The LCS has gone through a lot of changes for the 2023 season. The format is the same but the times and dates have changed which has carried over to the Summer. Along with this, the players have decided to effectively strike. This preview will look at the team as it is originally intended to be. Should major signings happen after, there will be a new preview made for that. Here is the Golden Guardians 2023 LCS Summer Split Preview.
[Related: What is the 2023 LCS Summer Start Date?]
Golden Guardians 2023 LCS Summer Split Schedule
There were plenty of questions surrounding Golden Guardians coming into 2023. They brought back huhi while retaining Licorice and Stixxay. River, who had been traded over to GG from Dignitas just a few weeks before the 2022 Summer Playoffs was also kept. This meant that Gori was the only completely brand-new addition to the squad and many did not know what to expect from him.
The team would have to start Young in the first week due to visa issues and he played well enough that some people wondered whether Gori should be added. This would end up looking like one of the worst questions asked in LCS history. Coming basically straight from the plane, Gori would help Golden Guardians win games in his first week. While the team had their ups and downs, Gori and the Guardians would go on to make one of the best runs in LCS history only to lose to Cloud9. They would breeze through their competition at MSI up until the main bracket where C9 would unfortunately end their international run as well. There is no doubt that this team is one of the best LCS stories in recent memory.
Top- Licorice
Jng- River
Mid- Gori
Bot- Stixxay
Sup- huhi
Going to MSI was more than enough to keep this Golden Guardians squad together. They are coming off the best performance in franchise history and will be looking to defend their spot as one of the best teams in the LCS. Licorice looked like he was back in his C9 form during the team’s run in Playoffs and MSI. They will need him to show that even on weak side that he can still be strong. River and Gori make up arguably the best mid-jungle duo in the LCS and Stixxay and huhi will need to continue to prove people wrong.
This is another team that is hard to predict exactly what they will do. Were they all just playing at their absolute best and will come back down to Earth or is that the new norm? That will seemingly be answered pretty quickly as Golden Guardians have a tougher schedule to start the Summer.
Golden Guardians will have also had teams watching them at MSI and seeing some of their biggest weaknesses. Bot lane and specifically Stixxay will still be a question this Summer. Also Licorice going to a more aggressive style will be something that is challenged all Split long.
There is no doubt that this team was a fun story. But for them to be more than just that, they will have to challenge for a championship and make their way to Worlds. Expect them to do just that as they surprise everyone as the loveable underdogs once more.
You can find more pieces like, “Golden Guardians 2023 LCS Summer Split” and you can also ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and esports articles from other great TGH writers along with Robert!
“From Our Haus to Yours”
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
