Home > Esports > 2021 MSI Day 5: MAD Lions, PSG Talon Reach Rumble Stage

2021 MSI Day 5: MAD Lions, PSG Talon Reach Rumble Stage

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MAD Lions finished atop Group B by the end of Day 5 in the 2021 MSI (Mid-Season Invitational) as a result of besting PSG Talon, paiN Gaming, and Istanbul Wildcats after finishing their six games of the initial phase.

Coming from behind in two of the three games in the day, MAD Lions rallied back to overtake their Brazilian and PCS adversaries to continue silencing the doubters that cited their disappointment in Worlds 2020 as an indication for another flatulent occurrence in Iceland. But unbeknownst to them, a repeat occurrence did happen, just not in the way they imagined. Instead, MAD Lions channelled their LEC spring split playoffs form to make the Rumble stage with a comfortable 5-1 record.

Here is the final standings for Group B in the 2021.

And here were the top storylines of Day 5.

MAD Lions Remains Resolute

Although MAD Lions lost their opening match to IW, they overcame any subsequent adversity to snatch first place in Group B and continue Europe’s bid towards reaching their fourth consecutive MSI grand finals appearance.

As mentioned before, MAD started both of their winning matches from behind, with the paiN affair being especially troublesome as the European outfit were straddled in a 2k gold deficit for the first 20 minutes. However, with a Varus takedown on Morgana signalling the change of momentum, MAD snowballed as a result of their scaling potential to flip the match in their favour.

Against PSG, MAD improved their early game by staying tied with the PCS representatives roughly 10 minutes in, but ADC Carzzy again showed why he has distinguished himself as one of the best players in this tournament by compiling an 11/1/5 KDA with his signature Kai’Sa.

PSG Talon Soldiers Through

As for PSG Talon, the second team progressing to the Rumble stage off Group B, they punched their ticket by brushing aside paiN’s LeBlanc pick by mid-laner tinowns with the might of substitute ADC Doggo’s Aphelios and mid-laner Maple’s Zoe, putting up a combined KDA of 11/0/12. For their other win, despite heavy damage given by Istanbul Wildcats ADC HolyPhoenix’s Kai’Sa particularly in the late game, PSG persevered through Doggo’s frenetic but critical Tristana with only a second of hesitation to engage in a fight deciding the outcome of the match.

“We should have just [gone] without the Jayce poke and I think we would have a pretty good chance at winning the team fights because at this point of the game it was all ARAM, and whoever wins that ARAM gets the Baron and wins the game.”

said HolyPhoenix after losing to PSG in an interview with Gamezo

For the second consecutive international tournament, PSG progressed to the second round after undergoing a sudden roster adjustment. In the same breath that pondered MAD’s chances as a viable contender for the title, PSG was questioned whether they could continue building from their stellar PCS season without their regular ADC. That sceptical component was given additional credence on the first day of the tournament when they were swiped by MAD.

But soon enough, PSG engines began revving by winning four of their next five games to secure a spot in the next round. Even with the circumstance regarding Doggo hopping on board as a loaned player from Beyond Gaming, PSG  seems poised to continue marching ahead.

“I think for now we still have room for improvement especially in our synergy, but we’re not worrying about [Doggo’s] personal mechanics at all.”

said PSG mid-laner Maple regarding Doggo’s contribution to the team.

Bittersweet Ending For IW and paiN

In a story that celebrates winners for their accomplishments, there also simultaneously exists the presence of losers that are denied the glory. For this case, paiN Gaming and Istanbul Wildcats were both eliminated from MSI by finishing in the bottom half of the group.

Courtesy: Riot Games

Tremendous promise followed these teams during the competition’s prelude as IW finally obtained the TCL championship that long eluded them whereas paiN arrived in Iceland having completed a miraculous run through the CBLoL playoffs. Add to that with Unified not travelling with PSG and the questions circulating around MAD, expectations were high for either or both of them to usurp the favourites and write history.

Unfortunately, such a wish did not come to be as an eventual 2-4 and 1-5 record from them denied them a ticket for progression, thus extending their respective regions’ streak of notoriety in international events. Despite the tinging failure, some of the teams’ players are already looking forward to the next opportunity in mending their wounds: Worlds. This fall, they will surely have their revenge.

“I wish it was a better tournament, I wish we could have beaten Brazil two times or something like this, but it didn’t happen, I will just look forward to the next Worlds and take my revenge on the international tournament.”

said HolyPhoenix in closing of his post-game interview.

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AUTHOR

Pedro has been a contributing esports writer for Gamezo since the fall of 2020. He is exceedingly passionate in hobbies such as reading, writing, watching sports, and, of course, playing video games.