Golden Guardians are aiming for an outdoor likelihood on the playoffs in LCS 2023 Spring.
2023 would be the sixth yr Golden Guardians competed within the LCS. They’ve been fairly constant about making playoffs in each Summer season and Spring splits, however the group by no means noticed an excessive amount of success past that. Of their ten LCS splits, they made six playoff appearances. However solely have one Bo5 victory, in opposition to TSM again in 2020 Summer season.
And with 100 Thieves discovering success with what was as soon as a Golden Guardians’ core, LCS followers don’t have anything however complaints about GG and their ambitions. It isn’t at all times for lack of attempting both. We’ve seen the Guardians make strikes just like the mid-split acquisition of Kim “River” Dong-woo from Dignitas final Summer season. However nothing GG did up to now save them from the last-place playoff workforce spot. Head coach Nicholas “Inero” Smith took the brunt of this criticism.
So for 2023, GG is attempting one thing new with their workers as properly. After not with the ability to take the subsequent step as a head coach, Inero switched to a extra managerial function because the group’s new GM, along with his former assistant Samuel “Spookz” Broadley getting promoted to the open slot. Selling a coach from the within could be the fallacious transfer, if the intention behind the transfer was to make some huge modifications, doubly so when the roster itself isn’t all that totally different from final yr.
- Prime laner: Eric “Licorice” Ritchie
- Jungler: Kim “River” Dong-woo
- Mid laner: Kim “Gori” Tae-woo
- Bot laner: Trevor “Stixxay” Hayes
- Assist: Choi “huhi” Jae-hyun
New path, new Guardians, identical will to win.@inero introduces our 2023 Golden Guardians LCS roster! #GGWIN
Prime – @Licorice
Jungle – @lolRiver
Mid – @lol_GGGori
ADC – @Stixxay
Assist – @huhi*Pending Riot Approval* pic.twitter.com/YyhCFUioYL
— Golden Guardians (@GoldenGuardians) November 23, 2022
Golden Guardians are betting on enchancment with out making too many strikes
Regardless of their unsatisfying Summer season, Golden Guardians didn’t make too many roster modifications, particularly contemplating Kim “Olleh” Joo-sung leaving was as a result of his obligatory service again in South Korea. In order that they needed to discover a new assist, which was a homecoming for huhi. This will likely be huhi’s second stint on Golden Guardians as he was a part of that aforementioned core that moved to 100T. Contemplating how a lot huhi has improved ever since he left the workforce the primary time and the truth that he has earlier synergy with Stixxay from their CLG days, this signing is a fairly good one. The one fear is that 2022 hasn’t been the most effective yr for huhi, extra so throughout Summer season. However the meta was arguably not that nice for his playstyle, so we will count on him to enhance to his imply.
His bot lane accomplice Stixxay however had a small resurgence final yr. For many Golden Guardians video games, Stixxay seemed like the one participant making a constructive influence. He was the principle motive how GG was in a position to take the CLG to 5 video games throughout their playoff matchup. Sadly, the identical can’t be stated for the opposite two remaining gamers.
Each Licorice and River are gamers with lots of pedigree behind them. We noticed them play on the most important levels and maintain their very own. Whether or not it was the meta or some other issue, they outright seemed unhealthy at many factors throughout final Summer season. Now, that is much less of a problem for Licorice as he’s already referred to as a streaky participant, but additionally for the truth that Golden Guardians invested so much to signal River mid-season. He was purported to be the engine behind their playoff push, which he actually wasn’t. He will likely be an important piece for GG’s 2023, particularly contemplating he was the rationale Gori joined the workforce.
In accordance with Inero, River was the most important proponent of the Gori signing. Nevertheless, the deal itself didn’t essentially want lots of convincing. After enjoying on groups like Nongshim RedForce and FPX, Gori spent the final yr in PCS with PSG Talon. And regardless of not profitable the league or making it to Worlds, PSG Talon was first within the common season, with Gori profitable the PCS MVP award. If Gori was signed at the beginning of final yr, he may’ve been a star signing. However with the mid lane pool of the LCS getting stronger and stronger, Golden Guardians didn’t get too huge of a lead there. So except some folks on this squad wildly overperform their expectations, it doesn’t appear like Golden Guardians will likely be greater in standings on the finish of the Spring.
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