EU LCS Summer Split - *Spoilers*
08-21-2013
, 01:13 PM
EU LCS Playoffs
Game 1
Friday, Aug 23 7:00am EDT (GMT-04:00)
Bo3 -> Winner to play fnatic
vs.
The story of this one is quite simple: the surging EG against the falling ATN. EG looked like they were down and out early in the season, a shell of their former selves and unable to compete in the evolving European landscape. However the addition of Shacker (as a substitute jungler) and nRated (as an analyst for the team) have spurred the team back into their traditional winning ways. In the last 2 weeks EG was 6-2 and defeated everyone short of their old rivals Gambit (who they would repay in the seeding tiebreaker). It's hard to say what has changed about EG, but they clearly have rediscovered the spark that led them to be considered one of the world's top teams a year ago. This EG is more confident and is having fun playing the game as evidenced by letting Krepo play mid and Froggen support, which worked magnificently in crushing Gambit Gaming.
On the other hand Alternate has had their season go from being considered the new Kings of Europe, to almost failing to make the playoffs. Alternate started the season 8-2 but basically fell apart to end the season at 13-15, including a 0-5 super week that saw them make the playoffs due to some untimely throws from SK and then their convincing victory over that SK team to secure 6th place. When Alternate is on, Forellenlord is playing great in the midlane and Creaton is showing why he is arguably the #1 ad carry in Europe. When Alternate are not on, Aranae is playing terribly and feeding and all their lanes seem to be week.
To me, this is an easy one. Alternate have been figured out by just about every team in the EU LCS and are increadibly lucky to have a chance the playoffs. Forellenlord has fallen off dramatically and I believe that Froggen will be in a good position to carry in the midlane for EG. Recently Snoopeh has been playing a lot better and his strong play has allowed his lanes more success in the laning phase. Also, the hidden MVP of EG has been the suprisingly strong play of Yellowpete. Yellowpete is much more a model of consistency than a person that one expects to carry, but he's been consistently good the last few weeks of the season and that bodes very well for EG.
Prediction: 2-0 EG
Game 2
Friday, Aug 23 10:00am EDT (GMT-04:00)
bo3 -> Winner to play Lemondogs
vs.
Another story of two teams heading in opposite directions, Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. Gambit Gaming is an intriguing showdown. Ninjas in Pyjamas dealt with many changes this split, first the *chaff* of the old Copenhagen Wolves was released (Svenskerren being the biggest loss there) which sparked an upturn in play from the team, then out of nowhere extinkt retired and Mimer came in to replace him. Extinkt wasn't an amazing player but its clear he offered more to the team than Mimer has, who really just exists to play a tank and protect Bjergsen and Freeze. Make no mistake NiP is a dangerous team simply because they have Bjergsen, a midlaner who might be the best suited to singlehandedly carry a game in the EU LCS. Unfortunately, going up against Alex Ich, a player that rarely loses lane is probably not going to result in many opportunities to carry.
That is not to say that NiP do not have a chance against Gambit. Gambit had a 1-3 record vs. NiP over the split and the traditional weaknesses of the team are still there. Darrien dies too much, Genja builds odd. However the Gambit Gaming that showed up in the past week after bootcamping in Kiev showed that the old Russian juggernaut still exists. When Gambit are playing well they are a truly terrifying team - able to play aggressively and teamfight strongly in a way that few teams can do.
Gambit are a team that is just built for high pressure bo3 series. They excel in it. They beat Azubu Blaze and Frost in back to back bo3s not 8 months ago. Gambit have this ability to look completely terrible and then a day later - completely dominant. I also think this is a bad matchup for NiP. For NiP to succeed, Bjergsen must carry and I don't see that happening twice against Alex Ich. Darrien is a traditional weakness of Gambit and he goes on tilt far too easily for someone on his level. Yet the top/jungle duo of Mimer and Malunoo hardly strikes fear into the heart of the Russians. Even in the bot lane, Genja continues to be the most bizarre ad carry in the world, but he can hold his own even against the good bot lane duo of Freeze and Deficio.
Prediction - Gambit 2-1
Game 1
Friday, Aug 23 7:00am EDT (GMT-04:00)
Bo3 -> Winner to play fnatic
vs.
