At the start of the 2021 League Championship Series season, Golden Guardians was predicted by most to be a last place team, only to qualify for the playoffs. This is the third year in a row GG has exceeded expectations with a post-season appearance after being predicted to finish 10th. 

Golden Guardians entered week 9 of the 2021 LCS Summer Split in 9th place, but with a chance to take the final post-season seed over 8th place FlyQuest and 10th place Counter Logic Gaming. A loss to FlyQuest on the first day of week 9 would have mathematically eliminated both GG and CLG from qualifying for the LCS Championship, but GG won the match, tied for eighth place, and secured a positive regular season record against FLY 3-2. 

GG lost its second match of the weekend against 100 Thieves, and with an explosive win over Immortals, FlyQuest took sole control of 8th place once again.

On the last day of the LCS Summer Split, Golden Guardians defeated its final opponent in Immortals, but had to wait until the end of the day to see if its season would live past the evening.

CLG, who was eliminated on Friday after a loss to Dignitas, would have to beat FLY for GG to qualify in a tie for 8th place due to its positive head-to-head record agianst FlyQuest. Fortunately for GG, CLG came through, and Golden Guardians secured the 8th and final seed in the playoff bracket. 

After CLG's win over FlyQuest, Golden Guardians AD carry Trevor "Stixxay" Hayes, spoke to Gabriella “LeTigress” Devia-Allen on the LCS broadcast about his team's outlook and playoff goals following narrowly qualifying for the post-season. Stixxay said that while he's proud of the growth that the team has accomplished, his sights were still set on the highest placing possible, regardless of the odds. "I didn't come here to just get 3-0'd," Stixxay said of his first post-season appearance with GG.

As the lowest seed in the LCS championship, Golden Guardians will have its work cut out for it. Like 7th seed Immortals, GG will not have the luxury of double elimination, and will face off against the loser of 4th seed Cloud9 and 5th seed Team Liquid.

Regardless of opponent, GG will have uphill battle, but it wouldn't be the first time the odds have been stacked against the Golden State Warriors affiliate.