100T has better players across all roles, but will likely find their success through the exploitation of Golden Guardian’s mid-jungle duo Ry0ma and Iconic. While Iconic individually had a solid season in 2021 posting up a 2.5 KDA along with 67% kill participation, the sum of this team’s parts were severely lacking leaving him with limited options on the rift. Closer is coming off an MVP-level year and is an integral part to 100T’s early-mid game success, finishing the summer split with a 72% KP statline. With superior laners, 100T enables Closer to make game-winning plays early on that Iconic simply won’t be able to match.
Abbadage is a monster in his own right, ending the summer split with a 4.1 KDA, and a solid 23.7% damage share among his team. He’s a laner that can carry when needed, but more importantly, plays to enable Closer at all points in the game. Ry0ma on the other hand is one of the weaker mids in the tournament and will have difficulties going head-to-head with Abbedage. His last year in Academy shows just how weak of a laner he is, with a -98 gold difference at 10 minutes, and a -133 experience difference at 10 minutes. While these numbers may not look abysmal, the skill level of his opponents is much weaker than on the LCS stage.
If we look at these individuals as a duo, 100T have a clear advantage over their counterparts. Abbadage’s dominating presence in the mid-lane cripples Ry0ma’s ability to roam the map with his jungler, and the team should bleed out slowly until the game is over.
Prediction – 100T Win