Week 1 is a super week, in case I didn't mention.
Team Dignitas vs Team SoloMid
[Dig bans: Shen, Thresh, Karthus][TSM bans: Evelynn, Ryze, Jayce]
Dig: Kha'Zix, Zac, Diana, Ezreal, Janna
TSM: Yorick, Elise, Kennen, Draven, Lulu
Either Kobe or Riv said of the early game dance-off: "Step Up 3: The Rift" and that was actually funny, so whoever it was is my new favorite caster for today. Dig roll.
Vulcun vs Velocity Esports
[Vul bans: Evelynn, Janna, Elise][VES bans: Twisted Fate, Ryze, Jayce]
Vul: Rumble, Nsaus, Kha'Zix, Tristana, Thresh
VES: Kennen, Jarvan, Kayle, Draven, Nami
When it comes to base racing, it looks like there's no substitute for pro level experience?
Team Coast vs Counter Logic Gaming
[CST bans: Sejuani, Kennen, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Jayce, Kha'Zix, Ryze]
CST: Orianna, Elise, Zed, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
CLG: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Ezreal, Thresh
The reason there's an Orianna in the top lane is because ZionSpartan had to go to his own high school graduation. Jintae, their old mid player, is subbing in. CLG was doing well for a lot of this game, until DontMashMe became totally monstrous on his Cait.
Velocity Esports vs Team Dignitas
[VES bans: Karthus, Diana, Nasus][Dig bans: Thresh, Elise, Evelynn]
VES: Renekton, Ezreal, Janna, Tristana, Sona
Dig: Kennen, Zac, Kha'Zix, Graves, Lulu
Interesting. The Ez has smite, but didn't spend too much time in his jungle. They spend it all shoving each lane hard, and forcing Dig to run around like crazy trying to keep their turrets up. And it almost works - Dig is on their last turret inside their base, while VES is completely fine. But lucky for Dig, they had champs with a LOT of hard engage to catch VES's disengage team and finally, finally ace them for the win. It was such a good idea, VES! I'm going to talk my peeps into trying it.
Cloud 9 vs Team Coast
[C9 bans: Twitch, Nunu, Caitlyn][CST bans: Kennen, Kha'Zix, Ryze]
C9: Rumble, Zac, Jayce, Ezreal, Sona
CST: Elise, Fiddlesticks, Zed, Graves, Thresh
C9 wins really fast.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun
[TSM bans: Lee Sin, Caitlyn, Sona][Vul bans: Kha'Zix, Karthus, Twisted Fate]
TSM: Shen, Elise, Ryze, Draven, Thresh
Vul: Kennen, Sejuani, Jayce, Tristana, Lulu
TSM zz-roll
Counter Logic Gaming vs Curse
[CLG bans: Blitzcrank, Draven, Kha'Zix][Crs bans: Twisted Fate, Kennen, Elise]
CLG: Jayce, Sejuani, Vladimir, Vayne, Lulu
Crs: Ryze, Zac, Karthus, Ezreal, Thresh
Just fast forward to the 45 minute mark, because whatever happened early matters a lot less when you're 45 minutes in and gold is dead even. More sudden death at high levels; it's nice that it still exists, even though these teams have played each other several times. Haha, they tried to ask Link afterwards if CLG was getting paid by the hour by their sponsors, and Link politely declined to discuss the 'confidential' matter.
Team Dignitas vs Team Coast
[Dig bans: Zed, Thresh, Kha'Zix][Cst bans: Karthus, Ryze, Jayce]
Dig: Elise, Zac, Diana, Ezreal, Alistar
CST: Riven, Fiddlesticks, Ahri, Varus, Blitzcrank
Usually, I am not amused by birthday Fiddlesticks, because I'm always the victim, but it IS pretty funny when a commentator says: Happy Birthday, Crumbz! after he's been blown up by crowstorm. Birthday-storm. Surprise! Crumbz's Zac and imaqtpie's Blue Ez are too awesome. Some of the mechanics at the end are extremely impressive. Amazing ending. You should watch it, it's very close, and kinda crazy exciting.
Vulcun vs Counter Logic Gaming
[Vul bans: Orianna, Elise, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Kha'Zix, Jayce, Kennen]
Vul: Ryze, Nasus, Xerath, Caitlyn, Thresh
CLG: Yorick, Nocturn, Karthus, Kog'Maw, Sona
Whew, CLG, this is going to be a long season at this rate? 56 minute game, but eventual loss.
Team SoloMid vs Curse
[TSM bans: Twisted Fate, Thresh, Ziggs][Crs bans: Karthus, Kha'Zix, Elise]
TSM: Jayce, Zac, Orianna, Caitlyn, Janna
Crs: Kennen, Nasus, Ryze, Varus, Sona
Do you see that Ziggs ban? Yeah, that's TSM telling you that they don't really respect the threat that you present. Reggie said as much afterwards, too. The next step is for them to play like, Teemo and Karma and still roll. Just to be really insulting.
Velocity Esports vs Cloud 9
[VES bans: Zac, Kennen, Kha'Zix][C9 bans: Evelynn, Kayle, Janna]
VES: Jarvan, Elise, Rumble, Ezreal, Nami
C9: Ryze, Nasus, Zed, Jayce, Thresh
Interesting really early base race, but C9 still takes the expected win in the end.
Standings
C9 5-0
CST 3-2
TSM 3-2
Vul 3-2
CLG 2-3
Dig 2-3
Crs 1-4
VES 1-4
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
LCS NA Summer W1 pt1
New season has begun, and several things happened over the break. Highlights include: HotshotGG stepping down from CLG, Edward joining Curse from Gambit, GGU changing their name to Team Coast, and Quantic changing their name to Cloud 9.
Team Coast vs Team SoloMid
[CST bans: Ryze, Kennen, Karthus][TSM bans: Jayce, Lee Sin, Trundle]
CST: Vladimir, Nunu, Zed, Twitch, Nami
TSM: Shen, Elise, Kha'Zix, Draven, Thresh
TSM zzz-rolll
Curse vs Vulcun
[Crs bans: Lee Sin, Kha'Zix, Thresh][Vul bans: Miss Fortune, Blitzcrank, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Jayce, Trundle, Lux, Ezreal, Zyra
Vul: Kennen, Sejuani, Ryze, Caitlyn, Sona
Vulcun roll, Saint was being a little weird at the end. Notice I've given up on the 'command' part of 'vulcun command', because they've officially added some kind of product name to their name instead. It's a lot less majestic than 'command,' if you ask me.
