Esports-EDward Gaming stuns DWG KIA to win LOL Worlds

With DWG KIA basically without their world-class jungler, EDG had all the momentum. Scout's Zoe landed huge Paddlestars to make DK afraid to contest objectives, leading to EDward Gaming dominating the map from start to finish.

EDward Gaming came from behind and battled to a 3-2 series victory to win the 2021 League of Legends World Championship over defending champion DWG KIA on Saturday in Reykjavík, Iceland. It was an unexpected championship for EDG against the heavily favored opponent. Prior to this year, EDG never had advanced past the quarterfinals at the Worlds, and they became the first team to win 15 of a possible 15 playoff matches to win the championship.

EDG takes home $489,500 with the win. EDG took Game 1 in 35 minutes. While DWG KIA mid laner Heo "ShowMaker" Su got to play his signature LeBlanc, EDward Gaming responded by taking Zilean support to negate his assassination attempts with Chronoshift. EDG showcased their elite teamfighting capabilities in the opener.

DWG KIA were quick to respond, taking Game 2 in 32 minutes. EDG mid laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan got his hands on LeBlanc, but ShowMaker responded by taking Malzahar. Scout was neutralized from Champion Select, with ShowMaker able to quickly clear waves thanks to Malefic Visions, block incoming magic damage with his Void Shift passive, and, most importantly, lock down EDG members with Nether Grasp.

With Scout held in check, DK's top half of the map ran wild over EDG, securing the win in 32 minutes. DWG KIA jungler Kim "Canyon" Geon-bu's legendary Lee Sin made an appearance in Game 3, in which DWG KIA won in 36 minutes. Canyon, and ShowMaker's Sylas, dominated the early game, putting EDG jungler Zhao "Jiejie" Li-Jie's Xin Zhao behind early.

What's more, DWG KIA top laner Kim "Khan" Dong-ha's Gragas did a good job surviving a tough early game to come back and land huge Explosive Casks to knock EDG out of their formation. With EDG's frontline in disarray, DWG KIA rolled through EDG and took a 2-1 series lead, threatening to put EDG away.

With their backs to the wall, EDG stepped up in a big way, starting with a jungle masterclass from Jiejie's Viego in a 33-mintue win. Jiejie shadowed Canyon's Talon brilliantly, making life near impossible for Canyon. With DWG KIA basically without their world-class jungler, EDG had all the momentum.

Scout's Zoe landed huge Paddlestars to make DK afraid to contest objectives, leading to EDward Gaming dominating the map from start to finish. In the series and season-deciding Game 5, Jiejie took Xin Zhao and won his matchup against Canyon while Scout, one of the longest tenured members of EDG since joining the side in 2016, took Zoe again.

Early on, EDG got the better of DWG KIA, picking up kills and picking on DWG's top half of the map. While DWG stayed alive with occasional picks of their own, EDG took over the game at 23 minutes, when they picked up an Ocean Drake and a 4-for-1 teamfight win. With all the momentum going toward EDward Gaming, and with an Ocean Soul on the horizon, DWG KIA had to make a play, leading to a successful two-man Baron sneak at 27 minutes.

That didn't stop EDG, though, which took Ocean Soul and a 5-for-2 teamfight to take control and eventually close out the game in 41 minutes. Scout was named MVP of the finals.

LEAGUE OF LEGENDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS Final standings and earnings

1: Edward Gaming, $489,500 2: DWG Kia, $333,750

3-4: Gen.G Esports, T1; $178,000 5-8: Royal Never Give Up, Cloud9, Hanwha Life Esports, MAD Lions; $100,125

9-11: Rogue, 100 Thieves, PSG Talon; $55,625 12-13: Team Liquid, LNG Esports; $52,844

14-16: FunPlus Phoenix, DetonatioN FocusMe, Fnatic; $50,063 17-18: PEACE, Beyond Gaming; $38,938

19-20: RED Canids, Galatasaray Esports; $27,813 21-22: Infinity, Unicorns of Love; $22,250

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