The Future of Wildcard Regions in Competitive LoL
Hello lovely readers,
Today we are discussing the future of wildcard regions, from
the year I started watching every international events (2021), what was learnt
from MSI 2021, Worlds 2021 and MSI 2022 ahead of Worlds 2022. I'm a huge fan of
supporting the Wildcard Regions and minor regions, not only because I have
worked in one of those regions but also because they offer so much for
international competition and for the region’s level of competition to rise
further; without further ado, let’s get into all the reasons we should be
excited about wildcard regions!
League of Legends international competition was new to me
for a while, but as an avid fan of international League and having watched lots
of different regions, I was excited to see so many different regions gathered
together and challenged in ways that watching only one league rarely does. As a
fan of major regions when I began getting into esports, I was pretty much
unaware of wildcard regions existence (CBLOL, TCL, LCO, LJL, etc) but watching
international competitions and discovering these regions got me thinking about
how wildcards are represented, and what they offer to the international
storyline that usually revolves around East vs West, NA vs EU, and if the West
will scoop a title off the East at any time in the near future.
From what I watched and heard at the start, it felt easy to
understand that not much was expected from the wildcard regions. Enter
Pentanet.GG, the first Oceanic team to ever make it past the first stage of any
international competition. Despite my general lack of knowledge in terms of the
wildcard regions, public opinion seemed very much to expect lacklustre results
from wildcard smaller regions, but I think if Pentanet.GG are anything to go
by, this shouldn’t be the rhetoric which proceeds wildcard regions.
There is a lot to hope for especially from the wildcard
regions, and even the name should remind us of this, they are ‘wildcards’ they
can bring just as much to the table as any major region, they can upset major
teams, and they can be just as competitive as anyone else. Each team is made up
of talented individuals who are clearly the best in their region, who have
earnt their place on that roster, and can compete on an international level
just as much as anyone else, and by being given space on the international
stage, the players push up the level of competition, their own player ability
and also their careers.
In my personal opinion, the future of the wildcard regions
is bright, and with MSI returning as an annual event, we should expect to see far
more being showcased from the wildcard regions. Detonation Focus Me (DFM) from
the LJL came very close to making it out of the group stages at MSI 2021,
Pentanet.GG did make it out of the group stages, (and depending on whether they
are thought of as a wildcard region) PSG Talon took fourth place. It can be
argued if the group stages were different, many more of the wildcard region
teams could have made it out of group stages as well. By no means am I
suggesting that wildcard regions should be given easier groups to make it out,
but these teams also aren’t guaranteed to be in last place as some may believe.
Worlds 2021 for the wildcard regions may have been somewhat
of an anti-climax for some after the talent level shown at MSI 2021, especially
for the LCO – Pentanet.GG had made it out of the group stage but the
representative of the LCO at Worlds 2021 which was Peace, did not make it onto
the group stage from play ins. Furthermore, the only wildcard teams to make it
onto the group stage in the main event were PSG Talon (again this is not always
classed as a wildcard region) and DFM – both teams were then knocked out of the
group stage from their respective groups.
After MSI 2022, I for one, am extremely excited for Worlds,
not only as an EU fan to watch our teams compete, but to see the bar raised
internationally on what it means to be a professional and acclaimed League of
Legends player. Especially in terms of the wildcards. Compare Worlds 2020 to
Worlds 2013, Worlds 2013 saw fourteen teams participate, with eight regions
having teams participate, with only two of said regions being able to be
considered smaller regions/wildcards. Yes, this was near the start of the World
Championships becoming a popular event, but compare it to Worlds 2020.
Twelve regions participated, and a minimum of six of those
regions can be considered wildcard or smaller regions, this clear trajectory
demonstrates there is a future for wildcard regions, and even if they don’t
make it out of the main stage-stage, they can still challenge the major
regions. For example, Pentanet.GG’s win over Cloud9 while at MSI 2021 in
Iceland. The growth of wildcard regions participating in international events
from 2013 to 2020, demonstrates not only the ability of these regions, but the
need for these regions to keep attending international events.
The wildcard region attendance and return of the VCS
(Vietnam Championship Series) showed that once again the wildcard regions are
ready to show up on the international stage – for the record, the VCS MSI 2022
representative wasn’t actually their first seed (GAM Esports – who won the
split – were attending a different event) and so Saigon Buffalo were sent to
represent. Two wildcard regions placed top 6, PSG Talon (PCS) and Saigon
Buffalo (VCS) placed 5th and 6th respectively, with 7th
and 8th taken by RED Canids (CBLOL) and ORDER (LCO). As wildcards
climb the international ranks, Worlds 2022 has never looked so exciting and as
playoffs start for all regions, we have a lot to be excited for.
But here’s something to consider that potentially
disadvantages wildcard regions when it comes to playing up against major region
teams on the international stage – while major regions often have more teams
and are able to maintain a higher level of competition throughout splits. This
is not always the case for wildcard regions, continuing with Pentanet.GG as an
example, the LCO (League of Legends Circuit Oceania), only has eight teams.