Team Dignitas vs Cloud 9
[Dig bans: Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix, Kennen][C9 bans: Evelynn, Karthus, Ryze]
Dig: Jayce, Zac, Orianna, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
C9: Elise, Nasus, Zed, Draven, Thresh
Nice, C9.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Velocity Esports
[CLG bans: Elise, Kha'Zix, Shen][VES bans: Malphite, Twisted Fate, Jayce]
CLG: Vladimir, Sejuani, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
VES: Kennen, Lee Sin, Kayle, Draven, Zyra
WTF, CLG. Nientonsoh top lane, Bigfatlp in the jungle, Chauster on support? You just can't do this and want to win.
Team SoloMid vs Cloud 9
[TSM bans: Twisted Fate, Thresh, Jayce][C9 bans: Karthus, Shen, Kha'Zix]
TSM: Renekton, Elise, Orianna, Ezreal, Sona
C9: Ryze, Zac, Kennen, Draven, Lulu
This one was worth watching. And you can tell, by the way it has twice as many views on youtube as other game clips. A fine display of team fight mechanics all around.
Team Coast vs Vulcun
[CST bans: Kennen, Lee Sin, Ryze][Vul bans: Blitzcrank, Jayce, Kha'Zix]
CST: Riven, Fiddlesticks, Zed, Ezreal, Thresh
Vul: Elise, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
All ZionSpartan, as usual. And don't forget surprise party Fiddlesticks!
Curse vs Velocity Esports
[Crs bans: Draven, Evelynn, Elise][VES bans: Ryze, Kha'Zix, Kennen]
Crs: Tryndamere, Nautilus, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
VES: Jayce, Lee Sin, Kayle, Varus, Thresh
Crs has perhaps the five most frustrating champs ever. You know what I mean, those are the five guys where you think the fight is over, and you're just about to relax when bam!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Team Dignitas
[CLG bans: Ryze, Kha'Zix, Evelynn][Dig bans: Twisted Fate, Hayce, Sejuani]
CLG: Elise, Nocturne, Karthus, Graves, Janna
Dig: Kennen, Zac, Diana, Varus, Sona
Wow. 71 minutes. If you have 71 minutes to kill, I recommend it, because LoL games are always sudden death at 35 minutes, so there's about 35 minutes of sudden death. And they don't just sit around and look at each other, either. There's 30-something deaths on each team.
Cloud 9 vs Curse
[C9 bans: Tryndamere, Karthus, Thresh][Crs bans: Jayce, Ryze, Kennen]
C9: Rumble, Zac, Kha'Zix, Ezreal, Sona
Crs: Elise, Maokai, Twisted Fate, Draven, Blitzcrank
The question that haunted me during this game is: why is Nyjacky wearing that huge hood? Like he's a tiny Emperor - and then you recall that he usually plays Ryze, hahah. Well it's your downfall, Sith Lord - Cloud 9 always wears white jackets.
Team Coast vs Team SoloMid
[CST bans: Ryze, Kennen, Karthus][TSM bans: Jayce, Lee Sin, Trundle]
CST: Vladimir, Nunu, Zed, Twitch, Nami
TSM: Shen, Elise, Kha'Zix, Draven, Thresh
TSM zzz-rolll
Curse vs Vulcun
[Crs bans: Lee Sin, Kha'Zix, Thresh][Vul bans: Miss Fortune, Blitzcrank, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Jayce, Trundle, Lux, Ezreal, Zyra
Vul: Kennen, Sejuani, Ryze, Caitlyn, Sona
Vulcun roll, Saint was being a little weird at the end. Notice I've given up on the 'command' part of 'vulcun command', because they've officially added some kind of product name to their name instead. It's a lot less majestic than 'command,' if you ask me.
Team Dignitas vs Cloud 9
[Dig bans: Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix, Kennen][C9 bans: Evelynn, Karthus, Ryze]
Dig: Jayce, Zac, Orianna, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
C9: Elise, Nasus, Zed, Draven, Thresh
Nice, C9.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Velocity Esports
[CLG bans: Elise, Kha'Zix, Shen][VES bans: Malphite, Twisted Fate, Jayce]
CLG: Vladimir, Sejuani, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
VES: Kennen, Lee Sin, Kayle, Draven, Zyra
WTF, CLG. Nientonsoh top lane, Bigfatlp in the jungle, Chauster on support? You just can't do this and want to win.
Team SoloMid vs Cloud 9
[TSM bans: Twisted Fate, Thresh, Jayce][C9 bans: Karthus, Shen, Kha'Zix]
TSM: Renekton, Elise, Orianna, Ezreal, Sona
C9: Ryze, Zac, Kennen, Draven, Lulu
This one was worth watching. And you can tell, by the way it has twice as many views on youtube as other game clips. A fine display of team fight mechanics all around.
Team Coast vs Vulcun
[CST bans: Kennen, Lee Sin, Ryze][Vul bans: Blitzcrank, Jayce, Kha'Zix]
CST: Riven, Fiddlesticks, Zed, Ezreal, Thresh
Vul: Elise, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
All ZionSpartan, as usual. And don't forget surprise party Fiddlesticks!
Curse vs Velocity Esports
[Crs bans: Draven, Evelynn, Elise][VES bans: Ryze, Kha'Zix, Kennen]
Crs: Tryndamere, Nautilus, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
VES: Jayce, Lee Sin, Kayle, Varus, Thresh
Crs has perhaps the five most frustrating champs ever. You know what I mean, those are the five guys where you think the fight is over, and you're just about to relax when bam!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Team Dignitas
[CLG bans: Ryze, Kha'Zix, Evelynn][Dig bans: Twisted Fate, Hayce, Sejuani]
CLG: Elise, Nocturne, Karthus, Graves, Janna
Dig: Kennen, Zac, Diana, Varus, Sona
Wow. 71 minutes. If you have 71 minutes to kill, I recommend it, because LoL games are always sudden death at 35 minutes, so there's about 35 minutes of sudden death. And they don't just sit around and look at each other, either. There's 30-something deaths on each team.
Cloud 9 vs Curse
[C9 bans: Tryndamere, Karthus, Thresh][Crs bans: Jayce, Ryze, Kennen]
C9: Rumble, Zac, Kha'Zix, Ezreal, Sona
Crs: Elise, Maokai, Twisted Fate, Draven, Blitzcrank
The question that haunted me during this game is: why is Nyjacky wearing that huge hood? Like he's a tiny Emperor - and then you recall that he usually plays Ryze, hahah. Well it's your downfall, Sith Lord - Cloud 9 always wears white jackets.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
LCS All Star Tournament
All star tournament in Shanghai, complete with new map and some all-star types of shenanigans, such as 2v2 and 1v1 face offs between nations. But no commentary on these first videos.
