In this week's edition of Staff Picks, our experts made several bold statements about the Mid-Season Invitational and predict how the tournament will play out.

MSI Champion

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: SK Telecom T1

Here we are again with another major international tournament prediction. First off, I'd like to apologize for my over confident pick of the GE Tigers during the IEM World Championships in Katowice. I made a rash statement, proclaiming them the overwhelming favorites and clear champions before the tournament even started, stating that it was almost seemingly impossible for a Korean team to lose.

With that said, SKT are going to win this tournament, they are my overwhelming favorites, and it's seemingly impossible for a team with diverse talent at almost every position to lose to any other team at this tournament. Faker. Easyhoon. Kkoma. Korea. Hype Train, let's go!

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: SK Telecom T1

SK Telecom T1 is most likely to win. Edward Gaming will be the only team of the top four attending without a dragon fixation, but SKT will grab early objectives and hold onto their lead and less likely to make mistakes and fall for EDG's Baron trap.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: SK Telecom T1

It's a toss-up between SKT and EDG for pole position but I think that SKT have been looking a bit stronger lately. You must be doing something right if your team can afford to not use Faker in the finals of Korea's most prestigious tournament. Plus, it's very hard to dismiss a team with Faker, even if EDG's midlaner is Pawn.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: SK Telecom T1

While EDG might be able to give them a run for their money, SKT looks like the squad to watch. With arguably the strongest lanes in the tournament, and a terrifyingly deep roster, their ability to pick up early leads and control the game from there should be enough to take them to the top at MSI. And yes, they do have Faker on their team, so there’s that to consider.

Matt Demers - Prediction: SK Telecom T1

SK Telecom T1 have proven that they’re on a hot streak right now, and even with a commanding 3-0 over GE Tigers, they didn’t show their full hand. Versatility is their greatest strength, as being able to change between Easyhoon/Tom and Faker/Bengi means that their opponents will have to do more work to prepare.

Biggest Upset In The Group Stages

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: AHQ e-Sports Club over Fnatic

I think the best chance for a major upset would be for AHQ to take out Fnatic or TSM in the group stages, knocking one of the Western teams to the fifth spot as a Taiwan team makes the top four for the second straight major tournament. While I don't think AHQ beating Fnatic would be really that big of an upset, and I'm sure a lot of Taiwanese fans expect them to do well this tournament, I am going to pick the LMS champions knocking out the beautifully aggressive, but sometimes incoherent Fnatic.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: Fnatic over SK Telecom T1

I think it's possible Fnatic will beat SK Telecom T1 in a best-of-one. SKT might be shocked by their ruthless approach to all-ins and get caught out, not expecting fights at illogical times. I don't think we'll have a massive upset in a best-of-five.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: AHQ e-Sports Club over Fnatic

I'm expecting AHQ to upset Fnatic. Fnatic looked extremely shaky versus UoL and AHQ looked dominant during the playoffs. I also think that Westdoor-AN-Albis can perform competently versus Febiven-Steelback-Yellowstar. Besides this matchup however, I really don't see a major upset happening.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: Team SoloMid defeat Edward Gaming

Hey, the odds are against it, but in a best of one, anything can happen. TSM has looked really strong all season, and there’s no question that they proved themselves to be at least be part of the conversation internationally at IEM. If they’re able to ride the confidence they’ve built up all season into their match against the Chinese powerhouse, they could definitely take a game off EDG (a series, though? Probably not).

Matt Demers - Prediction: Team SoloMid defeat Fnatic

While people are really high on Fnatic right now I think they will lose their match against TSM. North America’s #1 team has shown they are able to pick out strengths in their opponents and work around them; even more important is that they don’t put so much attention on those strong elements that the secondary ones get a chance to come back. It might not be an upset in terms of team strength, but it'll probably upset a lot of people.

Tournament MVP

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: SKT's Bang

For SKT to win this tournament, Bang is going to need to be able to at least keep up with Deft from EDward Gaming. He won the nickname of his hometown's best AD carry with his win over CJ Entus' Space in the LCK semifinals, and he one-upped himself by taking the title of best Korean AD carry against Pray in the Champions Spring Grand Finals. Now, with a win over Deft, the consensus strongest AD carry in the world, Bang could end his tireless climb to the top of the ladder and proclaim himself the best AD carry in the world.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: EDG's Deft

It's likely Deft will be the MVP, as the mid lane will switch out too much for a clear cut MVP for SKT.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: EDG's Deft

This tournament has some of the best Midlane talents from across the globe; however, it is lacking in outstanding AD Carry talent. Deft should have no troubles shining against his competition. I expect SKT to win, but Faker will be facing pretty tough competition, and if teams adopt the strategy used by Korean teams to camp Faker, he may have issues if the other players of his team don't perform.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: EDG's Deft

I still think SKT is ultimately going to come out on top of the tournament, but to my mind no player has the potential to impact a game quite as dramatically as Deft. Yes, Faker can hard-carry, especially on some of his signature champions, but Deft is really just a demon in human skin. Even when EDG looks to be on the ropes, his ability to decimate teamfights is really unmatched. And did you see that penta against LGD? Come on.