Which can be easily divided into the better performing teams and the less well
performing teams. While this doesn’t account for upsets, it does account for
fairly predictable results, and means the general level of competition within
these regions are lower, as well as less scrimming partners – or less
competitive scrimming partners which means the wildcard regions have to scrim
twice as hard once they get to international bootcamp to see the level of play
that will be evident through the tournament.
But this isn’t to say that this is all doom and gloom,
through participating in international events, players and regions are not only
able to showcase their potential, they can improve their own regions, pushing
wildcard regions to become more competitive places that can rival the major
regions of LEC, LCK, LPL and LCS. While it is unlikely that a wildcard would
beat a major region at an international tournament in finals, there is always a
possibility for upsets, and this has been showcased throughout the history of
competitive League of Legends.
As long as wildcards continue to participate, there is a
future for them, one which many would argue is an extremely strong future. This
isn’t to say that wildcard regions don’t have an uphill battle ahead of them,
as forementioned, major regions are further ahead than wildcards, they have
more high quality/level scrim partners and can be argued to have a higher
ceiling due to the nature of many teams having academy teams or the level of
talent within the region. For example, Cloud9 can often be seen to do well at
international events, and run many summer camps as well as academy teams across
a range of games to ensure there is continual fresh new talent always at the ready.
The same can be said for the European team Fnatic, who
maintain a team in the LEC as well as an academy team and often put players
from the ERLs (European Regional Leagues) into their roster, which keeps the
level of both competition and talent high. This is not always an option in
wildcard regions, and these teams are generally expected to perform poorly at
international events due to the ‘lag’ between major and wildcard regions. This
is of course merely an overview, and does not take into consideration the
intricacies of many of these situations.
But the point still stands, while it can be argued that
wildcard regions often trail behind, with the reasons aforementioned, I don’t
think this means we can ever truly count them out. Much like the top teams that
dominate their regions, they’re never really out till they are eliminated, and
the same can be said for wildcard regions, there is always a possibility for
upsets. That is what draws people to League of Legends, from the jaws of defeat
can come a victory, and this is why we need to continue championing wildcard
regions.
Just like their namesake, they are unpredictable, they are
talented and they can compete, while we might only have seen one official
wildcard region in LCO during MSI (again reliant on how PSG Talon is
classified), the talent brought to the table is undeniable, and the upset of
Cloud9 won’t be forgotten any time soon. So, while we may be quick to say we
can safely ignore wildcard regions, and should only focus on the major regions,
we are wrong. Yes, its meme-able to ignore NA and wildcard regions, but that
doesn’t mean any major region is necessarily guaranteed a win over wildcard
regions.
While some may think wildcard regions don’t add that much,
I’d beg to differ, it adds a new storyline, the storyline of the underdog, of
talented faces that we don’t typically see in the major regions (not to
discount those in major regions as untalented). So, while we might not pay much
attention to wildcard regions in the regular splits, there’s always
international events, and they add so much to our viewing.
Such as, a level of competition that other regions may not
be prepared for or expecting from a wildcard region, talented plays and out
plays that we might not have seen recently/before, there is so much to be
excited about in regards to wildcard regions. So even if you don’t typically
pay attention to the LCO, LJL, CBLOL, PCO, or any other non major region, I
urge you to go and watch at least one match, it’s an appetiser for what we can
expect to see at Worlds 2022. The hype surrounding DFM and PGG shouldn’t just
die until we get to Worlds, there is so much to watch within their own regions,
to see these true wildcards perform upsets and demonstrate that them getting to
MSI was no fluke.
Wildcard regions offer so much to be excited about within
League, not just the old kings of each region who have always been at or near
the top of the pack, but the talent of smaller and newer regions (the LCO only
became an official region in 2021 after many of the players had left the region,
while the PCS become an official region in 2019). And let’s not forget that
wildcard regions are making their way up the international standings, MSI 2021
is proof of this, two wildcard regions made top 6 – PGG and PSG Talon
(depending on how they are classified). MSI 2022 is also proof of this where
another two wildcard regions made top six – PSG Talon (again depending on how
they are classified) and Saigon Buffalo who weren’t the VCS’ first seed and the
region whole had been unable to attend international events for two years.
So as we prepare for Worlds 2022, let’s remember that
wildcard regions have every chance of upsetting major regions, and there is a
lot to be excited about when they step onto the stage in the various American
Cities where Worlds will be taking place. Wildcard regions are here to stay,
their future awaiting to be cemented in history, and ready to show the whole of
the League fanbase, there is so much more to see from them.
MSI was the appetiser for the main meal that is Worlds.
Notable Sources of Information –
Esports.Net – getting ready for MSI 2022 Minor regions
update
https://www.esports.net/news/pre-msi-lol-minor-regions-update/
Dot Esports – Major regions dominated minor regions at MSI
2022
https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/major-regions-dominated-minor-regions-at-msi-2022
Dot Esports – Why international competitions in LOL matters
to minor regions
Dot Esports – Cloud9 have been eliminated from MSI 2021
https://dotesports.com/league-of-legends/news/cloud9-have-been-eliminated-from-msi-2021
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