NA: Dyrus, Saintvicious, scarra, Doublelift, Xpecial
EU: Soaz, Diamond, AlexIch, Yellowpete, Edward
GPL (SE Asia): HaRleluyar, Chawy, Mistake
LCL (Korea): inSec, PraY, Madlife
LPL (China): PDD, Troll, Misaya, Weixiao, XiaoXiao
2v2 Skill Showdown
ADC and support in a race to two kills, one tower, or 100 creeps, whatever comes first. EU may have the most trouble here, as Edward's English is... not developing all that fast, and he still makes calls to Yellowpete in Russian. Yellowpete is still pretty optimistic about it all, though.
*CN: Annie and Kennen vs EU: Kennen and Blitzcrank
*NA: Varus and Thresh vs GN: Sivir and Lulu (1:47!!!)
CN: Kennen and Lulu vs *LCL: Ezreal and Kennen (much longer)
*LCL: Twitch and Jarvan vs NA: Twitch and Annie
Jungler Skill Showdown
While the 2v2 matchups were mostly true to role, junglers aren't as well equipped for the rules of Magma Chamber, and most of them pick up non-jungling champs. So it's more a test of ... how good you are when you're not jungling? They do discuss, as a group, some interesting points, like how the jungler doesn't usually have a direct opponent, how junglers have to keep track of all three lanes, and how junglers have to love ruining people's day. Side note: Harleluyar is a stylish rocker-asian dude, popping his collar in his photo. Sorry Saintvicious, we're just saying.
GPL: Lee Sin vs *LPL: Twisted Fate
NA: Heimerdinger vs *LCL: Twitch
LPL: Caitlyn vs *EU: Caitlyn
EU: Lee Sin vs *LCL: Lee Sin
Top Lane Skill Showdown
sOAZ shows that Nunu;s not just OP against Wickd, but against the world!
*LCL: Kennen vs LCS: Soraka (Soraka, Dyrus?)
LPL: Annie vs *EU: Nunu
*LCL: Varus vs GPL: Twitch
*EU: Darius vs LCL: Varus (wow, soaz!)
Mid Lane Skill Showdown
NA: Lulu vs *EU: Quinn (More supports, NA?!)
*GPL: Jarvan vs LCL: Quinn
EU: Tristana vs *LPL: Orianna
LPL: Caitlyn vs *GPL: Caitlyn (Toyz brought smite, and it worked!)
LPL vs NA
We got wrecked, as you might have expected. Put up a pretty good showing in the second game, but yeah. Tough sledding against the home team.
EU vs LCL
Europe got wrecked, too. InSec was a terror on Lee Sin, and there just weren't enough bans to go around for all of them.
NA vs EU
Hey, we beat EU, so all is not lost. Well, EU may have some thinking to do. At least your profile photographer is better, EU? For reals, your portraits are pretty nice, and NA's are kinda sad. The games were nice and close, even though NA was up 22-8 in the first one, EU almost pulled off a sweet back door. In the second game, NA did a little more Protect the DoubleLift, and he got a pentakill, so that's cool. Scarra, you're a much better Karthus than TF.
LPL vs GPL
Home team advantage, too strong!
NA vs LCL
Nope, US, just not happening. But it's a good thing that you got a taste of the international scene. You'll be up against them again.
LPL vs LCL
Yikes, Korea. How on earth are you playing like you've been a team for years? At one point, the enemy Caitlyn locks onto a Korean player with next to no health left, and no other friendly champs in the area to block. The korean player runs around for a second, then from nowhere lantern-jumps to the friendly Thresh, who saves him. He wasn't even on screen.
NA vs LCL
Nope, US, just not happening. But it's a good thing that you got a taste of the international scene. You'll be up against them again.
LPL vs LCL
Yikes, Korea. How on earth are you playing like you've been a team for years? At one point, the enemy Caitlyn locks onto a Korean player with next to no health left, and no other friendly champs in the area to block. The korean player runs around for a second, then from nowhere lantern-jumps to the friendly Thresh, who saves him. He wasn't even on screen.
Monday, June 17, 2013
LCS Summer Promotion Tournaments: Summary
Summer promotion tournament in the EU on youtube is going to have to be just summaries, because I'm far enough behind as it is, and anyway, not all the videos are on this youtube list. Maybe they're lurking somewhere else, but these games are all best of fives - too long!
Giants vs Alternate
Giants took a 2-0 game lead before Alternate got it together and won the next three in a row. Congratulations new EU LCS team Alternate, and goodbye for now, Giants. Apparently it was an exciting five games, but they're not here in this youtube list.
Against All Authority vs Sinners Never Sleep
Wow, sad meltdown by aAa, and the commentators are mostly at a loss on how to describe it. SNS wrecks them in three games straight.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Samurai in Jeans
CW is actually a super strong team, but their record was hampered by those first games that they were forced to play without Bjergsen. They show the new team how it's done in four games.
Dragonborns vs Meet Your Makers
Naturally this one goes to five games, just for the stress factor. MYM just eliminates Lux in all the games, and manages despite Hosan on Draven.
And let me just squeeze in the summer promotion in the NA, just to wrap that up.
Complexity vs Quantic
The NA challenge teams are full of familiar handles, moreso than the EU challengers. I wonder if that was about the last tournament taking place during college finals. Quantic sweeps coL and emphatically replaces them.
Team MRN vs Velocity
Velocity has a strange comp where they run two ADs and two supports and a jungle Ez? True to their name, MRN once again MRNs a team: there's a magnificent backdoor in the truest sense. That's no base race, is what I mean. But MRN's scrappy comebacks draw to a sad close, and they are replaced by Velocity.
Team Dignitas vs Team Summon
Sorry Team Summon, dig is still legit.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Azure Cats
What a coincidence, BigFat going up against HotShot to get into the league. But HotShot has more talent on his team. I'm usually a little down on Aphromoo, but he landed some good pulls as blitzcrank in that second game.
Giants vs Alternate
Giants took a 2-0 game lead before Alternate got it together and won the next three in a row. Congratulations new EU LCS team Alternate, and goodbye for now, Giants. Apparently it was an exciting five games, but they're not here in this youtube list.
Against All Authority vs Sinners Never Sleep
Wow, sad meltdown by aAa, and the commentators are mostly at a loss on how to describe it. SNS wrecks them in three games straight.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Samurai in Jeans
CW is actually a super strong team, but their record was hampered by those first games that they were forced to play without Bjergsen. They show the new team how it's done in four games.
