iG returns to Worlds quarterfinals after 7-year hiatus
Invictus Gaming (iG) have returned to the League of Legends World Championship quarterfinals for the first time in seven years. During the 4th round of the Swiss Stage at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center in Allen, Texas, iG secured a 2-0 victory over North American side Lion.
This marks iG's first appearance in the tournament's top eight since the 2019 championship in Europe. While Lion dropped to the 2-2 group, iG's performance solidified their momentum heading into the knockout stage.
The opening game was defined by Zachi, whose play on Yuumi proved decisive in objective contests. Following a series of successful skirmishes, including a Quadra Kill by Rookie in the mid lane, iG secured the Ocean Soul and closed out the map at the 27-minute mark. The second game saw a more competitive struggle; despite Way (옌양웨이) securing an Earth Dragon steal on Lee Sin, Lion managed to equalize the series by dominating late-game Dragon fights.
In the deciding third game, iG regained control. Zachi excelled on Caitlyn, scaling effectively to provide the team with significant gold and objective advantages. After securing the Earth Dragon Soul, iG pushed forward to dismantle the enemy nexus.
Post-match, Way expressed immense joy regarding the seven-year wait for a quarterfinal berth. He noted that the team had studied Lion's strong laning and teamplay, which influenced their strategic preparation. Despite previous challenges facing Inspired (카츠페르 스워마), iG relied on superior team coordination to clinch the win. When asked about their upcoming opponents in the quarterfinals, Way remained unfazed: "It doesn't matter who we face. If we play our game, we believe we can win."
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