Having the name of a big regional representative but being eliminated twice from the Play-In Round of Worlds, MAD Lions is considered the worst team in LEC history in particular.
Over the years, the World Championship has always been monopolized by representatives from the LCK or LPL. Even the high positions in the group stage, quarter-finals or semi-finals are always held by large regions, there is rarely a “dark horse” or “unicorn” from a small region that can do this. this.
That’s why teams from large regions are highly expected at Worlds, especially when facing small and medium regions in the world of LoL. Therefore, every time the teams in the big region lose or receive bad results, they are criticized and denigrated by the gaming community.
For example, FunPlus Phoenix participated in Worlds 2021 as the runner-up of the LPL Summer 2021, but they “failed” right from the group stage and then received a “rain of bricks” from Chinese fans.
As for this year, MAD Lions have achieved an achievement that no other team from 4 major regions has achieved: Being eliminated in the Play-In Round twice at Worlds 2020 and 2022.
Riot Games added the Play-In Round to Worlds in 2017, since then, it’s rare for a team from one of the four major regions LPL, LCK, LEC or LCS to be eliminated from this “parking round”. Therefore, the achievement of “falling off the horse” twice in the history of Worlds of MAD Lions has been ridiculed by many international gamers.
In fact, since 2021, the LEC has been considered “relevant” because it has lost a place to attend Worlds because of its international performance. Therefore, Worlds 2022 in this region also only has 3 places to attend, the MAD Lions’ participation in this year’s Worlds is entirely due to … reluctantly having a place to replace the LCL region (Russia).
Not only that, MAD Lions were also considered a “joke” in the past because this team could not win even 1 BO5 match at the Summer LEC, but they were still “pushed” to attend Worlds. “To the bottom” of their performance but still have to go to international competitions, so MAD has accidentally become the disappointment of the LEC in particular and the 4 major regions in general.
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