Dragonborns vs Meet Your Makers
Naturally this one goes to five games, just for the stress factor. MYM just eliminates Lux in all the games, and manages despite Hosan on Draven.
And let me just squeeze in the summer promotion in the NA, just to wrap that up.
Complexity vs Quantic
The NA challenge teams are full of familiar handles, moreso than the EU challengers. I wonder if that was about the last tournament taking place during college finals. Quantic sweeps coL and emphatically replaces them.
Team MRN vs Velocity
Velocity has a strange comp where they run two ADs and two supports and a jungle Ez? True to their name, MRN once again MRNs a team: there's a magnificent backdoor in the truest sense. That's no base race, is what I mean. But MRN's scrappy comebacks draw to a sad close, and they are replaced by Velocity.
Team Dignitas vs Team Summon
Sorry Team Summon, dig is still legit.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Azure Cats
What a coincidence, BigFat going up against HotShot to get into the league. But HotShot has more talent on his team. I'm usually a little down on Aphromoo, but he landed some good pulls as blitzcrank in that second game.
LCS NA Spring Playoffs pt3
Day 3 of the NA playoffs.
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 1
[Crs bans: Tristana, Diana, Jayce][VC bans: Miss Fortune, Twisted Fate, Nocturne]
Crs: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Caitlyn, Elise
VC: Zed, Lux, Draven, Shen, Sona
Here we go again with role-swap, VC. Champs are listed in the order of the player's typical role, so mancloud, their usual APC, is on Draven, etc. This game seemed to drag on longer than necessary, but I guess Crs are a little gun shy after that 60 minute game with GGU.
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 2
[VC bans: Miss Fortune, Nocturne, Karthus][Crs bans: Diana, Jayce, Twisted Fate]
VC: Irelia, Nasus, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Sona
Crs: Renekton, Jarvan, Orianna, Tristana, Thresh
Crs was in such a dominant position early that I nearly skipped the rest, but then I saw the next video was game 3, so I realized that somehow, VC must've dug themselves out of that hole. It's good for my Zuna theory, at least. Poor Rhux, who's usually a top laner, but is being used as support in place of Elementz
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 3
[Crs bans: Diana, Jayce, Tristana][VC bans: Miss Fortune, Karthus, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Ryze, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Vladimir, Nasus, Ahri, Kog'Maw, Thresh
Wow, Crs. Guess Elementz was a bigger part of your success than you thought?
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 1
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Karthus, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Riven, Nocturne, Orianna, Ezreal, Thresh
You banned the Karthus, but you forgot the TF, GGU. At least TSM is showing you a little more respect than VC by grouping up level 1. Your Orianna died for it, but it shows respect! That is one of only 17 kills total. Not that exciting.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 2
[GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Sona][TSM bans: Elise, Jayce, Karthus]
GGU: Vladimir, Nocturne, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Diana, Caitlyn, Lulu
Now it's GGU that gets a pre-2 minute kill, exploding the Lulu via Thresh hook and Twitch expunge. TSM just surrenders it once it's 12-0. The last fight went like this: someone saw DontMashMe walking around and thought, "I can get him!" and blew everything to try and kill him, and all of TSM came running after. DontMashMe did his magic, running and hitting at the same time, and kills TSM1. TSM2 comes into range and thinks, "He's low, I can get him!" and blows everything to try and kill him. All of GGU stands over DontMashMe and shields him with everything they have. DontMashMe kills TSM2. Rinse and repeat.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 3
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Karthus]
TSM: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Diana, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Rumble, Nocturne, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
They're still invading level 1, but this time nothing comes of it either way. Unexciting TSM roll. You know you're good, TSM, but somehow, you're the Spurs - wins are steady and unexciting. Pr0lly's description of it afterwards was more entertaining.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 4
[GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Sona][TSM bans: Elise, Jayce, Nocturne]
GGU: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Karthus, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
TSM: Rumble, Nasus, Diana, Varus, Thresh
Nothing left to lose now, GGU fields Karthus, Caitlyn, and Blitzcrank. I'm surprised the Tryndamere didn't come out. Surprised, maybe a touch disappointed. How am I supposed to know when the Trynd is applicable? Nice Kha'Zix'ing, though.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 5
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Karthus, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
GGU: Kha'Zix, Nocturne, Orianna, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
TSM win again, you probably didn't want that huge target on your backs for next season anyway, GGU. Good try, but you let him have TF again! There wasn't any one spectacular play with TF, but the global presence is always a factor. I mean, he's significant on Diana, but he's everywhere with TF.
Standings
1st place - TSM ($50,000)
2nd place - GGU ($25,000)
3rd place - VC ($15,000)
4th place - Crs ($10,000)
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 1
[Crs bans: Tristana, Diana, Jayce][VC bans: Miss Fortune, Twisted Fate, Nocturne]
Crs: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Caitlyn, Elise
VC: Zed, Lux, Draven, Shen, Sona
Here we go again with role-swap, VC. Champs are listed in the order of the player's typical role, so mancloud, their usual APC, is on Draven, etc. This game seemed to drag on longer than necessary, but I guess Crs are a little gun shy after that 60 minute game with GGU.
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 2
[VC bans: Miss Fortune, Nocturne, Karthus][Crs bans: Diana, Jayce, Twisted Fate]
VC: Irelia, Nasus, Ryze, Kog'Maw, Sona
Crs: Renekton, Jarvan, Orianna, Tristana, Thresh
Crs was in such a dominant position early that I nearly skipped the rest, but then I saw the next video was game 3, so I realized that somehow, VC must've dug themselves out of that hole. It's good for my Zuna theory, at least. Poor Rhux, who's usually a top laner, but is being used as support in place of Elementz
Curse vs Vulcun Command, Game 3
[Crs bans: Diana, Jayce, Tristana][VC bans: Miss Fortune, Karthus, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Ryze, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Vladimir, Nasus, Ahri, Kog'Maw, Thresh
Wow, Crs. Guess Elementz was a bigger part of your success than you thought?
