TL;DR
- LCS teams consistently drafted scaling compositions that failed against aggressive international opponents
- North American teams demonstrated inability to maintain tempo and proactive play during critical moments
- The Worlds 2020 meta heavily favored early-game aggression and map control strategies
- FlyQuest’s elimination highlights systemic issues in LCS talent development and strategic preparation
- Successful regions like LPL and LEC demonstrate the value of domestic talent cultivation over imports
FlyQuest’s defeat against DragonX during the 2020 League of Legends World Championship group stage marked the final North American team’s departure from the tournament, completing a disappointing showing for the LCS region.
The team faced an exceptionally challenging group featuring Top Esports and DRX, both considered championship contenders. This demanding draw required FlyQuest to innovate strategically and execute flawlessly to advance. While they secured a victory against Unicorns of Love, this single win proved insufficient to clinch a top-two group position necessary for quarterfinal progression.
The @UnicornsOfLove and @FlyQuest are knocked out of #Worlds2020 Quarterfinal contention. pic.twitter.com/YIsxrYXHsR
— LoL Esports (@lolesports) October 11, 2020
Though FlyQuest has remaining matches in the group stage, these games now represent battles for third-place positioning and professional pride rather than advancement opportunities. Their elimination follows similar disappointing exits by Team Liquid and Team SoloMid, ensuring no North American representation in the Worlds 2020 playoff bracket.
LCS teams needed more bloodthirst at Worlds 2020
A consistent pattern emerged across all three LCS representatives: insufficient aggression and proactive gameplay. The 2020 Worlds competitive environment demanded constant early pressure and decisive map movements, yet North American squads consistently adopted passive, reactive approaches that proved ineffective against international competition.
Each LCS team displayed moments of assertive play but consistently failed to sustain this tempo during pivotal game phases. FlyQuest exemplified this issue by repeatedly selecting late-game scaling team compositions that faced severe punishment from aggressive opponents like Top Esports and DRX. Choosing scaling strategies against world-class aggressive teams virtually ensures defeat in the current competitive landscape.
FlyQuest demonstrated competent execution at elevated levels, though not sufficiently advanced to compete with top-eight global teams. Mid laner Tristan “PowerOfEvil” Schrage showcased his capabilities on Syndra versus Unicorns of Love, but struggled significantly against elite opponents like Top Esports’ Zhuo “Knight” Ding and DRX’s Jeong “Chovy” Ji-hoon, highlighting the individual skill disparities between regions.
Our dreams of making it out of groups come to an end, but we’ve got two more games to go! We’re determined to give it our all!
Thank you to all our fans for your support. Let’s continue to #ShowcaseGreatness together! For the trees and the seas! #Worlds2020 #WorldQuest ???? pic.twitter.com/Kjb93UH85G
— WorldQuest (@FlyQuest) October 11, 2020
The LCS teams need further improvements
Following the complete absence of success at the 2020 World Championship, the North American competitive scene must undertake comprehensive strategic reevaluation and collective improvement initiatives. Organizations need to leverage their Academy systems more effectively to cultivate emerging regional talent. The performance gap between LCS and other major regions appears substantial, indicating this developmental process will require significant time investment.
Promising new players are gradually emerging throughout North America, presenting opportunities teams must capitalize upon. While the LCS has historically relied heavily on importing established players from other regions, shifting focus toward domestic talent development represents a more sustainable long-term strategy. Team Liquid’s bot laner Edward “Tactical” Ra recently became the newest rookie to compete at Worlds, though he should not remain the exception in this regard.
With properly implemented talent development frameworks, the LCS could experience a generational transition within the coming years, mirroring developments observed in leagues like the LPL and LEC, where emerging talent has demonstrably elevated regional competitive standards. For teams looking to improve their strategic approach, our Class Guide offers valuable insights into role specialization and team composition principles that translate across competitive games.
Action Checklist
- Analyze VODs of successful aggressive teams from LPL and LCK to identify tempo patterns
- Implement structured scrim blocks focusing specifically on early-game aggression drills
- Develop talent identification metrics for Academy players, focusing on aggression indicators and decision-making under pressure
- Create cross-region analysis reports comparing LCS draft patterns with successful international teams
No reproduction without permission：Game Guides Online » As FlyQuest leaves Worlds 2020, what went wrong for the LCS? Analyzing LCS's 2020 Worlds failure: Aggression deficits and talent development strategies for future success