Matt Demers - Prediction: SKT's Jungler (Tom or Bengi) or EDG's Deft

This is a hard one, but I figure it might be the jungler on SKT who enables their mid lane player to get the job done. Either that, or Deft is going to form some kind of blood pact with some Floridian gaming diety and carry EDG to an undisputed title. The guy might be Brock Lesnar in gamer form. Tallahassee might be Suplex City.

Tournament X-Factor

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: SKT's Mid-Laner

We don't know currently who will be starting for the team or who'll get the share of group stage games. Easyhoon had the best series of his career in the Champions final, showing a new personality trait — a killer instinct that he hadn't shown before in the professional scene.

Faker is still Faker, the undisputed player in the world, but there's little doubt Easyhoon isn't also one of the best five players at his position currently. With the new side of Easyhoon coming out during the final, whichever player SKT choose to play at any given time will be one of the biggest narratives going at MSI this weekend.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: EDG's Clearlove

Clearlove is the biggest X-Factor. Edward Gaming still has a chance of winning if his calls are on point, and the team sticks to their game plan instead of taking dragon fights or bad trades in lane swaps. The amount of map pressure he applies is also a question mark. He's the best jungler at the tournament, but his history is inconsistent.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: TSM's Bjergsen

Bjergsen is the heart of TSM. And TSM needs Bjergsen to outshine the other top tier mids at this tournament if TSM are going to have a chance of winning this. Bjergsen needs to be an X Factor.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: TSM's Bjergsen

If TSM is going to have the run at MSI that the North American fans are no doubt hoping for, there’s no question that his team’s hopes and dreams ride on his success. If Bjergsen is able to step up his game, and play to the level of some of the talent at this tournament (remember, he will probably have to lane against Faker, or at least Easyhoon, and definitely against pawN), then TSM might just have a chance. If he’s hopelessly outmatched and blown out of the water, then the NA squad will probably find themselves up a creek without a paddle.

Matt Demers - Prediction: EDG's PawN

PawN, PawN, PawN. There’s no bigger question mark for the continued success of Edward Gaming on the international stage than how their mid laner is able to play. Despite having a capable backup player in U, EDG would be considerably less comfortable fielding him considering the lack of synergy with the rest of the team. Let’s hope PawN doesn’t need to pull some kind of heroic sacrifice of his vertebrae to pull off a win.

Biggest Surprise

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: AHQ e-Sports Club

Going off my pick for 'Biggest Upset', I'm going to give some more love to the Taiwanese scene and pick AHQ as one of the four semifinalists by the end of Friday. While AHQ didn't make it out of groups at Worlds and have gone through a few changes in their line-up since then, Yoe Flash Wolves showed us at IEM that the newly constructed LMS isn't a league to look down upon. Most people will have EDG/SKT in either the #1 or #2 spot with the Western teams taking up the final two playoff positions, but I think we're going to see AHQ sneak into the fourth spot before losing to one of the two Asian giants in the semifinals.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: Koro1

The biggest surprise of the tournament will be Koro1, since apparently the general viewers believe he's the worst of the top laners attending in the top four regions. He can have an impactful performance against Marin or Huni to shock the naysayers.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: AHQ e-Sports Club

I think AHQ will have a stronger than expected showing this split. They'll lose to SKT and EDG but may give TSM and Fnatic a run for their money.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: Twisted Fate

I have very little empirical evidence to back this up, but hey – this is the place to make crazy guesses. TF has always been one of those niche picks that is rarely part of the meta, but always somewhere on the periphery. We saw him get some play from Ahq’s midlane westdoor in the LMS finals against the Yoe Flash Wolves and clutch ultimates from the mid lane were a big part of their dominating win in that game. Is he the strongest pick in the position? Hell no, but he could see some play.

Matt Demers - Prediction: Beşiktaş e-Sports Club

Beşiktaş e-Sports Club will get one single win in the group stage so we can hear the “anything can happen!” soundbite trumpeted until Worlds, where the wildcard teams will continue to peak at being a spoiler at best.

Biggest Disappointment

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: Fnatic

There are a lot of reasons to be wary about Fnatic heading into this tournament. Probably most importantly, there are rampant rumors that former Fnatic AD carry Rekkles will be rejoining the team after MSI and taking over his old position from rookie standout Steeelback.

