“I Think We Can Win”

Each fell out of favor with followers a while in the past, Licorice and Golden Guardians are a match made in heaven as they make their manner as much as the highest of the LCS.

Golden Guardians have been one in every of 4 new groups awarded a slot within the newly franchised LCS again in 2018. Regardless of being backed by the NBA giants Golden State Warriors, GG was an org that by no means spent massive and tried to exist within the league with extra modest rosters. They nearly struck gold with a promising younger core in 2020, however they parted methods with that roster as a result of funds cuts through the pandemic, after which they needed to stand there and watch as that core received the LCS below the 100 Thieves banner.

Bored with 4 years stuffed with mid-table finishes, Golden Guardians opened up a brand new chapter with their former head coach Nick “Inero” Smith on the helm as the brand new GM and began constructing a common contender with Eric “Licorice” Ritchie because the unlikely centerpiece because the former LCS champion has been struggling since he left Cloud9.

Regardless of the standard low expectations, Golden Guardians shocked everybody watching through the 2023 LCS Spring by reaching all the way in which to the Finals, incomes the proper to symbolize the area at MSI 2023.

Licorice and Golden Guardians stored defying expectations at MSI

MSI itself was one other alternative for the Guardians to point out what they’re able to, breezing by means of the Play-ins and giving the 2 LPL groups a variety of hassle regardless of the eventual defeats. The occasion itself was tough for not solely LCS however West as an entire. Solely G2 and GG have been in a position to take video games off from LCK/LPL groups, and that was one sport every, which then led to the neighborhood sentiment of the hole between East and West getting worse and worse.

“I do not know. I feel it is onerous to say if it is getting worse or not as a result of I feel that the Jap groups have all the time simply been so much stronger and usually it has been actually onerous for groups from the West to compete, particularly towards the highest seed from the LCK and LPL. However I do not suppose we have gotten nearer than we used to, I might say,” Licorice commented on the state of the competitors stage.

However even with the general unsuccessful outcomes, there have been some constructive takeaways from the occasion with Licorice’s particular person efficiency being one in every of them. The veteran participant proved himself as somebody who can compete on the largest stage, which was an enormous confidence enhance for him coming into the Summer season.

“I had an excellent exhibiting at MSI, I feel that it simply helped me really feel much more assured about my talent stage. I had a very good first few years of my profession after which I struggled just a little bit after that. I wasn’t so certain if I used to be going to be a prime participant once more. So it was very nice to have the ability to go to MSI and be like, oh, no, I can compete with the most effective of the most effective on the earth. So I am simply feeling actually assured about my play and my talent.”

With their Spring and MSI performances mixed, Golden Guardians have been on the prime of almost everybody’s rankings as we bought prepared for Summer season Break up. “It undoubtedly feels good. As professional gamers, I feel everybody’s actually aggressive, I do know I’m. When you do not really feel like you’ve an excellent likelihood of profitable, I discover it tougher to remain motivated. So I feel that it is simply actually thrilling to be a title contender proper off the bat and to know that we could be on the very prime,” was Licorice’s sentiment about GG being thought of a challenger for the title, first time ever within the Golden Guardians historical past.

Seeking to go a step additional within the Summer season Break up

The beginning of the Summer season Break up was very gradual for the Guardians as they misplaced their first two video games. However neither Licorice nor the Guardians have been anxious about it, ”Clearly, we would not have preferred to begin 0-2, however I feel that we have recovered fairly properly and that we’re beginning to play higher as a group once more,” as they turned it round in a short time with a four-game win streak to shut out Week 2.

Just like the Spring Playoffs and MSI, Licorice has been a really massive win situation for GG throughout this win streak. In a meta with out a lot selection, Licorice additionally isn’t afraid to tug out one thing new, whether or not it’s Rumble or the Hullbreaker Yone. “I’ve all the time simply loved enjoying a variety of completely different champions. A number of professional gamers focus on a handful of champions, they usually principally play these. However I all the time like pulling out the shock picks. It is also useful that my teaching employees has a variety of confidence in me, based mostly on playoffs and MSI particularly. They only have a variety of confidence in me that if I feel one thing goes to be good, it will in all probability go properly. I’ve a variety of room to experiment proper now.”

With the third group on the Spring Finals Weekend, FlyQuest, beginning the break up 0-6, there are usually not many roadblocks in entrance of Golden Guardians as they search for a rematch towards Cloud9. Though Licorice thinks FlyQuest can nonetheless flip their season round, “As quickly as you get to the purpose the place playoffs are threatened whenever you lose one or two video games, the strain will get actually excessive. However I feel that on the level they’re at, they will undoubtedly nonetheless flip it round,” he nonetheless believes they may meet Cloud9 on the Finals as soon as once more.

“I feel we are able to win. It might be good to win. There’s solely a lot in our management. I do not know what the meta goes to be like or something. Cloud9 is a powerful group, particularly in North America, so we simply should do our greatest.”

Licorice and Golden Guardians’ journey within the 2023 LCS Summer season will proceed in Week 3 as they tackle NRG, 100 Thieves and Workforce Liquid.

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