Golden Guardians vs CLG

This is where things get a lot more interesting — Counter Logic Gaming going up against the Golden Guardians, while still inherently lopsided, nonetheless has all the hallmarks of a potential barnburner. It could also end up being a fiesta, too, but that scenario seems a bit less likely.

And, with this being a lower bracket match-up, it's worth noting that there's no room for error whatsoever — it's "one strike and you're out!" This, in turn, should both motivate those competing but also create ample pressure and a special kind of burden some of them simply won't be able to take on. Just imagine the kind of stress one sustains throughout such an ordeal: everything has been "distilled" down to this one Best of 5, just a single series that'll either make or break their entire season.

A thankless position to be in, no doubt, and also one defined by an otherworldly amount of pressure — the likes of which one cannot really prepare for beforehand.

The Golden Guardians, most likely, are *not* equipped to handle such a thing. They *do* have a few seasoned veterans, granted, but that probably won't make that big of a difference. Moreover, the fact that they've entered the 2022 LCS Summer Championship as the eighth seed — out of eight in total — doesn't really bode well for their chances. Their 5W-13L record sort of says it all: they're a bottom-tier team with a fairly unimpressive skill ceiling and a bunch of players who, while undeniably talented, simply aren't good enough to compete on even footing with the Team Liquids and Cloud9s of the world (especially not in a Best of 5).

They've made it in not because of any merit or their non-existent laurels but because of LCS' quirky playoffs format. There's really no other way to phrase it — it is a fact and they know it, too. They might not be *the* worst team in the tournament, but they're not far off either.

There's really nothing overly impressive about them, no flashy plays, no jaw-dropping synergy, no impetus in their play, no spectacular hardcarry — they're just *okay.* And, in all fairness, there's no shame in that; the LCS needs gatekeepers, too. You shouldn't, however, cultivate any lofty expectations for the boys in black and gold. They're just not talented enough to compete, and that's not going to chance any time soon. They can, in all fairness, pull off an upset, but those moments of brilliance happen to seldomly that they're not even worth talking about — especially not now.

Their one saving grace (and it's not a negligible one, to be fair) is the fact that they could observe all the action from the sidelines; that is a luxury unlike any other. Whilst their adversaries and peers duked it out for guts and glory, they took notes. That's no small benefit.

Will it end up making a difference? Probably not, but it's still a huge boon that'll affect their play in the most positive way imaginable.

They were able to keep all of their cards and strategies close to their chest, unlike Counter Logic Gaming who had to fight tooth and nail against Cloud9. It is an interesting position to be in; as a result, the Golden Guardians will surely come out the gates swinging and they might even win a game, if not even two.

They shouldn't, however, be able to go the "whole nine yards."

Counter Logic Gaming are cut from a different cloth. Whatever they might lack in long-term potential and ability, they more than make up for in sheer grit, determination, and a feistiness that has given them a chance against the best teams the North American region has to offer.

They've already accrued more success than any of us thought they'd be able to coming into 2022 and for that they've earned our total respect and benefit of the doubt. Each and every single member on the team is carrying his fair share of the weight — and they're playing some mighty impressive League of Legends, too! They were just a few good decisions away from beating Cloud9 and that, in short, is no small feat! To go the distance with a team as stacked as theirs is an achievement worth celebrating.

The Golden Guardians, in comparison, are nothing but a negligible hindrance on the proverbial road — a temporary obstruction, one that Counter Logic Gaming will deal with immediately (and without much effort). It's probably not going to be a clean sweep, but anything more competitive than a lopsided 3-1 feels rather improbable.

In any case, it'll be a clash worth tuning in to, especially if you're a staunch CLG fan!