FunPlus Phoenix vs J Team

For our fifth match of the day, we have a rather interesting clash between the LPL champions -- FunPlus Phoenix, and the LMS champions J Team.

This should be an extremely fun game for many reasons. First of all, this will be our first peek into FunPlus Phoenix and their level of play at the current meta. To say that they dominated over in China would be an understatement -- they absolutely destroyed everyone. And that's saying something, seeing how they played in one of the best regions in the world. Their mechanical prowess, sheer creativity and unrelenting aggression can perhaps only be matched by the 2019 Mid-Season Invitational champions G2 Esports.

They're always willing to throw down and fight from the very get-go, and they have ample talent so they can back any play or decision, no matter how ill-advised or impossible it might seem. They also have fantastic champion pools as well, so they'll feel right at home with the current meta.

Simply put, they're frightening across the board and many are considering them a Top 3 challenger; a team that has all the right tools to not only compete with G2 Esports and SKT, but also beat them when it matters the most.

There's just one problem: this is their first international showing. No amount of talent or mechanical prowess can compensate for the lack of experience. When the going gets rough, that's when true champions are made. Dominating on home soil is one thing. Playing in a completely different continent against the best teams in the world is a completely different beast, and it is a challenge that FunPlus doesn't have any experience with.

They're going to need time to acclimate to the Worlds' stage and to the many obstacles that stand in their way. They obviously have the right players for the job, but it's "dangerous" to give them so much trust before seeing them in action. We want to see them face off against the LMS champions before fully boarding any kind of hype train. We've seen favorites drop out before, so if FunPlus fails to dominate that certainly wouldn't be a precedent.

By the same token, J Team dominated in Taiwan much like FunPlus did back in China. They're a talented bunch, and much like every LMS representative before them (primarily the Flash Wolves), they're going to fight tooth and nail to get out of the Group Stage. They might not be favored to do much, but they should not be underestimated, even against a team of FunPlus' caliber.

In the end, we're siding with LPL champions on this one, although it could be a lot closer than most people expect.