Team Liquid's chances of advancing drop with loss to Machi Esports
Team Liquid dropped its first match against Machi Esports in the 2020 League of Legends World Championship.
Liquid failed to perform in its first game of the main event despite using a classic TL composition. After its play-ins run, the draft became the main win condition for the North American squad. Liquid needed certain champions to be able to compete.
Team Liquid drafted Graves in the jungle, Orianna and Mordekaiser in the solo lanes, and the Caitlyn-Lux combination in the bot lane. This is a composition that worked for the team domestically but proved to be useless against Machi.
Bad draft loses Team Liquid the game in Worlds 2020
The main issue for the composition is the lack of initiation and set up for plays. Team Liquid expected Machi to run at them and make mistakes, but those mistakes and engages never came. Machi proved to be way better than expected and took control of the game early. Machi dominated the lanes and its junglers had a solid presence on the map. Liquid couldn’t do anything about it.
Drafting is a prevalent issue for the North American squads and one that is costing the teams greatly at Worlds. A good draft at Worlds must be capable of doing pretty much everything. Teams need tools to start fights, but also to disengage. Different sources of damage and strong frontlines. Games don’t follow a single pattern and a lack of flexibility can decide the outcome before the game even officially begins.
North American squads are not the most flexible of the bunch. These teams play one style and crumble under pressure when the game doesn’t fit into their preferred pattern. Machi showcased a great ability to fight, but also play for the objectives. The PCS squad made a statement in its debut at Worlds and is looking like a team that can upset group A.
Read Also
Esports Betting
These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4
Ben Boland
The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...
League of Legends
Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends
Hannan Mundia
After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
