Seeding systems are well known in both traditional sports and esports. It usually helps to protect the "big guns" from coming face-to-face too early in the competition, as well as being a reward for performances or results in a superior competition.
However, League of Legends tournament organizers could have paid a little more attention to the system, having decided not to add a seeding system to the European Masters Summer 2021 event.
This has led to a 'group of death', a less than ideal situation.
The Group of Death
Looking more closely at Group D of the Play-In stage, we can see a group that would be considered strong even in the Main Event. The level is so high that one major team will be eliminated before the tournament has even started properly, given only two teams progress.
In addition to the LFL's Vitality.Bee, there are two titans in AGO Rogue and mousesports.
The Polish team won the EU Masters last summer, and boast Chres (formerly known as Sencux) among their ranks.
Meanwhile, the German side is participating in its fifth EU Masters event. They are a regular club on the European scene, and have a large squad built from former LEC players such as Satorius and Czekolad.
Putting three teams from the top four ERLs (France, Germany, Poland and Spain) together seems a bit unfair, given they have already proven themselves in the past.
Group A, the Group of Life?
On the contrary , Group A seems a bit more of a breeze. We can't help but think that Vitality.Bee, AGO Rogue or mousesport would have walked this group had they been in it.
- White Dragon: Portugal
- Phantasma: Greece
- Sector One: Belgium
- GOEXANIMO: Baltic League
It is really difficult to understand why the seeding system will apply to the Main Event yet hasn't been implemented to the Play-In stage.
For its part, Movistar Riders, the only team in the top-four ERLs saved from this group, holds a significant lead in Group B after the first day (3-0) -- and shouldn't have any problems progressing.
Original content: MGG France
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