RNG Become Two-Time MSI Champions at Reykjavik
Royal Never Give Up enter the League of Legends hall of fame as they trumped over DWG KIA 3-2 to become two-time champions of MSI 2021.
Damwon Gaming KIA went into the tourney as the undisputed favorites being the reigning world champions from Worlds 2020. But, RNG never slouched in their race for the crown. RNG started the series with an opening win against DWG KIA which set the tone for the series to come. At their forefront, Yuan “Cryin” Cheng-Wei and Chen “GALA” Wei were left untouched on Lucian and Kai’sa which gave them the edge in every skirmish.
Across the series, the teams would go back-and-forth stomping one another after each and every game. Just when you thought RNG would have it, DWG KIA fought back with all they had with Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu leading the charge on his famed Nidalee. But at the end of it all, Yan “Wei” Yang-Wei’s Udyr alongside the off-pick Nocturne mid by Cryin shut down the reigning champions. With one last Killer Instinct, Gala shut down his rival in Jang “Ghost” Yong-jun to seal Damwon’s fate and win the tourney for the LPL.
Despite coming into the season with doubts over their shoulders, RNG made no excuses for themselves as they ran through and won the Mid-Season Invitational. With the loss of Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao in 2020, the team picked themselves up with rookies Gala, Cryin, and Wei to form themselves a formidable roster in 2021. Even Li “Xiaohu” Yuan-Hao, who has been long-time veteran of the team, role swapped to Top Lane to make the team work — and work it did.
With the level of competition RNG had at the LPL to qualify for MSI, it seems as if that China will be a formidable contender in this year’s Worlds. And with their win over Damwon KIA, the LCK will be sure to figure out what went wrong when they were expected to blow out the competition in Reykjavik.
Follow LoL Esports to find out what happens in the Summer season heading into Worlds 2021 in Shenzhen, China.
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