Obviously Steeelback will play his heart out if this true, wanting to put on a good performance for potential LCS teams a day or two before the transfer stage ends. Still, even with all five players on the 'same page', there is still the fact that Fnatic are a wild beast of a team — they're all mechanically gifted and have a strong leader with Yellowstar in the support role, but the team cohesion and synergy isn't there. Compared to teams like SKT and EDG, Fnatic can sometimes come off as an extremely good solo queue team instead of a regional champion.

I still think there is a good shot that Fnatic get over the drama with good coaching and Yellowstar proving again his veteran leadership, but the biggest chance for disappointment going into the tournament would have to be Fnatic's up in the air future and already chaotic play-style.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: Faker

The biggest disappointment will be when SKT decide to play Faker instead of Easyhoon — SKT is at a point where it Faker's presence doesn't significantly improve team dynamic

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: Fnatic

Once again, I'm going to put the European team Fnatic as my biggest disappointment. Europe in general seems to have deteriorated throughout the past year and I don't think a tank favoured meta is going to help Fnatic.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: Fnatic

I really like the plucky European team, full of fresh faces and fresh talent. I think there’s no question that Fnatic’s rookies this year will come to be a huge part of the EU scene in years to come. But the team is full of new players that have never been to a major international tournament, and I think there’s a real concern they will be outmatched by more experienced teams. I hope they do well, but the odds are against it.

Matt Demers - Prediction: Bjergsen versus Faker, MSI as a whole

Bjergsen vs Faker is going to disappoint a lot of North American fans. Also, the context of EDG/PawN means that we’ll have to wait for another couple months until October when we can see a “real” contest between the teams in a hopefully neutral context.

I almost want to put these best teams into a pocket dimension when they’re all healthy, leaving them in perpetual stasis until they get to fight for our enjoyment. That seems fair, right?

Biggest Blowout

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: Edward Gaming and SK Telecom T1 versus Beşiktaş eSports Club

I am sorry, Beşiktaş. I am so very sorry.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: Edward Gaming versus Beşiktaş eSports Club

Edward Gaming will have the biggest blowout against BJK as this will be the biggest deficit in just raw skill. Plenty of one-sided fights and dives.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: SK Telecom T1 versus Beşiktaş eSports Club

Faker/Easyhoon vs a wildcard team... Yeah.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: SK Telecom T1 versus AHQ e-Sports Club

AHQ is the sort of team that plays a hyper-aggressive style, takes early advantages and then snowballs outrageously stompy games off of their edge. SKT is the sort of team that is not going to let them get that early advantage, and destroy them. If the Taiwanese crew can get ahead on the Korean juggernauts then there’s a chance, but if SKT are the ones ahead early, it will probably be the death knell for AHQ.

Matt Demers - Prediction: SK Telecom T1 versus Beşiktaş e-Sports Club

SKT T1 vs Beşiktaş is either going to be a (thankfully) quick game, a troll match of comical proportions, or one of the slowest, most drawn out experiences in League of Legends.

I’m really praying it’s anything but the last one, which tends to drag, even if Faker decides to put on a clinic; when you know how a game is going to end but it takes 20 minutes longer to get there due to styling, it isn’t a good match.

Most Played Champion

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger - Prediction: Sejuani

I feel like this is a no-brainer. The only other champion I could see be played as much would be Maokai in the top lane, but I think there is a better chance for teams to simply ban out the magical tree instead of giving him to the opponent.

Kelsey Moser - Prediction: Jinx

Jinx will be the most played champion. On Patch 5.7, her ability to shred towers is unmatched, and she pairs well with Nunu, a high priority jungler in the Cinderhulk meta. She is also not on ban lists. Sivir would also be a contender.

Nilu Kulasingham - Prediction: Hecarim

Hecarim top lane. Every other lane has quite a few champions to pick from but Hecarim top seems to have a disproportionate amount of power right now.

Sean Wetselaar - Prediction: Sejuani

Even though she got a few nerfs after 5.5 dropped and made her a god, Sejuani remains arguably first pick and first ban worthy, even at high levels of play. Most of the teams attending MSI will play Sejuani if she’s available – even if she isn’t their jungler’s favorite pick – and I would expect to see her banned in a number of games as well. On the current patch her kit is the perfect mix of Cinderhulk AoE damage, extremely high tankiness and game changing initiation from her ultimate. In short? She’s a monster.

Matt Demers - Prediction: Lulu

We’ve seen Lulus in three different roles during the course of this split (Top, Support, Mid), and it rarely draws bans. While it might not be the most exciting champion to watch, it’s integral to a couple compositions that many teams are comfortable playing (particularly when protecting the ADC); expect to see a lot of glittery purple this MSI.

Top Two of the Tournament

Tyler “Fionn” Erzberger

SK Telecom T1 Edward Gaming

Kelsey Moser

SK Telecom T1 Edward Gaming

Nilu Kulasingham

SK Telecom T1 Edward Gaming

Sean Wetselaar

SK Telecom T1 Edward Gaming

Matt Demers