
League Heavyweights Team WE and Cloud9 Ready to Dominate Worlds Play-In Stage
The 2017 League of Legends World Championship kicks off with its play-in stage, featuring an exciting lineup of matches between major region teams and wildcards. The opening ceremony begins at 1am ET on September 23, followed by Groups A and B competition.

C9 fans cheer with sign
Key Matchups for Day 1:
- Team WE (LPL) vs Lyon Gaming (LLN)
- Cloud9 (NA LCS) vs Team oNe (CBLoL)
- Gambit Esports vs Lyon Gaming
- Cloud9 vs Dire Wolves (OPL)
- Gambit Esports vs Team WE
- Dire Wolves vs Team oNe
Team WE and Cloud9, despite their strong spring split performances, must now prove themselves in the play-in stage. While this adds pressure, it also provides valuable stage time to adapt to the Worlds meta before the main event.
Notable Teams to Watch:
- Lyon Gaming: Known for clutch teamfights around major objectives
- Gambit Esports: Features veterans from last year's successful Albus NoX Luna squad
- Team WE: Heavy favorites expected to dominate their group
- Cloud9: Looking to maintain NA LCS pride against underdog opponents
The day concludes with what promises to be an exciting matchup between Gambit Esports and Team WE, featuring aggressive playstyles from both teams.
[Rest of images maintained as in original article]
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