MSI Picks, Betting Predictions May 20

• T1 will look to keep up their stunning run of recent form
• G2 and Royal Never Give Up expected to be blockbuster encounter from MSI
• Saigon Buffalo will be massive underdogs in most of their matches

T1

T1 vs G2 Predictions

Underdogs G2’s Chance To Shred Pre-tournament Favourites

Fans have been licking their lips in anticipation. It’s one of the matches earmarked as “the clash” of the titans. It offers T1 a chance to pull one back on GE Esports, who beat them at the Major in 2019. That said, G3 were third after the Rumble Stage and went on to win the tournament as well.

They’d gladly take a loss if history repeats itself and they go on to win MSI 2022. But at the planning stage, teams think differently. Come Friday, G2 will be plotting as much against T1 as they would against any other team.

They know and everyone knows despite having a favourable record over T1, the odds are against them. This is their chance to upset T1’s apple cart and cock a snook at pre-tournament predictions.

G2 has had a good run so far. Barring one game against EG where they nearly lost after a period of domination, the rest of their games have gone to plan. They’ve shown a tenacity of clawing out of corners against the tougher sides, and their younger players, like rookie botlaner Targamas, have risen up to support the more established ones like Flakked. This bodes well for them.

Brokenblade too has rediscovered his magic touch, so they are slowly revving up nicely. Caps and Jankos, the veterans who were part of the squad that beat T1 in 2019, will be looking to channel the magic from three years ago to replicate the same. It’s a tough task but not impossible.

T1’s Tried And Tested Formula

T1 are an impressive win streak. They have won a mind-boggling 26 matches across all competitions, and have not lost a single series since the start of the 2022 season. If this doesn’t spell outright domination, what does? T1’a early game has been mighty impressive.

You get the sense they’re robotic in what they do – process driven, know what to apply when and there’s a method to their madness. It’s a template that works for them and they seldom deviate from it; the logic being why fix something that ain’t broken.

Top laner Zeus has been a quiet performer along with Faker, the flag bearer of the team for long. Gumayusi and Keira have been the stars that they’ve known to be. Their manner of shutting down opponents is what separates them from the rest. G2 can ill-afford to be weak early on. This will be a fascinating clash either way.

G2 vs Royal Never Give Up Pick

RNG

G2 vs Royal Never Give Up Predictions

Can G2 Overcome Fatigue Factor?

Emotionally, physically and mentally, G2 will have to be right on the money, because the nature of the format and draw pits them against one champion team hours after they would’ve battled another champion in T1.

Irrespective of how the first game ends, this game will set up G2’s tournament. If they beat both T1 and RNG, they will have a turbo start in their bid to make the final. G2 have managed an undefeated 20-0 score line so far in the competition.

That they have done so with a younger team bodes well for their future. That said, their group performance was superb but at one level it was expected that they would breeze past Order and Evil Geniuses. So in many ways, this is a real challenge.

Technical Disqualification No Deterrent For RNG

RNG have breezed their way to where they are currently, despite having a few technical deficiencies. They started the group stage with three wins but those games were junked due to a ping issue owing to them playing from Shanghai. They had to replay all the games.

This may or may not have worked for them. But in slaying all the opponents that came their way, they finished the group stages undefeated and brought with them the promise for more. Overall. RNG has beaten G2 twice in five meetings.

Evil Geniuses vs Royal Never Give Up Pick

RNG

Evil Geniuses vs Royal Never Give Up Predictions

EG Follow A Predictable Path

There has been an air of ruthlessness to Evil Geniuses, especially against the smaller teams. Last week, they beat Order for the third time at this year’s MSI to make it through to the Rumble stage. The bigger concern, though, was their results against G2, who won all their games in the group stage to make it this far with a 8-0 record. In comparison, EG only had a 50% success rate. That means it’s advantage G2 straightaway.

Last week, they lost in 39 minutes to G2 but quickly rebounded from the loss to put it past ORDER in just 23 minutes. EG surged to a 10k gold within 15 minutes and maintained that position to eventually secure a comfortable win. So they’ve shown a tendency of being able to bounce back, but against an opponent who are on their same level of proficiency. Can they do the same against RNG, who are overwhelming favourites heading into this clash?

RNG Rise Above Adversities

RNG surged to a 6-0 rout to top their group. In doing so they showed how adversities weren’t going to stand in the way of their ultimate objective. It could’ve been so easy for them to be frothy at being denied three wins because the games had to be replayed.

