Everything about this team starts with their General Manager, Nicholas "Inero" Smith, who joined the organization in August 2018 as a consultant, then moving to Head Coach of both the LCS team and Academy team as well, and then eventually to GM. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1026616679336370176
After Inero, Stixxay has been the longest member in the organization joining in November 2020 as a part of the Spring 2021 roster. He also spent time in Academy before securing his LCS spot again this split. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1330964338887303170
After a quick stint with FlyQuest, Licorice joined the Golden Guardians midway through the 2021 Summer Split. He provided stability and something to build off of. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1412516816451117056
Next was the star jungler River with back-to-back PCS titles and strong international performances in 2021, River joined Golden Guardians in a mid-split deal from Dignitas in the 2022 Summer Split. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1552087709501386752
After 2 years of solidifying himself as one of the best supports in NA, Huhi left 100 Thieves to join Golden Guardians and re-unite with Stixxay. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1595492387588931585
Last but not least, someone who has had the privilege to train under prestigious orgs such as SK Telecom, EDward Gaming, FunPlus Phoenix, and PSG Talon, mid-laner Gori completed the 2023 Spring Split roster. https://twitter.com/GoldenGuardians/status/1595492387588931585
After starting 0-4 and Gori only arriving days before Week 2, the Golden Guardians had confidence that their true form was still to come and so their Cinderella Story win streak began in Week 3 against CLG.
The advantage started early with a first blood in bottom lane by Stixxay. This advantage led to first tower and control of the bottom river and jungle. Subsequent dragons and rift heralds saw the lead grow and their pressure around the map was relentless.
In the next game against Immortals, it was a back-and-forth early game with constant ganks from River resulting in a small lead. This snowballed to 3 dragons and after a kill in top lane taking out Ablazeolive, it was an easy Baron to wrap the game up.
The start of super week saw TSM come out ready for a fight, which slowed down the Golden Guardians' gameplan but they still got the first dragon at 12 minutes and they were starting to get activated. A huge fight after the third dragon saw 3 TSM members fall and it was another early Baron.
Next up were Dignitas, who were looking for their first win still, but a key fight win at rift herald saw Golden Guardians open up the mid lane and take control of the map. Gori was super confident on his Akali and styled on Jensen 1v1, which led to another uncontested Baron.
The last opponent for super week was 100 Thieves and it was a battle of two 4-4 teams. A bloody early game saw several kills happen in bottom lane. It wasn't until a fight at 20 minutes around Baron, where Golden Guardians won out 4 to 1 that the game shifted fully into their hands.
The reverse sweep of the first round robin was complete, starting 0-4 and finishing 5-4, but they weren't done there. The second round robin saw Cloud9 be the next challenger and Golden Guardians took advantage of a nervous debut from EMENES. From the very start, mid lane was a focus, which saw GG take down all outer towers pre 20 minutes. Then a gank and questionable TP gave them Baron for free and they never looked back.
Another top team in Evil Geniuses tried to prevent the Golden Guardians from extending their win streak, but it was all for not. A steal on the second dragon and subsequent kills saw Golden Guardians execute another masterful mid game. Soul point at 20 minutes was all they needed to continue their map dominance and their win streak to 7.
Team Liquid came in with an opposite record of 4-7 to Golden Guardians' 7-4. And it definitely felt let opposite day, TL controlled the map with rift heralds and dragons. And a 3 for 1 fight at third dragon saw the game shift further and further away. And the win streak officially ended at 7.
A bounce-back win the next day over Immortals has Golden Guardians sitting in 4th place at 8-5, winners of 8 of their last 9 and looking like a strong candidate for a Top 4 spot in playoffs. If Gori was here from the very beginning of the split, who knows how high this team might be, but they are loving this "Cinderella" run after starting 0-4.
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