Paper Rex -- look shakier (settling into roster and roles) but still top level team
DRX -- expected to look shaky, actually playing very well. new additions very impressive
T1 -- leveled up (previously perma-grouped internationally, now a genuine threat)
GENG -- leveled up
ZETA -- leveled up
SECRET -- inconclusive (redeemed themselves today but first game was very bad)
-- international contenders barrier --
RRQ -- macro-wise sloppy but players leveled up
TALON -- leveled up, much more potential than last year
GE -- weird overcooking and questionable decisions. when they look good they're good but..
DFM -- look better than last year but still very meh. only positive is meiy, very skilled player, should be able to win them a match this year
BLEED -- too many anomalies to assess. played awful but high potential if they fix their role issues
TLDR:
almost every team has substantially improved from last year besides the bottom and the top teams (for different reasons), so the top 6 actually is about the same as before
would consider T1 to join PRX and DRX in the "can make a run" category now, and GENG - ZETA in that category of "can take some games internationally" -- SECRET need more data
if DRX new players continue to grow they may peak higher than previously
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