Royal Youth vs DAMWON Gaming

The 2019 World Championship is officially underway! Well, at least if you're into the Play-In Stage, which isn't exactly the most hyped or anticipated moment of the tournament. To say the least. It is, however, a chance for us to see multiple respected and somewhat feared competitors go through (and up against) many wildcard teams and regions. While top-tier play isn't exactly guaranteed, it's far from absent.

For example, both Cloud9 and G2 Esports went through the Play-In Stage last year and they both eventually reached Top 4.

This year is not much different as we have Splyce (LEC third seed), Clutch Gaming (LCS third seed), and DAMWON Gaming (LCK third seed) all fighting for spots in the Group Stage. To say that they're the favorites would truly be an understatement, and they're well worth your time.

We've already seen Splyce and Clutch Gaming clash against teams many deemed inferior, and there was a lot to like, with a couple of blemishes on Clutch's side. Today, however, will give us a first look into DAMWON. Many feel like they have what it takes to completely upset the World Championship status quo. They're mechanically gifted, they have more than enough synergy, they're all hungry and unproven (especially on the international stage), they have a fantastic read on the meta and the perfect champion pools as well. No matter how you slice it, DAMWON has the tools to compete and even beat most of the teams you can put in front of them.

But we still need to see them in action. We need to see how well they've adapted, and how commanding and clean they are in their execution. There's always a small micro-meta that develops during Worlds, and DAMWON could be the ones defining it.

There's a lot of hype surrounding their five-man line-up, and most of it is well-deserved. They're the ultimate dark horse, and if they play their cards right, they can enter the Group Stage with a metric ton of momentum which they could then translate into an early lead against the majority of their potential opponents.

They're also not your "everyday" LCK team. They're not exactly macro-oriented. Instead, they're looking to outclass you mechanically and are always willing to throw down from the very get-go. They're all on the same page, and while they're still rough around the edges, there's a lot to like about DAMWON. Their inherent potential is perhaps what's the most alluring thing about them, and it's most present in their top laner.

In the end, it really doesn't matter who's put in front of them. They're going to be favored almost by default, at least during the Play-In stage. While they might not dominate as much as some expect (stage fright and acclimation time are a thing), they're definitely going to prove their worth and leave a mark sooner rather than later.