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 1
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Karthus, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Riven, Nocturne, Orianna, Ezreal, Thresh
You banned the Karthus, but you forgot the TF, GGU. At least TSM is showing you a little more respect than VC by grouping up level 1. Your Orianna died for it, but it shows respect! That is one of only 17 kills total. Not that exciting.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 2
[GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Sona][TSM bans: Elise, Jayce, Karthus]
GGU: Vladimir, Nocturne, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Diana, Caitlyn, Lulu
Now it's GGU that gets a pre-2 minute kill, exploding the Lulu via Thresh hook and Twitch expunge. TSM just surrenders it once it's 12-0. The last fight went like this: someone saw DontMashMe walking around and thought, "I can get him!" and blew everything to try and kill him, and all of TSM came running after. DontMashMe did his magic, running and hitting at the same time, and kills TSM1. TSM2 comes into range and thinks, "He's low, I can get him!" and blows everything to try and kill him. All of GGU stands over DontMashMe and shields him with everything they have. DontMashMe kills TSM2. Rinse and repeat.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 3
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Karthus]
TSM: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Diana, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Rumble, Nocturne, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
They're still invading level 1, but this time nothing comes of it either way. Unexciting TSM roll. You know you're good, TSM, but somehow, you're the Spurs - wins are steady and unexciting. Pr0lly's description of it afterwards was more entertaining.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 4
[GGU bans: Shen, Twisted Fate, Sona][TSM bans: Elise, Jayce, Nocturne]
GGU: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Karthus, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
TSM: Rumble, Nasus, Diana, Varus, Thresh
Nothing left to lose now, GGU fields Karthus, Caitlyn, and Blitzcrank. I'm surprised the Tryndamere didn't come out. Surprised, maybe a touch disappointed. How am I supposed to know when the Trynd is applicable? Nice Kha'Zix'ing, though.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University, Game 5
[TSM bans: Elise, Nasus, Jayce][GGU bans: Shen, Karthus, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
GGU: Kha'Zix, Nocturne, Orianna, Caitlyn, Blitzcrank
TSM win again, you probably didn't want that huge target on your backs for next season anyway, GGU. Good try, but you let him have TF again! There wasn't any one spectacular play with TF, but the global presence is always a factor. I mean, he's significant on Diana, but he's everywhere with TF.
Standings
1st place - TSM ($50,000)
2nd place - GGU ($25,000)
3rd place - VC ($15,000)
4th place - Crs ($10,000)
LCS NA Spring Playoffs, pt2
Playoffs part 2 is all in one video, for some reason. Crs has a new support player, not sure what happened to Elementz, the topic is avoided except to say there was "drama".
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 1 (1:23:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Zyra
I'm for all things Katarina and Team Redhead over on VC, but I feel like the only success we've seen with Katarina has been on xPeke in the EU. And VC tries to be split pushers too, but I don't know that they are as experienced with it as Fnatic. On a separate note, because TSM wins this one pretty easily, it's good to be optimistic as a caster; at one point, OddOne feasts a minion instead of the Jarvan, and the commentators give him the benefit of the doubt. "He probably meant to do that. Give the kill to Dyrus. Yeah. He just wanted to be like, 'Hey Jarvan, watch this. Nom.' And then let Rumble get the last hit."
My theory on Zuna losing games with tall champs is holding true, but the guest analyst at the desk is MegaZero, and he is one small dude, so it's not always the case, sadly.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 2 (2:12:00)
[VC bans: Nocturne, Malphite, Shen][TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Renekton]
VC: Diana, Lee Sin, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Sona
TSM: Rumble, Jarvan, Karthus, Draven, Thresh
What, they just wrecked you in team fights and you let them have Karthus and Draven, VC? And yet somehow, somehow, they get ahead. And they manage to hold on. See my theories on Zuna and short champs. TSM should just ban Kog, also.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 3 (3:10:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Karthus]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Diana, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Lulu
This one was pretty quick, and though it goes against my Zuna theory, you knew that TSM would make a statement, right? They interview with Dyrus and Xpecial afterwards, and I've been pleased lately with how well-spoken Xpecial is. Almost as much as I hate listening to Dyrus. I'm not alone in that, right? Dyrus is the worst conversation partner/caster ever?
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 1 (4:15:00)
[Crs bans: Elise, Thresh, Caitlyn][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Jayce, Jarvan, Orianna, Varus, Sona
GGU: Tryndamere, Nasus, Karthus, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
GGU fielding a throwback team of "used to be OP" champs. You remember those days where you had to ban Trynd? This game may spur a resurrection of Trynd, because WOW. I hadn't given ZionSpartan enough credit for his other sweet plays because, well, Jayce is a jerk with that damn poke. But there's no getting around it here, he's a beast on AD Trynd. Also, Daydreaming's Blitzcrank is something to be feared.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 2 (5:04:00)
[GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate][Crs bans: Jayce, Elise, Thresh]
GGU: Vladimir, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Evelynn, Varus, Sona
Wow, this was quite a game. I recommend it, but be warned, it is a full 60 minutes long. Maybe skip ahead to the 30 minute mark: you'll see that GGU is seriously losing, over 10k gold behind, lost the baron, and about to get base-pushed. At this point, the problems seem to abound; Nocturne and Evelynn get into the middle of your team instantly, shielded and followed immediately by that bastard split pushing Shen. Varus contributes his poke, and by that time, you're all already dead. No one on GGU even has a counter-cc, let alone an engage-cc, so there's no way to stop them from split-pushing or diving for DontMashMe. Furthermore, no one has the teleport or mobility to move from lane to lane so all their lanes always seem to be pushing against them courtesy of Nocturne and Shen. Even though GGU ultimately loses this game, they mount the most amazing comeback ever.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 3 (6:20:00)
[Crs bans: Caitlyn, Karthus, Jayce][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Shen]
Crs: Kennen, Zac, Malphite, Varus, Thresh
GGU: Vlad, Nocturne, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
Voyboy went mid on Kennen against Jintae, I'm not sure why they thought that would be better. It didn't seem to me that the lane-phase was where they were lacking - if it ain't broke, Crs, don't make your APC suddenly play a huge pile of rocks? GGU learned their lesson and made some reactive picks (Crs made some reactive bans). Now GGU has the globals and the stuns they were missing last game. With two supports with hooks, the end-game becomes almost exclusively about wards. And when you watch replays of the last fight, you'll see GGU has wards in the right places.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 1 (1:23:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Renekton]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Zyra
I'm for all things Katarina and Team Redhead over on VC, but I feel like the only success we've seen with Katarina has been on xPeke in the EU. And VC tries to be split pushers too, but I don't know that they are as experienced with it as Fnatic. On a separate note, because TSM wins this one pretty easily, it's good to be optimistic as a caster; at one point, OddOne feasts a minion instead of the Jarvan, and the commentators give him the benefit of the doubt. "He probably meant to do that. Give the kill to Dyrus. Yeah. He just wanted to be like, 'Hey Jarvan, watch this. Nom.' And then let Rumble get the last hit."
