We have made it to New York! The beginning of the actual World Championships is today and the League of Legends community could not be more excited! Only the most elite talent has descended upon NYC and there are explosive matches set for this first slate. We have, for the first time that I can remember, two different matches in which the LCS representatives are listed as favorites (Cloud9 and 100 Thieves). We have the almost unanimous tournament favorite (Gen.G) squaring off against the reigning international champion (RNG - The Mid-Seasonal Invitation) and old rivalries being reignited with G2 versus Damwon Gaming. We are in for a real treat, so let’s dive in!

 

League of Legends DFS Slate World Championships - Group Stage Day 1

October 7th, 2022

(-145) Cloud9 v Fnatic (+110)

(+175) G2 Esports v Damwon Gaming (-230)

(+180) CTBC Flying Oyster v 100 Thieves (-230)

(-700) JD Gaming v Evil Geniuses (+440)

(-125) T1 Esports v Edward Gaming (-110)

(-285) Gen.G v Royal Never Give Up (+215)

Fantasy Value Breakdown

Game #1: Cloud9 v Fnatic

Game Breakdown: It is crazy to say this, especially since this is the literal first game of the group stage, but this feels like a must-win for both of these Western teams. They share a group with T1 Esports and Edward Gaming, which means there is no room for error. Cloud9 is a much more polished team and looked to be really hitting their stride at the end of the playoffs (ending with a speedrun in the Championship with a 3-0 win over 100 Thieves). Fnatic had decent success in the play-in stage (only dropping one match) but many of their matches looked messy. I am looking for the veteran presence on Cloud9, coupled with their great coaching staff, to be too much for the EU fourth seed.

Favorite Picks: Berserker (C9: $10,800/$7,200), Fudge (C9: $6,400), Jensen (C9: $7,000)

Value Picks: Razork (FNC: $5,800), Fnatic ($4,600)

Cann’s Match Pick: Cloud9  

Game #2: G2 Esports v Damwon Gaming

Game Breakdown: This game will be extremely close. Not only are both teams relatively close in terms of consistency, but they have also had some of the best international series in years past. This match will be interesting to watch because the teams have very different approaches to the game. DWG will look to slow this game down to a crawl and push/pull G2 around the map. G2 will look to sink the match into chaos and beat DWG in the scrappy fights. Whichever team is able to force their will on their opponent will win this match. 

Favorite Picks: deokdam (DK: $11,400/$7,600), Canyon (DK: $7,200)

Value Picks: BrokenBlade (G2: $5,600), Caps (G2: $6,000) 

Cann’s Match Pick: Damwon Gaming  

Game #3: CTBC Flying Oyster v 100 Thieves

Game Breakdown: This may be one of two wins that 100 Thieves picks up in the group stage and I am not even sure if they are as clear of favorites as the numbers say. In the playoffs, 100 Thieves were really exposed in their last three series (even in their win against EG) and Abbedagge looked horrible. FBI (ADC) is a player who is pretty consistent for 100 Thieves but the bottom lane won’t blow the doors off the game. I am fading most of the 100 Thieves players because I don’t trust them but the ceiling for today is very high against the weaker region winners CTBC Flying Oyster. 

Favorite Picks: Ssumday (100: $6,600), Closer (100: $6,600)

Value Picks: Mission (CFO: $6,400)

Cann’s Match Pick: 100 Thieves 

Game #4: JD Gaming v Evil Geniuses

Game Breakdown: The glass slipper falls off today for the young NA team. Evil Geniuses will come into NYC riding high on their dominant win over the LEC’s third-seed MAD Lions to make Group Stage play. They will need to keep this hot hand (and pray jojopyun continues to be the light of NA) as they go up against my personal pick for tournament favorites, JDG. JDG has the best ADC in the tournament (Hope) and they are one of the only teams I have seen throughout the entire year that is never out of a game. They play so well as a team and Kanavi (jungle) controls the initiation of team fights so well that this younger team in EG should struggle. 

Favorite Picks: Hope (JDG: $8,200), Kanavi (JDG: $7,600), JD Gaming ($6,000) 

Value Picks: Jojopyun (EG: $5,400), Impact (EG: $4,800) 

Cann’s Match Pick: JD Gaming  

Game #5: T1 Esports v Edward Gaming

Game Breakdown: This is another match with top-flight teams. T1 Esports are the winningest teams in the world (including multiple World Championship titles to their name) and EDG are the reigning World Champions looking to defend their title. T1 will need their jungler (Oner) to defend the map in the early game and find ways to get Gumayusi (ADC) into the late game to carry the team. EDG on the other hand will want to put a ton of pressure on Gumayusi in the bottom lane to get their mechanically gifted genius ADC (Viper) an advantage to run away with this match. I think Scout is the better mid-laner, especially after seeing the limited impact of the Demon King himself (Faker) throughout this year. This difference in the mid-lane should be enough for EDG to take this win. 

Favorite Picks: Zeus (T1: $6,000), Keria (T1: $5,400)  

Value Picks: Viper (EDG: $10,200/$6,800), JieJie (EDG: $6,200), Scout (EDG: $6,600)

Cann’s Match Pick: Edward Gaming

Game #6: Gen.G v Royal Never Give Up

Game Breakdown: My second pick for favorites in this tournament (and many people’s first choice) is Gen.G. It does feel like destiny for Chovy to potentially win his first World Championship, which is wild with him being arguably the best player in the world. Ruler (Gen.G ADC), will look to keep Gala in check which will be key in this matchup. The advantage for RNG will be with their carry top laner (which is very rare in the current state of League of Legends). Breathe will be able to take advantage of GEN’s top laner (Doran) who has just taken on the role of just holding the line for GEN but he cannot lose lane too hard if they want to win on Friday. 

Favorite Picks: Ruler (GEN: $11,700/$7,800), Chovy (GEN: $11,400/$7,600), Gen.G ($5,800)

Value Picks: Breathe (RNG: $5,000), Gala (RNG: $6,200)

Cann’s Match Pick:  

 

Cann’s Example Lineup

DraftKings Classic 

$50,000 Salary Cap

 

Captain (x1.5): Chovy (GEN: $11,400)

Alternate: Berserker (C9: $10,800)

Top: Ssumday (100: $6,600)

Alternate: BrokenBlade (G2: $5,600)

Jungle: JieJie (EDG: $6,200)

Mid: Scout (EDG: $6,600)

ADC: Hope (JDG: $8,200)

Alternate: Viper (EDG: $6,800)

Support: huhi (100: $6,000)

Team: JD Gaming ($6,000)

 

Fantasy Alarm is the home of all things Fantasy Sports. Bringing you the best Fantasy Football content all year long. Be sure to also check out the best fantasy promo codes on offer today!

Keep the League of Legends winning going! Check out our partners over on PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy, Monkey Knife Fight & join our FREE Discord!