MSI 2022 Day 1 Predictions

With MSI just around the corner, Riot Games already released the schedule for the group’s stage, and day one will have some very exciting matchups.

It’s very important to have a good start in a tournament like MSI since the group’s stage only lasts one week, and all the teams, except the ones in group C, will only play six games, meaning the importance of every single game is even bigger.

A good day one performance can make or break the chances of some of the teams.

Without further ado, let’s get right into the predictions. Use our LoL betting guide if you are ready to take risks and get new emotions.

T1 vs Saigon Buffalo match prediction

LCK Spring champions T1 come into MSI as the tournament favorites. This team is destined for international success and anything less than a final appearance would be considered a failure by the South Korean team.

I could talk about how they are one of the best early game teams in the world. How they have insane laners, and get very big advantages throughout them. Well, I guess I just did talk about that but the bottom line is T1 should win game one without any difficulties.

Saigon Buffalo would have to pull off a miracle in order to beat T1, and despite Vietnamese teams being experts when it comes to upsetting title contenders in a best of one, it seems T1 is just too much for the second-place finishers in the VCT Spring Split.

[match_prediction match=”saigon-buffalo-vs-t1-10-05-2022-09-00″ team=”sk-telecom-t1-lol”]

Team Aze vs DetonatioN FocusMe match prediction

Possibly one of the closest games of day one, and also one of the toughest to predict.

Team Aze has a decent early game and has a deep champion pool.

However, DetonatioN FocusMe early game is one of the best in the tournament, averaging almost a 3k gold lead at 15 minutes, and an 85.7% win rate when ahead at the 15 minutes mark.

Steal doesn’t have that much of a deep champion pool, but the rest of the team has a relatively big champion pool.

5Kid, Team Aze ADC, and Lonely their top laner, are the primary carriers of the LLA champions.

But DetonatioN FocusMe has two really good and experienced players in those same positions. Yutapon is the face of the Japanese team and also the main carry, and already proved we can perform at the international level.

Evi is also a very solid top laner, with a good champion pool, and he also has proved that playing against the international competition is not a problem for him.

I see DetonatioN FocusMe as a more experienced team, with a superior early game, that drafts well, and once they are ahead at the 15-minute mark they know how to manage their lead.

[match_prediction match=”detonation-focusme-vs-team-aze-10-05-2022-10-00″ team=”detonation-focusme-lol”]

ORDER vs G2 Esports match prediction

Not much needs to be said about this one. Similar to our first match of the day, G2 Esports are the heavy favorites in this one.

The team was been one a great run of form, steamrolling their way throughout the lower bracket and the Grand Final of the LEC.

ORDER come into this tournament as the Oceania representatives and unfortunately for them were placed in the worst group possible for them.

G2 Esports is just in general a superior team. From individual skill to drafting, to team fighting.

I would be surprised if G2 Esports don’t win this game.

[match_prediction match=”order-vs-g2-esports-10-05-2022-11-00″ team=”g2-esports-lol”]

Evil Geniuses vs G2 Esports match prediction

A tale as old as time, the NA vs EU rivalry continues at MSI 2022, and this time the main protagonists are G2 Esports and Evil Geniuses.

This is definitely the match of the day, with two heavy hitters clashing for the first time of at least two in this MSI 2022.

Both teams will be playing for a win to place them in the first place in the group, but also for the honor of their region.

Evil Geniuses is very similar to G2 Esports. They almost did a perfect lower bracket run, only dropping one map, to Flyquest, and dominating the LCS playoffs.

Similar to their European opponents, they don’t have an incredible early game, only having an average gold lead of 329 at 15 minutes.

The LCS champions like to draft for the late game and have a big champion pool. G2 Esports play in a similar way, not drafting full late game but always having an insurance policy if the game gets there.

Danny and Flakked are the ADC for both teams, and also are the main damage source for their respective teams, with both of them shining when it comes to team fighting.

jojopyun also has been performing at a superstar’s level recently, but now he is going to have to go against the best version of Caps since 2019.

I think G2 Esports has a slight advantage in this one because they are a more experienced team when it comes to international competition.

Jankos and Caps have been playing really well lately, and Broken Blade can play the tank role or the carry top lane role at a very high level, while Impact is not as good as a carry top laner in my opinion.

G2 Esports also excel when it comes to team fighting, and they will not make the huge mistakes some of the North American teams made that Evil Geniuses would then take advantage of.

The mid- jungle will be very important for this matchup, as well as the draft.

[match_prediction match=”evil-geniuses-vs-g2-esports-10-05-2022-12-00″ team=”g2-esports-lol”]

İstanbul Wildcats vs Royal Never Give Up match prediction

Playing from China on 35 ping is not the ideal situation for the LPL champions RNG. But their opponents will play with the same ping, and the Chinese team players are somewhat used to this point since they play the South Korean solo queue in the same conditions.

RNG is the heavy favorite for this match, after all, they are the reigning LPL and MSI champions.

However, of all the matches that have a huge favorite, this one has the most chance of an upset.

İstanbul Wildcats are by no means a bad team, they dominated the Turkish league and have a good chance of making it out of groups.

The Turkish champions are a very good early game team, having an average gold lead of almost 4k at 15 minutes, and winning 100% of the games they are ahead at that 15-minute mark.

However, RNG is better when it comes to individual skill, and it will be difficult for İstanbul Wildcats to not fall behind in the landing phase. 

When it comes to team fighting the advantage is also obviously on the side of the LPL champions.

Another thing that can diminish the Turkish side’s chances is their small champion pool, and the fact their game plan is focused a lot on drafting to win the early game.

I see RNG take this game but İstanbul Wildcats will not go down without a fight. 

[match_prediction match=”istanbul-wildcats-vs-royal-never-give-up-10-05-2022-01-00″ team=”royal-never-give-up-lol”]

RED Canids vs PSG Talon match prediction

A very important game for both teams, as they will be fighting for the second place in group B, in a very balanced group if you take RNG out of the equation.

Both teams don’t have a good early game and rely on their team fighting in the late game to win games.

RED Canids is very good at capitalizing on the mistakes of their enemies, and I can guarantee this game will have mistakes made by both sides.

The two teams have a champion ocean and are very flexible when it comes to the draft.

I think the draft will play a very important role in this match.

Obviously, the draft phase is always important but when it comes to two teams that play similar styles and are of the same level, it can be the difference-maker.

It’s the most 50-50 game of day one and it’s really anyone’s game.

I will give PSG Talon a slight advantage in this confrontation.

When it comes to individual skill I think they are a little bit better, and players like Unified and Hanabi have proved they can perform well internationally.

[match_prediction match=”red-canids-vs-psg-talon-10-05-2022-02-00″ team=”talon-esports-lol”]

However, RED Canids is totally capable of winning this game, and the CBLOL champions are already used to coming out on top in situations most people didn’t believe in them.