My theory on Zuna losing games with tall champs is holding true, but the guest analyst at the desk is MegaZero, and he is one small dude, so it's not always the case, sadly.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 2 (2:12:00)
[VC bans: Nocturne, Malphite, Shen][TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Renekton]
VC: Diana, Lee Sin, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Sona
TSM: Rumble, Jarvan, Karthus, Draven, Thresh
What, they just wrecked you in team fights and you let them have Karthus and Draven, VC? And yet somehow, somehow, they get ahead. And they manage to hold on. See my theories on Zuna and short champs. TSM should just ban Kog, also.
Team SoloMid vs Vulcun Command, Game 3 (3:10:00)
[TSM bans: Tristana, Nasus, Thresh][VC bans: Nocturne, Shen, Karthus]
TSM: Rumble, Cho'Gath, Diana, Caitlyn, Sona
VC: Malphite, Jarvan, Jayce, Kog'Maw, Lulu
This one was pretty quick, and though it goes against my Zuna theory, you knew that TSM would make a statement, right? They interview with Dyrus and Xpecial afterwards, and I've been pleased lately with how well-spoken Xpecial is. Almost as much as I hate listening to Dyrus. I'm not alone in that, right? Dyrus is the worst conversation partner/caster ever?
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 1 (4:15:00)
[Crs bans: Elise, Thresh, Caitlyn][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Jayce, Jarvan, Orianna, Varus, Sona
GGU: Tryndamere, Nasus, Karthus, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
GGU fielding a throwback team of "used to be OP" champs. You remember those days where you had to ban Trynd? This game may spur a resurrection of Trynd, because WOW. I hadn't given ZionSpartan enough credit for his other sweet plays because, well, Jayce is a jerk with that damn poke. But there's no getting around it here, he's a beast on AD Trynd. Also, Daydreaming's Blitzcrank is something to be feared.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 2 (5:04:00)
[GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Twisted Fate][Crs bans: Jayce, Elise, Thresh]
GGU: Vladimir, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Lulu
Crs: Shen, Nocturne, Evelynn, Varus, Sona
Wow, this was quite a game. I recommend it, but be warned, it is a full 60 minutes long. Maybe skip ahead to the 30 minute mark: you'll see that GGU is seriously losing, over 10k gold behind, lost the baron, and about to get base-pushed. At this point, the problems seem to abound; Nocturne and Evelynn get into the middle of your team instantly, shielded and followed immediately by that bastard split pushing Shen. Varus contributes his poke, and by that time, you're all already dead. No one on GGU even has a counter-cc, let alone an engage-cc, so there's no way to stop them from split-pushing or diving for DontMashMe. Furthermore, no one has the teleport or mobility to move from lane to lane so all their lanes always seem to be pushing against them courtesy of Nocturne and Shen. Even though GGU ultimately loses this game, they mount the most amazing comeback ever.
Curse vs Good Game University, Game 3 (6:20:00)
[Crs bans: Caitlyn, Karthus, Jayce][GGU bans: Miss Fortune, Renekton, Shen]
Crs: Kennen, Zac, Malphite, Varus, Thresh
GGU: Vlad, Nocturne, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
Voyboy went mid on Kennen against Jintae, I'm not sure why they thought that would be better. It didn't seem to me that the lane-phase was where they were lacking - if it ain't broke, Crs, don't make your APC suddenly play a huge pile of rocks? GGU learned their lesson and made some reactive picks (Crs made some reactive bans). Now GGU has the globals and the stuns they were missing last game. With two supports with hooks, the end-game becomes almost exclusively about wards. And when you watch replays of the last fight, you'll see GGU has wards in the right places.
LCS NA Spring Playoffs pt1
NA playoffs, Day 1. Maybe break it into three parts for ease of viewing.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 1
[d bans: Jayce, Thresh, Caitlyn][GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen]
d: Zac, Lee Sin, Twisted Fate, Draven, Sona
GGU: Riven, Elise, Karthus, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
If I haven't informed you before, we're now rooting for GGU, and scarra is no longer my hero. Sorry, scarra. Crumbz is still cool, but scarra runs away a lot more than he used to, in my memory, at least. And Daydreaming's hooks are legendary. Also, pr0lly joined the analysis desk, and he is pretty funny.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 2
[GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen][d bans: Thresh, Caitlyn, Twisted Fate]
GGU: Kha'Zix, Elise, Ryze, Tristana, Yorick
d: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Ezreal, Zyra
GGU trolled a bit and showed Teemo in champ select for a while, but Phreak didn't freak out! The world is a place of change, my friends. Ugh, Yorick support. And as if scarra took offense to our lack of support in the last game, he comes out with a very solid Karthus.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 3
[d bans: Caitlyn, Thresh, Twisted Fate][GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen]
d: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Ezreal, Janna
GGU: Jayce, Nasus, Orianna, Twitch, Lulu
Sorry I haven't been giving a very thorough play by play. These games haven't been too interesting. Even this one is 3-3 in kills at 22 minutes. Jatt (I think that's him) gives a good description and slow-down look at some of the best fights in the following video. Except for the perfectly executed baron steal by GGU, take a look at that if you have time. If not, let me paint a sprite picture: 4 digs on baron, 3 GGU's hovering outside the pit, Janna trying to push them away with tornados. At the very last second, in goes Nasus with his ult, just as he's in the middle of everyone, Lulu ults him, pops all of dig into the air, Orianna shockwaves them as they come down, during all the confusion, Nasus grabs baron.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 1
[CLG bans: Renekton, Nasus, Jayce][VC bans: Lux, Shen, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Malphite, Lee Sin, Orianna, Vayne, Sona
VC: Irelia, Jarvan, Karthus, Tristana, Thresh
Where did the 'command' part of Vulcun go in all the official stuff? Well, I liked it, I'm keeping it. I've previously discussed how everyone knows that CLG has one meta: Protect the Doublelift, and how different teams have found different ways of defeating it. Some teams split push, and teams like VC just sit on Doublelift's lane with three people and crap all over his creeping attempts. It is tragic to watch - CLG can't even defend him under his own tower.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 2
[VC bans: Lux, Amumu, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Jayce, Renekton, Nasus]
VC: Shen, Lee Sin, Karthus, Tristana, Sona
CLG: Malphite, Jarvan, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
It seems to me that most of the time when CLG looks good, it's because Link, not Doublelift, becomes powerful. It's all about confidence, Link! Get out there and carry!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 3
[CLG bans: Renekton, Nasus, Jayce][VC bans: Lux, Shen, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Malphite, Volibear, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
VC: Irelia, Jarvan, Diana, Tristana, Sona
Further to my theories on people strangely looking like their champs, Zuna plays a lot of short, roundish ADCs. Right? It's not my imagination? He doesn't seem to play those tall ADCs like Vayne or Ashe - and furthermore, looking back on my own posts, when he does, they lose! Chauster and Xmithie both played jungling asian guys in the last game, and Hotshot is a pretty big guy - at least compared to Link. As for the actual game, it's pretty one sided. CLG still shows on occasion that they are a good team, even though it's 12-1 in kills by that point, and Chauster was level 13, Aphromoo was 10, while Sycho Sid and Zuna were 18, CLG still somehow manages to win a teamfight, which we give them props for. But that lead is just insurmountable.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 1
[d bans: Jayce, Thresh, Caitlyn][GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen]
d: Zac, Lee Sin, Twisted Fate, Draven, Sona
GGU: Riven, Elise, Karthus, Ezreal, Blitzcrank
If I haven't informed you before, we're now rooting for GGU, and scarra is no longer my hero. Sorry, scarra. Crumbz is still cool, but scarra runs away a lot more than he used to, in my memory, at least. And Daydreaming's hooks are legendary. Also, pr0lly joined the analysis desk, and he is pretty funny.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 2
[GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen][d bans: Thresh, Caitlyn, Twisted Fate]
GGU: Kha'Zix, Elise, Ryze, Tristana, Yorick
d: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Ezreal, Zyra
GGU trolled a bit and showed Teemo in champ select for a while, but Phreak didn't freak out! The world is a place of change, my friends. Ugh, Yorick support. And as if scarra took offense to our lack of support in the last game, he comes out with a very solid Karthus.
