Invictus Gaming knocked out of LoL Worlds by FunPlus Phoenix
FunPlus Phoenix is headed to the 2019 League of Legends World Championship finals after knocking out defending champion Invictus Gaming.
The clash between LPL giants didn’t disappoint. The four-games series was one of the bloodiest of the tournament, averaging one kill per minute.
IG and FunPlus are two of the LPL’s most recognizable brands and yet the teams couldn’t be more different. IG relies on strong individual efforts from its players, while FunPlus is all about teamwork and making personal sacrifices for the benefit of the collective.
Teamwork makes the dream work for FunPlus
In true LPL fashion, the games were fast-paced with the teams prioritizing fights over everything else.
FunPlus opted for early roams. Wherever Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang went, the rest of the team followed. On more than one occasion, the IG players found themselves outnumbered. FunPlus’ strategy forced IG to group and go blow for blow.
IG opted for risky plays, a style that is common in the LPL. The players were confident in their ability to outplay the enemy and went all-in without hesitation. That blind confidence was punished the majority of the time, but IG continued to try and make plays through brute force.
The outstanding pick of the day was Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang taking Nautilus. The mid laner locked the champion in three times in a row and made it work every single game.
Nautilus as a support champion provides engaging tools and a reliable front liner in team fights. Those traits fit in perfectly with FunPlus’ style since the team is constantly working together and doesn’t depend on a single player to win. Though Doinb isn’t the first player to use Nautilus in the mid lane, it is likely to be vogue once again after fading from popularity in the LPL and LCK.
IG is its own worst enemy and it showed throughout the series. The players took unnecessary risks, constantly walking into the fog of war without back up. While those lapses in concentration ended their run in the event, IG still exceded expectations in many ways.
FunPlus is heading to Paris where they will face the winner between SK Telecom T1 and G2 Esports.
Read Also
League of Legends
The Top-Earning League of Legends players of all-time
Hannan Mundia
League of Legends is one of the most profitable competitive games around, with its popularity meaning that players at the top are very well paid. Here we will compile a list of the top-earning League of Legends players of all-time. The esports scene has exploded in popularity in recent years, largely due to League of Legends. The game paved the way for other competitive games and has been going strong ...
League of Legends
LoL Worlds 2026 returns to the USA: Locations, venues, dates and slots revealed
Owen Harsono
Riot Games have revealed important details for the highly anticipated worlds 2026 tournament, including locations, dates, and some great news for South American fans. Here’s everything we know about LoL Worlds 2026 so far. On March 22, First Stand grand finals day held in São Paulo, Riot Games confirmed the tournament will be hosted in the United States. This will be the fifth time in history that Worlds has been ...
League of Legends
How to watch League of Legends 2026 First Stand
Hannan Mundia
2026 First Stand is shaping up to be the most intriguing League of Legends tournament of this year, prompting the question of how fans can watch it. Riot Games is usually fairly lax about streaming its events, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can stream them live. With this year’s First Stand being the first opportunity fans have to watch how their favorite teams stack up on the big stage, ...
League of Legends
List of qualified teams at First Stand 2026: Who are the favorites?
Hannan Mundia
With the first split of every competitive League of Legends region concluded, the list of qualified teams for the 2026 First Stand tournament is set. Last year's First Stand saw just five teams compete. The stakes are upped this year, with eight First Stand teams coming together for a chance to win the first international event of the year. Here are the teams that made it and who the outright ...
League of Legends
League of Legends 2026 First Stand preview
Hannan Mundia
First Stand will be the first competitive League of Legends international event of 2026. This preview goes through all of the necessary details, including First Stand's location, prize pool, and schedule, ensuring fans can tune in live to support their favorite teams and players. The 2026 First Stand is the newest of the three international competitions in the circuit. Launched in 2025, this year’s tournament is slated to start on ...
Esports Betting
FEARX vs Dplus 2026 LCK Cup playoffs: Preview, betting tips & predictions
Hannan Mundia
FEARX and Dplus KIA will compete in the 2026 LCK Cup lower bracket final to determine which team will face Gen.G in the grand final, and this betting preview highlights all of the important details about this upcoming match. While FEARX and Dplus KIA both went into this split as the underdogs, the two teams have surprised many with their performances since. Reaching the top three in a competitive region ...
Esports Betting
LYON vs Team Liquid 2026 LCS Lock-In predictions, key stats, odds & more
Hannan Mundia
LYON and Team Liquid are slated to face off in the 2026 LCS Lock-In playoffs, and this betting preview highlights the stats and form behind both teams to help you make more accurate predictions and picks. Despite the subpar performance of both teams in the Swiss stage, Team Liquid and LYON have seemingly bounced back in the playoffs. Both teams comfortably won their lower bracket quarterfinals matches without giving a ...
