Worlds 2022 Play-In: Chiefs show grit despite 0-5 finish in Mexico

After an arduous journey to the top of the LCO, The Chiefs gear up for the biggest test of their careers: Worlds 2022. Challengers from across the globs converge on Mexico City in the hopes of qualifying to the group stage and continuing their climb to the top. Can The Chiefs crack the top 16?

• LOUD ends Chiefs’ hopes for international win
• 0-13: OCE as region goes winless in 2022
• Back to the drawing board as off-season begins early

It wasn’t to be for The Chiefs at the Worlds 2022 Play-In.

From a disrupted opening day through to Monday’s match for pride, The Chiefs never backed down.

But alas, they weren’t The Chiefs that left Australia as undisputed LCO champions, with the squad struggling to find the form that saw them post an incredible 27-1 Split 2.

“That’s Worlds over for us. I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to play with this team and under this organisation,” said Ryan “Aladoric” Richardson following Chiefs’ final loss to LOUD.

“We had our ups, downs and daily arguments but at the end of the day we did our best here and had an amazing split in OCE.”

Pundits were optimistic the Aussies could rise to the occasion after such dominance at home, but outside of rare 10-15 minute stints in games, The Chiefs just weren’t competitive in their matchups.

Their journey met a roadblock on day one, with two players testing positive for COVID–meaning they would not join their teammates on stage together–ahead of their opener against Fnatic.

Fnatic themselves had COVID troubles of their own, with Ruben “Rhuckz” Barbosa substituting for starting support Zdravets “Hylissang” Galabov.

The Chiefs went hard at Fnatic for the opening stint but while the gold advantage was narrow, Fnatic’s laning stage was that much stronger, and a couple of lost teamfights began the snowball against the OCE champions.

Chiefs struggled through their following matches, losing in quick fashion to DetonatioN and EG–meaning they’d need a win over Taiwanese squad Beyond Gaming to remain in the hunt for a groups spot.

But Beyond were far too strong in the best-of-one, ending The Chiefs’ run on day three.

Playing for pride on Monday against LOUD, who themselves needed a win to secure a spot in stage two of Play-Ins, The Chiefs bravely held on after a horrid opening stint to stay in the game, aceing LOUD.

But a lost teamfight shortly after in the mid-lane and a LOUD ace of their own consigned The Chiefs to a 0-5 record, joining Group B’s Istanbul Wildcats as the only teams winless at the Play-In.

Internationally, it’s a year to forget for OCE League of Legends. LCO Split 1 winners Order also failed to record a win at the Mid-Season Invitational, meaning the Oceanic region has gone winless across the entirety of 2022.

It’s a long flight home for The Chiefs, with an even longer off-season of reflection ahead of the Split 2 champs ahead of the return of the LCO in 2023.

Worlds 2022 Play-In Schedule & Results

The Worlds Play-In consisted of two groups of six, with teams playing each opponent once. Each match was a best-of-one. The group winners both proceeded to the Worlds Main Event.

Second, third and fourth place finishers made it to stage two of the Play-In. Fourth will play third in a best-of-five, with the winner progressing.

The winner then played the second place finisher from the opposite group–the winner of that best-of-five snatched the final spot in the group stages.

All match times will be listed in AEST.

Worlds 2022 Play-In Groups

Worlds 2022 Play-In Schedule

Play-In Day 1 — Friday, October 1

Play-In Day 2 — Saturday, October 2

Play-In Day 3 — Sunday, October 3

Play-In Day 4 — Monday, October 4

Worlds 2022 Play-In Squads