It’s another thing for them to have accepted it and then gone out to outclass opponents emphatically the way they did to prove a point.

This is enough indication that they’re hungry enough to go all the way. In many ways, their approach in this game could well be dictated by the outcome of their previous game. Like EG, RNG too will be playing back-to-back, which will be a true test of their mental reserves.

PSG Talon vs Saigon Buffalo Pick

PSG Talon

PSG Talon vs Saigon Buffalo Predictions

Hanabi’s Rise Mirrors PSG Talon’s Rise

This one is really close to call. It stems from both sides having delivered outstanding results lately. PSG Talon had an incredible 2021. The year was studded by a mind-boggling 35-1 win-loss record across the spring and summer splits. This included a fabulous run at last year’s MSI where they not only made the final four but also took a game off eventual champions RNG.

For all that success, it seemed quite unrealistic that they’d managed to achieve that. A year on, they’re looking to dethrone RNG and take the title. But to get there, they have some work to do.

Their rising stature has been no coincidence. Top laner Hanabi’s excellence has given them a transformed look. He has three World Championships and three MSI appearances under him – and at this stage, experience is the biggest currency.

At 21, he may be a youngster but the experience has made him a battle-hardened veteran who adds a new dimension to an already explosive outfit. It’s time for him to have the same level of success at an International level, something that isn’t beyond him.

Saigon’s Move From Being Giant Killers

Saigon Buffalo are much different to their 2019 avatar. They’re no longer the diffident team that did well at local tournaments and faltered on the big stage. They’ve now emerged as flag bearers of the Vietnam scene. Three years after famously beating G2, not once but twice, they’re looking to graduate from being giant-killers to a consistent side capable of winning big titles.

The big advantage they’ve had so far is continuity. All their players have so far only played for Buffalo. They came together in 2021 and are still going strong. The team has stuck by them through thick and thin. This is their opportunity to repay the faith.

Saigon Buffalo vs Evil Geniuses Pick

Evil Geniuses

Saigon Buffalo vs Evil Geniuses Predictions

Once again, this one is an exciting match-up that could be decided in one decisive turn in the game, because in terms of proficiency, experience and match-ups, they’re almost on level terms. So expect plenty of punches and counter-punches.

Saigon have done superbly well to emerge from a group where they’ve faced the rampaging T1, but in outclassing DetonatioN FocusMe, they showed how they’ve no longer pushovers.

That they had to beat DFM multiple times to emerge out of the group is something they knew and their manner of execution in each of those games proved their intent and execution. Along the way they have single handedly put VCS right back on the LoL map as the premier wildcard region.

EG Overcome G2 Stranglehold

For a while all EG have heard is how they could get the better of G2. That they’re playing a different opponent, for a change, should be a soothing prospect. For a team that has been at the receiving end of G2’s onslaught in the manner that they have, it can be deflating.

Credit to EG’s poise and pedigree that they have managed to stay relevant and have risen above the upheavals they have had to face along the way. It’s no longer a technical battle, but one of the mind. And EG have risen above the challenges to flex their muscle against the other sides. They’re slowly revving up the way they’re known to.

PSG Talon vs T1 Predictions

T1

PSG Talon vs T1 Picks

PSG Talon’s Chance To Fight Without Pressure

Among the biggest mismatches on Friday is the final game to close the day. PSG Talon know they’re the underdogs going into the clash by a long way. In some ways when nobody expects you to win, it’s perhaps a great opportunity to channel the free spirit with which you’re expected to play when the stakes are high. It could free them of mental cobwebs and help execute plans better.

So this will be a test of PSG Talon’s resilience and how they handle the underdogs tag. Will they be blown away or will they stand up and fight?

Expect T1 To Sustain Domination

How does a team approach a game they know they’re poised to win? Do they try and give opportunities to a new set of players? Do they go for the kill? Do they try to develop young players in pressure scenarios?

T1 could ponder over this and much more, but given they play back to back, there’s little time to think really. All said, they seem an unstoppable force currently, but one slip up at the Rumble stage could set them back and put an end to an enviable streak.

Reigning champions RNG are waiting to pounce on mistakes of their competitors, so the wriggle room is very little for T1 even though they are in an excellent position. They’re the third team after RNG and G2 to complete a perfect run at the MSI Group stages. Expect that run to continue for the moment.

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