The story of this one is quite simple: the surging EG against the falling ATN. EG looked like they were down and out early in the season, a shell of their former selves and unable to compete in the evolving European landscape. However the addition of Shacker (as a substitute jungler) and nRated (as an analyst for the team) have spurred the team back into their traditional winning ways. In the last 2 weeks EG was 6-2 and defeated everyone short of their old rivals Gambit (who they would repay in the seeding tiebreaker). It's hard to say what has changed about EG, but they clearly have rediscovered the spark that led them to be considered one of the world's top teams a year ago. This EG is more confident and is having fun playing the game as evidenced by letting Krepo play mid and Froggen support, which worked magnificently in crushing Gambit Gaming.
On the other hand Alternate has had their season go from being considered the new Kings of Europe, to almost failing to make the playoffs. Alternate started the season 8-2 but basically fell apart to end the season at 13-15, including a 0-5 super week that saw them make the playoffs due to some untimely throws from SK and then their convincing victory over that SK team to secure 6th place. When Alternate is on, Forellenlord is playing great in the midlane and Creaton is showing why he is arguably the #1 ad carry in Europe. When Alternate are not on, Aranae is playing terribly and feeding and all their lanes seem to be week.
To me, this is an easy one. Alternate have been figured out by just about every team in the EU LCS and are increadibly lucky to have a chance the playoffs. Forellenlord has fallen off dramatically and I believe that Froggen will be in a good position to carry in the midlane for EG. Recently Snoopeh has been playing a lot better and his strong play has allowed his lanes more success in the laning phase. Also, the hidden MVP of EG has been the suprisingly strong play of Yellowpete. Yellowpete is much more a model of consistency than a person that one expects to carry, but he's been consistently good the last few weeks of the season and that bodes very well for EG.
Prediction: 2-0 EG
Game 2
Friday, Aug 23 10:00am EDT (GMT-04:00)
bo3 -> Winner to play Lemondogs
vs.
Another story of two teams heading in opposite directions, Ninjas in Pyjamas vs. Gambit Gaming is an intriguing showdown. Ninjas in Pyjamas dealt with many changes this split, first the *chaff* of the old Copenhagen Wolves was released (Svenskerren being the biggest loss there) which sparked an upturn in play from the team, then out of nowhere extinkt retired and Mimer came in to replace him. Extinkt wasn't an amazing player but its clear he offered more to the team than Mimer has, who really just exists to play a tank and protect Bjergsen and Freeze. Make no mistake NiP is a dangerous team simply because they have Bjergsen, a midlaner who might be the best suited to singlehandedly carry a game in the EU LCS. Unfortunately, going up against Alex Ich, a player that rarely loses lane is probably not going to result in many opportunities to carry.
That is not to say that NiP do not have a chance against Gambit. Gambit had a 1-3 record vs. NiP over the split and the traditional weaknesses of the team are still there. Darrien dies too much, Genja builds odd. However the Gambit Gaming that showed up in the past week after bootcamping in Kiev showed that the old Russian juggernaut still exists. When Gambit are playing well they are a truly terrifying team - able to play aggressively and teamfight strongly in a way that few teams can do.
Gambit are a team that is just built for high pressure bo3 series. They excel in it. They beat Azubu Blaze and Frost in back to back bo3s not 8 months ago. Gambit have this ability to look completely terrible and then a day later - completely dominant. I also think this is a bad matchup for NiP. For NiP to succeed, Bjergsen must carry and I don't see that happening twice against Alex Ich. Darrien is a traditional weakness of Gambit and he goes on tilt far too easily for someone on his level. Yet the top/jungle duo of Mimer and Malunoo hardly strikes fear into the heart of the Russians. Even in the bot lane, Genja continues to be the most bizarre ad carry in the world, but he can hold his own even against the good bot lane duo of Freeze and Deficio.
Prediction - Gambit 2-1
08-21-2013
, 02:01 PM
08-23-2013
, 09:38 AM
08-23-2013
, 09:42 AM
08-23-2013
, 09:51 AM
Spoiler:
08-23-2013
, 10:20 AM
08-23-2013
, 11:26 AM
08-24-2013
, 08:13 AM
08-24-2013
, 09:20 AM
08-24-2013
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08-24-2013
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08-24-2013
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08-25-2013
, 05:29 AM