardians pull off the same? Of course not: they're just not as good as Dignitas, neither on an individual level nor as a five-man unit. Still, that's not going to stop them from trying. Unfortunately for the boys in black and gold, they're scheduled to face what can only be described as the best performing team in North America right now. The things Evil Geniuses have done and the ease with which they've dominated have left no one indifferent. It makes no sense, frankly, that they're *this* darn good despite making not one, not two, but a whopping three changes to their starting line-up. But that's what happens when you mix and match the right players -- individuals who share a similar idea on how the game should be played. You give them enough room to maneuver, some good advice, and they'll do the rest.

The Golden Guardians might be able to make this into a somewhat competitive affair, but we just can't envision a world in which they come out on top. How could they? The gap between these two teams is simply insurmountable. This is nothing but a clash between a top-tier behemoth and a bottom-dweller. Still, we said the same for Team Liquid vs. Dignitas QNTMPAY, and we all know how that one panned out.

There are no clear-cut favorites at this early point of the season. Of that we're all aware, but Evil Geniuses have nonetheless done enough to warrant our trust. They've dominated every single team they've faced thus far, and will surely make quick work of GGS -- in line with everyone's expectations.