Team Dignitas vs Good Game University, Game 3
[d bans: Caitlyn, Thresh, Twisted Fate][GGU bans: Diana, Gragas, Shen]
d: Renekton, Jarvan, Karthus, Ezreal, Janna
GGU: Jayce, Nasus, Orianna, Twitch, Lulu
Sorry I haven't been giving a very thorough play by play. These games haven't been too interesting. Even this one is 3-3 in kills at 22 minutes. Jatt (I think that's him) gives a good description and slow-down look at some of the best fights in the following video. Except for the perfectly executed baron steal by GGU, take a look at that if you have time. If not, let me paint a sprite picture: 4 digs on baron, 3 GGU's hovering outside the pit, Janna trying to push them away with tornados. At the very last second, in goes Nasus with his ult, just as he's in the middle of everyone, Lulu ults him, pops all of dig into the air, Orianna shockwaves them as they come down, during all the confusion, Nasus grabs baron.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 1
[CLG bans: Renekton, Nasus, Jayce][VC bans: Lux, Shen, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Malphite, Lee Sin, Orianna, Vayne, Sona
VC: Irelia, Jarvan, Karthus, Tristana, Thresh
Where did the 'command' part of Vulcun go in all the official stuff? Well, I liked it, I'm keeping it. I've previously discussed how everyone knows that CLG has one meta: Protect the Doublelift, and how different teams have found different ways of defeating it. Some teams split push, and teams like VC just sit on Doublelift's lane with three people and crap all over his creeping attempts. It is tragic to watch - CLG can't even defend him under his own tower.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 2
[VC bans: Lux, Amumu, Twisted Fate][CLG bans: Jayce, Renekton, Nasus]
VC: Shen, Lee Sin, Karthus, Tristana, Sona
CLG: Malphite, Jarvan, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
It seems to me that most of the time when CLG looks good, it's because Link, not Doublelift, becomes powerful. It's all about confidence, Link! Get out there and carry!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command, Game 3
[CLG bans: Renekton, Nasus, Jayce][VC bans: Lux, Shen, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Malphite, Volibear, Orianna, Twitch, Thresh
VC: Irelia, Jarvan, Diana, Tristana, Sona
Further to my theories on people strangely looking like their champs, Zuna plays a lot of short, roundish ADCs. Right? It's not my imagination? He doesn't seem to play those tall ADCs like Vayne or Ashe - and furthermore, looking back on my own posts, when he does, they lose! Chauster and Xmithie both played jungling asian guys in the last game, and Hotshot is a pretty big guy - at least compared to Link. As for the actual game, it's pretty one sided. CLG still shows on occasion that they are a good team, even though it's 12-1 in kills by that point, and Chauster was level 13, Aphromoo was 10, while Sycho Sid and Zuna were 18, CLG still somehow manages to win a teamfight, which we give them props for. But that lead is just insurmountable.
Sunday, June 16, 2013
LCS EU Spring Playoffs pt2
Day 2 in the EU Spring Playoffs, and Ocelot is wearing a much better scarf. Crack reporting, going on here, I know. Face-off for third place comes up first, and the question is, who recovers from yesterdays losses better? EG had some long games and narrow losses, which are heartbreaking, but SK got stomped twice, which is kind of backbreaking. Which is easier to brush off and come back from?! Who has the more sieve-like memory? These guys are 2-2 in the regular season, and ex-teammates Ocelot and Wickd have nothing but love/rage for one another!
SK Gaming vs Evil Geniuses, Game 1
[SK bans: Anivia, Zed, Varus][EG bans: Jarvan, Nasus, Rumble]
SK: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Elise
EG: Zac, Shen, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Thresh
SK had mentioned that they 'had something planned for EG,' and maybe this was it: a level 1 tower dive on the Shen that manages to kill him off, and then a crazy escape from the rest of the team. One of the commentators used the term "hyrqBot on Voli-BEAR-ly got away from that fight alive," and I hope the other commentator smacked his face on the desk. Anyway, it's a good game, objectives are defended and fights are frequent. But, as with all games that EG wins, it's pretty long.
