Buckle up, League of Legends betting enthusiasts, the 2022 World Championship is right around the corner, and as one of the most prestigious esports events of the year, it promises to provide incredible highlight moments to last a lifetime.
As usual, the competition is stacked with talent as every single region from around the globe has sent their best rosters to represent them at the most important international tournament. A whole year of blood, sweat, and tears has culminated into this final month, and the teams at-hand are ready to battle tooth-and-nail for a chance at a Summoner’s Cup.
On the other hand, there are a handful of different teams and players that failed to make the climb to the grand stage. Stars fell, juggernauts stumbled, and even icons of the game made mistakes.
TSM’s Spica
Ever since Bjergsen and Doublelift left for greener pastures, NA-born jungler Spica quickly became the new face of the franchise as he possessed both the premier talent, the personality, and the experience to help spearhead a new era for the organization.
But in the time that he was given the reins, the League rosters built around him failed to live up to expectations. Whether it was the ninth place finish during the 2022 Spring Split, the constant roster shifts leading to the 2022 LCS Championship, or the heartbreaking five-game series loss to EG, the two years of failure have led the 21-year-old to test free agency this year.
He tried his damnedest in the playoffs, with an 82.2 percent kill participation and the highest average damage to champions per minute among LCS postseason junglers. But now, he will sit back at home, watch Worlds, and ponder the next steps in his bright future.
Team Vitality’s Perkz
For the first time in his career, Perkz will not be attending the World Championship. The 23-year-old has always been the cornerstone of Europe’s hopes at the event, whether it was during his iconic five-year run with G2 Esports or his quick 2021 stint with Cloud9. This year, he came back to Europe with dreams of a triumphant return with “the biggest LEC roster we’ve ever seen,” but instead, he and the lineup fell horrendously short of expectations.
The amount of individual talent couldn’t outweigh the severe lack of cohesion on the roster, and as a result, they faltered in both the Spring and Summer Splits. This roster is still signed on until 2024, but this year was such a failure that it wouldn’t be surprising if the team makes sweeping changes moving into 2023. Perkz might still be a top-tier mid laner in the LEC, but next month, he’ll be cheering for his European peers at Worlds.
Liiv SANDBOX’s Prince
There was a popular one-man show in the LCK this split, and its leading star was Prince in his performance with Liiv SANDBOX. This summer, the 22-year-old led the regular season in kills, had a whopping 38.4 percent kill participation, had the third-highest average damage to champions per minute, and had some of the best early game stats in the league, according to Oracle’s Elixir.
He continued this domination through the playoffs, but ultimately, he and his team couldn’t withstand the roster-wide power that Gen.G’s superteam brought to the table. For all his heroics, Prince needed more support from his teammates, and they weren’t able to step up. This off-season, any LCK team that needs an upgrade in the bottom lane will want to open up their wallets for this budding star.
Even though these players are not making it to the League of Legends 2022 World Championship, the tournament is kicking off very soon, so don’t forget to bet on esports at BetUS Sportsbook & Casino. We’ve plenty of lol odds for you to consider.
