The only thing that glittered was the Golden Guardians after they defeated GAM Esports on day two of MSI 2023.
Image courtesy of LoL Esports
Golden Guardians ensured that their debut at the Mid-Season Invitational would be a sweet one as they defeated GAM Esports 2-0 on the second day of the LAN. This win puts GG into the second round where they are one series away from qualifying for the playoffs. As for GAM, they will still have a second chance in the lower bracket, where they will go up against Rainbow7.
GAM missed out on MSI last year due to the 31st SEA Games and finally made its long-awaited return to the main stage after a five-year absence. Unfortunately, GG was not willing to let their debut at MSI go to waste as they immediately put GAM under pressure from game one. The early game was mostly even between both teams with GAM being the aggressor while GG would respond whenever possible.
But as the game wore on, GAM's overly-aggressive playstyle and team comp would prove to not be enough against GG's lineup. The LCS second seed would always have multiple members available, whether it was taking an objective or pushing down one of GAM's turrets. And a five-versus-five that broke out on the 21st-minute mark would go down to be one of Choi "huhi" JaeHyeon's best initiations, who managed to catch all five at once before the rest of his team pounced.
A few minutes later, another teamfight broke out that saw GAM lose all five this time, which all but surely spelled doom for the VCS champions. From there, it was just a deathball push to the end from GG, who was looking to wrap things up and take it straight to game two.
In the second game, it was GG who took the initiative to be the aggressor this time round while GAM decided to be a little more passive. And in total contrast to game one, it was GG who took an early lead after just 10 minutes with GAM lagging behind, whether it be in kills, levels, or gold.
The first real teamfight of game two occurred in just 15 minutes as both teams clashed in the river to fight for the rift herald. While it was a great initiation from GAM to set-up the fight, they did not have enough burst damage to take down GG with the likes of Trevor "Stixxay" Hayes securing himself a triple kill for his troubles.
This would have four dead from GAM, which only started to give GG a much greater lead as the game went on. GG was also smart in suffocating GAM into their own half of the map by taking out multiple turrets as well as securing the jungle with plenty of vision. In GG's last baron attempt, GAM would unsuccessfully contest it and wound up losing all five members after GG managed to split itself into two teams to chase down the remaining pack while the rest went straight for the base.
After losing yet another teamfight, GAM would hold one last defensive line against GG's bottom lane push. And even though GAM would be able to snipe out GG's midlaner to start a five-versus-four engagement, Stixxay ensured that there would be no comebacks today by getting himself a pentakill in GAM's own base to secure a 2-0 victory.
That win has confirmed the next round of matches, which we will see tomorrow for day three of MSI 2023. It will start off with G2 Esports versus PSG Talon while on the other side of the bracket, we will have GG go up against Bilibili Gaming. For the lower bracket, which will take place on May 6, we will have GAM versus Rainbow7 while LOUD will face DetonatioN FocusMe.
