MSI 2021: DWG KIA shut down MAD Lions for place in final

The second semi-final of the 2021 Mid-Season Invitational is done, following a best-of-five series fought by LEC champions MAD Lions, and the reigning LCK and world champion DWG KIA.

With RNG waiting for their opponents after their great showdown against PSG Talon yesterday, this second duel for a place in the MSI 2021 grand final showed us both the strength's of this MAD Lions side, as well as the comeback of DWG KIA fighting for their chance to win it all.

(Picture: Riot Games)

Heading into this long-awaited battle, DWG KIA came first in both the Group Stage and the Rumble, previously having only lost only to Cloud9 and RNG. Despite these losses, their place as the team to beat remained intact.

While MAD Lions came staggering to the Knockout Stage by finishing fourth in the Rumble, having fallen at least once in front of all their opponents except Pentanet.GG, it was a narrative that meant they would have to show a more dominant performance if they wanted to move on in the tournament.

The first match started in an even fashion, with both teams respecting each other during the early game heading into teamfights, where DWG began to take advantage thanks to Canyon's Rumble and Ghost's Varus, showing good plays from start to finish, ending up contributing 10 kills between them, and being decisive for the first point of the series after capturing a Baron buff and destroying the MAD Lions nexus at 25 minutes.

(Picture: Riot Games)

For the second game, DWG had no mercy from the beginning by having four kills in their favour against one at minute six, however shortly after the Europeans woke up from their slumber by taking advantage of several displacements of the LCK players, managing to exceed the advantage of these and building their own thanks to all the small flaws in the DWG strategy, something that ended up taking its toll - even with a Baron steal - it was not enough to stop the MAD Lions who tied the score.

The next game would highlight the weaknesses of the LCK champions, giving away several kills despite capturing neutral targets, where Elyoya's Udyr and Carzzy's Kai'Sa were the stars of the game, bringing out their presence with big plays and multiple takedowns, and leaving them in matchpoint for the ticket to the finals.

And while many thought that DWG had already been ousted, they managed to rise from the ashes by taking on the offence of the MAD Lions in a great way, who had a comfortable lead until minute 10 when the Koreans began to destroy them.

(Picture: Riot Games)

Having a gold difference of more than 10,000 gold before the 20th minute, all their turrets standing from start to finish, and a total massacre against the Europeans, the LCK champions managed to score another point sending the series to a fifth definitive game.

In the last battle of the night, DWG KIA took an early advantage securing lots of kills and objectives and creating pressure at all lanes, pushing the LEC representative to the limit when DWG opened their base at 19 minutes.

With MAD Lions going against the current at all times and failing to respond in any meaningful way with the power of Ghost’s Tristana and Canyon’s Rumble proving too much for the European side.

(Picture: Riot Games)

Now after more than three weeks of competition and tons of impressive upsets and thrilling moments, the final duel for the MSI 2021 title has been set up, with DWG KIA trying to complete their trophy set while defending their spot as the best team in the world, and RNG who will look to be the second team to win the Mid-Season Invitational twice, after their maiden victory in 2018.