China and Europe advance: 2023 MSI Play-Ins Day 3 recap

Bilibili Gaming won 2-1 against Golden Guardians and G2 Esports beat PSG Talon 2-0 on May 4, the third match day of play-ins at the 2023 Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) at Copper Box Arena in London, England.

China's BLG (League Professional League/LPL, #2) and Europe's G2 (League EMEA Championship/LEC, 2nd) advanced to the Bracket Stage. North America's GG (League Championship Series/LCS, #2) awaits the winner of the May 5 series between the LLA's Movistar R7 and the VCS's GAM Esports. Hong Kong's PSG (Pacific Championship Series/PCS, #1) will play the victor of the CBLOL's LOUD vs. the LJL's DetonatioN FocusMe on May 5.

Bilibili Gaming vs. Golden Guardians

Game 1: BLG wins

Bilibili Gaming won Game 1 against Golden Guardians in 28:49 by a 17-6 kill score. BLG top laner Chen "Bin" Ze-Bin went 6/1/6 on Gnar; mid laner Zeng "Yagao" Qi found a 5/0/5 Ahri performance; and bot laner Zhao "Elk" Jia-Hao finished 3/1/5 on Aphelios. GG bot laner Trevor "Stixxay" Hayes picked up a 3/2/3 score on Jinx in the loss. Strafe Player of the Game: BLG Bin, 1st

Game 2: GG wins

Golden Guardians tied up their series against Bilibili Gaming with a 24-19 Game 2 victory in 39:49. GG top laner Eric "Licorice" Ritchie led his team to victory on his 7/3/5 K'Sante; jungler Kim "River" Dong-woo was 5/3/13 on Gragas; and mid laner Kim "Gori" Tae-woo found a 5/3/12 performance on a surprise Yasuo pick. BLG Elk went 8/5/6 on Jinx in the losing effort. Strafe Player of the Game: GG Licorice, 1st

Game 3: BLG wins

Bilibili Gaming won their series against Golden Guardians with a 30:07 victory in a Game 3 they led 24-11. BLG jungler Peng "Xun" Li-Xun was 7/1/9 on Vi; Bin added a 4/0/11 KDA on Sion; Yagao's Syndra went 4/2/7; and bot laner Elk was 9/3/11 on Xayah. On the losing side, GG Gori was 6/2/3 on LeBlanc. Strafe Player of the Game: BLG Xun, 1st

G2 vs. PSG Talon

Game 1: G2 wins

G2 Esports opened up their series vs. PSG Talon with a 26-18 victory in 40:26. G2 jungler Martin "Yike" Sundelin picked up a 9/5/4 KDA on a surprise Kha'Zix pick, and mid laner Rasmus "Caps" Borregaard Winther controlled the game on his 7/1/12 Gragas. PSG top laner Huang "Azhi" Shang-Jhih went 5/4/4 on Malphite in the loss. Strafe Player of the Game: G2 Caps, 1st

Game 2: G2 wins

G2 punched their ticket to Bracket Stage with a 29:11 Game 2 victory in which they led 29-11 in kills. G2 top laner Sergen "BrokenBlade" Çelik locked up his second Player of the Day award in as many series with a 10/1/9 Olaf game; Yike went 6/3/18 on Viego; Caps finished 2/2/22 as Lissandra; and bot laner Steven "Hans Sama" Liv and support Mihael "Mikyx" Mehle were 8/2/13 on Jinx and 3/3/22 on Lulu. In the losing effort; PSG bot laner Lin "Woody" Yu-En went 9/3/1 on Aphelios and secured nine of his team's 11 kills, or 82%. Strafe Player of the Game: G2 BrokenBlade, 2nd

Riot Player of the Day: G2 BrokenBlade (13/5/18), 2nd

Featured photos courtesy of Colin Young-Wolff/Riot Games.