Suning Gaming vs Team Liquid

Next up, we have Suning vs. Team Liquid. This match-up is, in a way, a bit more interesting than you’d think at first glance, but seeing how the group has resolved so far, there’s very little reason to tune in if you’re not a fan of either team or region. Suning is all but guaranteed to finish in second place, so all they have to do is eke out a win — regardless of the fashion in which is all transpires. Team Liquid is still not out of Knockout Stage contention (mathematically speaking), but after witnessing them get outclassed by G2 Esports in the first game of the day, it’s fair to assume that their 2020 World Championship run is pretty much over at this point.

They’re just not good enough, in any way, shape or form. Yes, they have all the tools they need on paper, but it’s just not working out in-game. Two former World Champions and two legendary Western veterans isn’t enough, and that’s depressing, to say the least. As a team, as a line-up, they’re lacking across the board. They’re afraid to engage, they’re passive from start to finish, and they’re unwilling to take risks until it’s way too late. Their inability to skirmish when it matters most is their biggest flaw, and their lack of impetus is equally worrying. To say that they were outclassed by G2 wouldn’t even begin to cut it. They were destroyed in every sense of the word, and even though Suning isn’t quite as strong as the LEC champions, they’re still more than good enough to get the win against a struggling Team Liquid and therefore tie G2 Esports in their win-loss tally.

Liquid will surely fight their hearts out, but they did very little to warrant anyone’s benefit of the doubt. Frankly, even if they overperform and deliver, it’s still hard to envision them getting a win over the third seed from the LPL. They’re not good enough, and that’s a fact. Regardless, if they decide to “risk it all on a game of pitch and toss,” they might make things a bit more interesting than people expect.