Worlds 2021: EDward Gaming Raise the Summoner's Cup

Worlds concluded in with a bang as EDward Gaming took down 2020 champions DWG KIA in five back-and-forth games. Damwon got to match point first, but once more, EDG came back with a vengeance.

From the start of the play-ins, Worlds had gone on for nearly a month, whittling the contenders to just two. At the end of it all, it was LPL vs LCK, with the champions of their respective regions fighting for the title. 2020 champions DWG KIA had been dominant in their group, before defeating MAD Lions and T1 on their way through the playoffs. EDward Gaming, meanwhile, left group B in second place, but twice pulled what many saw as upset wins, first against Royal Never Give Up and then against Gen.G. Would they be able to do it again or would Damwon prove they are the most dominant team in the world today?

Worlds 2021 Prediction: DAMWON KIA vs EDward Gaming

It was EDG who struck the first blow in the series with a strong opening game, commanding a gold lead after a 3-0 at the second rift herald. The LPL representatives remained in control of the objectives and denied any openings for Damwon to exploit. 29 minutes in, they contested a Baron attempt in force, getting a clean ace and both the Baron and the ocean soul. With them, they proved too much for their opponents and secured the first win of the series.

Damwon came out more aggressive after the break, pressuring Lee "Scout" Ye-chan in the mid lane. The LCK team won several fights and soon, Kim "Khan" Dong-ha and Heo "ShowMaker" Su were both fed and wreaking havoc on the Rift. EDG jungler Zhao "Jiejie" Li-Jie pulled off a miracle Baron steal to delay the game, but in the end, Damwon equalized the series.

The third game offered us a close fight, as despite EDG taking the first blood and a gold lead, they were unable to stop DWG KIA from securing the first three drakes and could not fully realize their splitpush potential. A clutch flank by Khan 28 minutes in secured a 4-1 and the infernal soul for Damwon.  The LPL champions fought on and came close several times, but Damwon had a decisive advantage.

EDG were on the ropes, but they fought back. The Chinese team showed great early game control, securing many of the early objectives and eventually reaching soul point. Damwon tried to take the fourth drake, only for Jiejie to once more steal it under their noses. EDG used their map movements to even secure an uncontested Baron. Eventually, a decisive fight 32 minutes in let them take the game and bring us to Silver Scrapes.

The two teams went back and forth early in the decisive game, with EDG scoring advantages top and Damwon replying mid. They were still neck and neck 22 minutes in, when Score caught Showmaker to kick off a fight that went 4-1 for his team and pushed his team forward. Even sneaking a Baron was not enough for DWG to wrest controlof the game as they kept falling to picks and EDG out-executed them in teamfight. 29 minutes in, the LPL team got an ace, ocean soul and a Baron - and while it took them over ten more minutes to wrap up the game, they never let it slipt away from their grasp.

It has been an amazing year for EDG, who finally redeemed themselves from their reputation as chokers in international events. After fifteen playoff games and three series they came in as underdogs, they are now the champions.

Read more:

• Worlds 2021 Prediction: DAMWON KIA vs EDward Gaming
  
• Worlds: EDward Gaming Defeat Gen.G in 5-Game Series
• Worlds Quarterfinals: EDward Gaming Defeat RNG in All-LPL Match

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