FunPlus Phoenix vs. DWG KIA: Worlds 2021 betting analysis

The 2021 League of Legends World Championship ignites with an explosive opening featuring two legendary world champion organizations. This monumental clash represents more than just a group stage match—it’s a statement game that will establish the competitive standard for the entire tournament.

Defending world champion DWG KIA confronts 2019 titleholder FunPlus Phoenix in a best-of-one that carries immense psychological weight. Both teams understand that early momentum can create tournament-defining advantages, making this opening encounter strategically crucial beyond just the single game result.

Group B presents additional challenges with LEC powerhouse Rogue and a play-in qualifier, but the primary narrative focuses squarely on the titanic struggle between these Eastern giants. While underdogs could potentially create surprises, the group’s destiny likely rests with which of these championship-caliber teams emerges superior.

The mid lane confrontation represents the tournament’s most anticipated individual matchup, featuring DWG KIA’s Heo “ShowMaker” Su against FPX’s Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang. Both Korean mid laners enter Worlds 2021 with legitimate claims to the title of world’s best player, creating a legacy-defining moment on esports’ grandest stage.

Doinb brings an unconventional approach characterized by innovative champion selections and unexpected strategic wrinkles. His extensive champion pool includes unique picks that frequently catch opponents unprepared, forcing adaptations that can disrupt established game plans.

ShowMaker typically employs more traditional control mage strategies but demonstrates remarkable flexibility with aggressive assassins like LeBlanc and Sylas when team composition demands carry potential. This stylistic contrast creates fascinating strategic dimensions that both teams must navigate carefully.

Common Mistake to Avoid: Don’t overestimate early lane advantages—both players excel at recovering from difficult starts and impacting mid-to-late game team fights.

With such an explosive mid lane pairing, both junglers will inevitably focus attention on securing advantages through mid lane priority. DWG KIA’s Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu consistently demonstrates early game dominance throughout the LCK season, establishing himself as one of the most formidable early-game junglers globally.

FPX’s Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang brings championship experience but returns to international competition for the first time since FPX’s 2019 championship victory.

Advanced Optimization: Watch for Tian’s pathing adjustments—if he anticipates Canyon’s aggression, he may employ vertical jungle strategies to create cross-map advantages.

The jungle matchup presents fascinating contrasts: Canyon’s relentless pressure against Tian’s strategic patience. This dynamic could determine which team controls the crucial early game tempo that often snowballs into mid-game advantages.

While mid lane commands attention, other positions present compelling narratives that could influence the game’s outcome. The top lane features former DWG KIA player Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon facing his previous organization, creating personal motivation to validate his decision to join FPX.

Kim “Khan” Dong-ha must counter Nuguri’s motivation with the exceptional form he displayed during the 2021 LCK Summer Split playoffs.

Bot lane may experience relative isolation initially, with both teams potentially prioritizing other areas of the map before engaging in large-scale team fights.

Practical Tip: Monitor top lane wave management—the player who establishes better minion control will create more opportunities for jungle assistance and objective control.

FunPlus Phoenix vs. DWG KIA rosters

FunPlus Phoenix roster:

• Top – Jang “Nuguri” Ha-gwon
• Jungle – Gao “Tian” Tian-Liang
• Mid – Kim “Doinb” Tae-sang
• Bot – Lin “Lwx” Wei-Xiang
• Support – Liu “Crisp” Qing-Song

DWG KIA roster:

• Top – Kim “Khan” Dong-ha
• Jungle – Kim “Canyon” Geon-bu
• Mid – Heo “ShowMaker” Su
• Bot – Jang “Ghost” Yong-jun
• Support – Cho “BeryL” Geon-hee

Player Experience Analysis: FPX’s roster combines 2019 championship experience with new talent, while DWG KIA returns with their championship-winning core intact.

FPX enter as slight favorites against DWG KIA at Worlds 2021

Riot Games selected the perfect competitive spectacle to launch the Worlds 2021 group stage, as FPX and DWG KIA demonstrate remarkably similar strength levels theoretically. Despite DWG KIA’s status as defending world and LCK champion, bookmakers surprisingly install FPX as marginal favorites.

Despite their loss in the 2021 LPL Summer Split finals, FPX maintains reputation as an exceptionally versatile squad capable of adapting to multiple strategic approaches. Emerging from the intensely competitive LPL region, FPX potentially benefits from superior practice quality against diverse playstyles throughout the competitive season.

Betting Strategy Insight: FPX victory offers 1.73 odds while DWG KIA win provides slightly more favorable 1.97 returns.

The strategic depth of both teams suggests extended team fights and calculated objective control rather than explosive early game conclusions. For more comprehensive Complete Guide to competitive analysis, explore our dedicated resources.

Time Estimate for Key Scenarios: Early game advantages typically manifest between minutes 8-12, while decisive team fights often occur around major objective spawns at 20+ minutes.

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