In an intense best of five series between LPL representatives Edward Gaming and defending world champions Damwon KIA, EDG took it all in a five-game bloodbath.
EDG showed an impressive showing in Worlds 2021. Breaking their own curse to escape the quarterfinals, they played three five-game series to qualify for the World Championship finals.
The best of five series went back and forth for its entirety with each team making moves and showcasing intense macro play. Whether it was each team fight or individual mechanics, both teams worked hard in each game. In the end, EDG took the title in a clutch teamfight at the Nexus where they brought the LPL their third Worlds title.
EDG brought a roster of both rookie players and veterans. Two players, Lee “Scout” Ye-chan and Tian “Meiko” Ye, have been on the roster for over five years each, finally earned themselves their World Titles. This also made the Worlds debut of Li “Flandre” Xuan-Jun and Zhao “Jiejie” Li-Jie – two players who made their marks on both the international stage and domestically. Finally, this worlds also saw the return of former Griffin AD Carry Park “Viper” Do-hyeon.
Damwon KIA did not go down without a fight however. Going in as heavy favorites, DK showed why they won the previous World Championship and had made EDG work for the title. The previous World Champions were taken to five games against T1 and placed in what many considered the group of death against 2019 World Champions in FunPlus Phoenix as well as the LEC’s Rogue and LCS’s Cloud9.
The tournament also marked the end of a long career for Damwon KIA player Kim “Khan” Dong-ha. He will be stepping away from competitive League of Legends at the end of the year. Khan’s career took him to many teams from SKT to Kingzone DragonX amongst others.
One player stood out amongst the rest. The EDG mid-laner Scout earned the OPPO MVP for the Worlds Finals for his impressive play on picks such as the Zoe, Twisted Fate and Leblanc. While the entire team stood out, it was Scout whose stood in the spotlight for the Finals.
Congratulations to EDward Gaming – your 2021 League of Legends World Champions!