SK Gaming vs Evil Geniuses, Game 2
[EG bans: Jarvan, Rumble, Kassadin][SK bans: Anivia, Zac, Twisted Fate]
EG: Zed, Nasus, Lux, Miss Fortune, Thresh
SK: Renekton, Shen, Orianna, Varus, Elise
Another level 1 fight, another one kill pickup for SK. Zed is significantly less visually exciting than Zac, but oh well. Also, Wickd bought a mana pot by accident, so you know. Keep that in mind: everyone can make mistakes! Speaking of which, poor Ocelot, who brought his whole family to spectate live in studio.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 1
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Kha'Zix][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Nasus]
Fnatic: Rumble, Jarvan, Kennen, Varus, Zyra
GG: Elise, Zac, Zed, Miss Fortune, Sona
Fairly exciting, and during team fights, the circles on the ground are bigger than ever.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 2
[GG bans: Leona, Nasus, Twisted Fate][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac]
GG: Elise, Amumu, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Sona
Fnatic: Zed, Jarvan, Ahri, Varus, Lulu
Fnatic look especially awesome, but that might be because they are winning it against GG. Especially a GG that has Alex on Kha'Zix
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 3
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix]
Fnatic: Jayce, Jarvan, Kennen, Varus, Lulu
GG: Rumble, Evelynn, Zed, Miss Fortune, Elise
GG is like a steamroller: you can beat it, but you'd best not stumble during this race.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 4
[GG bans: Leona, Nasus, Twisted Fate][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zed]
GG: Malphite, Jarvan, Zac, Varus, Lulu
Fnatic: Elise, Volibear, Kha'Zix, Kog'Maw, Janna
It's 2-1 in favor of GG at this point, if it has not been clear. The red team (second team listed in my notation) has won every game so far. I hope they talk later about what they were thinking about during picks and bans, because those are two semi-unusual APCs. AlexIch is top lane with a Zac against Soaz on Elise, and xPeke is bot against Darian on Malphite. And look at how much knock-up there is on GG! There's a surprising amount of early aggression and a few deaths - I think each team realizes how precious each death is. Hurray for tons of action LoL games! Let's hope it's a new meta!
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 5
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix]
Fnatic: Rumble, Jarvan, Zed, Twitch, Janna
GG: Elise, Nasus, Diana, Varus, Sona
One last game to rule them all. And what can I say about it? This is some high level play. Krepo speculates that the Diana pick into the Zed lane was the cause for loss, but I'm going to assume that after five super-long games, GG was just too tired. Alex (of course) looks royally pissed afterwards, but cheer up, Alex! Here's some ideas for next season:
SK Gaming vs Evil Geniuses, Game 1
[SK bans: Anivia, Zed, Varus][EG bans: Jarvan, Nasus, Rumble]
SK: Renekton, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Elise
EG: Zac, Shen, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Thresh
SK had mentioned that they 'had something planned for EG,' and maybe this was it: a level 1 tower dive on the Shen that manages to kill him off, and then a crazy escape from the rest of the team. One of the commentators used the term "hyrqBot on Voli-BEAR-ly got away from that fight alive," and I hope the other commentator smacked his face on the desk. Anyway, it's a good game, objectives are defended and fights are frequent. But, as with all games that EG wins, it's pretty long.
SK Gaming vs Evil Geniuses, Game 2
[EG bans: Jarvan, Rumble, Kassadin][SK bans: Anivia, Zac, Twisted Fate]
EG: Zed, Nasus, Lux, Miss Fortune, Thresh
SK: Renekton, Shen, Orianna, Varus, Elise
Another level 1 fight, another one kill pickup for SK. Zed is significantly less visually exciting than Zac, but oh well. Also, Wickd bought a mana pot by accident, so you know. Keep that in mind: everyone can make mistakes! Speaking of which, poor Ocelot, who brought his whole family to spectate live in studio.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 1
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Kha'Zix][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Nasus]
Fnatic: Rumble, Jarvan, Kennen, Varus, Zyra
GG: Elise, Zac, Zed, Miss Fortune, Sona
Fairly exciting, and during team fights, the circles on the ground are bigger than ever.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 2
[GG bans: Leona, Nasus, Twisted Fate][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac]
GG: Elise, Amumu, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Sona
Fnatic: Zed, Jarvan, Ahri, Varus, Lulu
Fnatic look especially awesome, but that might be because they are winning it against GG. Especially a GG that has Alex on Kha'Zix
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 3
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix]
Fnatic: Jayce, Jarvan, Kennen, Varus, Lulu
GG: Rumble, Evelynn, Zed, Miss Fortune, Elise
GG is like a steamroller: you can beat it, but you'd best not stumble during this race.
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 4
[GG bans: Leona, Nasus, Twisted Fate][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zed]
GG: Malphite, Jarvan, Zac, Varus, Lulu
Fnatic: Elise, Volibear, Kha'Zix, Kog'Maw, Janna
It's 2-1 in favor of GG at this point, if it has not been clear. The red team (second team listed in my notation) has won every game so far. I hope they talk later about what they were thinking about during picks and bans, because those are two semi-unusual APCs. AlexIch is top lane with a Zac against Soaz on Elise, and xPeke is bot against Darian on Malphite. And look at how much knock-up there is on GG! There's a surprising amount of early aggression and a few deaths - I think each team realizes how precious each death is. Hurray for tons of action LoL games! Let's hope it's a new meta!
Fnatic vs Gambit Gaming, Game 5
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Shen, Zac][GG bans: Leona, Twisted Fate, Kha'Zix]
Fnatic: Rumble, Jarvan, Zed, Twitch, Janna
GG: Elise, Nasus, Diana, Varus, Sona
One last game to rule them all. And what can I say about it? This is some high level play. Krepo speculates that the Diana pick into the Zed lane was the cause for loss, but I'm going to assume that after five super-long games, GG was just too tired. Alex (of course) looks royally pissed afterwards, but cheer up, Alex! Here's some ideas for next season:
- Work on long-term endurance (don't overdo it, remember!)
- Put Redbull/coffee/Gatorade in those waterbottles you have under your desks
- Petition Riot for no more best of 5s
- At least ask for best of 5s that don't happen on one day
Something else to consider, before we wrap on EU: Right at the end, when Fnatic took the final nexus, they burst out of their chairs cheering and clapping and hugging. GG came over, disappointed and grim, but applauding with a lot of class (they're some of the older, more mature players in the league). But where was Sjokz (sp?), huhn, Xian!??!?! They all just awkwardly stood there, glad team and glum team, just looking at one another for a long time.
Standings
1st place: Fnatic ($50,000)
2nd place: GG ($25,000)
3rd place: EG ($15,000)
4th place: SK ($10,000)
Thursday, June 13, 2013
LCS EU Spring Playoffs pt1
Spring playoffs for the LCS. Around about the third game in, Deman talks about aAa getting disqualified from the playoffs and SK moving on automatically to face off against GG. He referred listeners to "go check out the forums" for more information, but Deman, come on. I don't read the LoL forums, just like I don't skinny dip inside industrial septic tanks. I just don't go there. A quick google scan tells me that aAa was disqualified for not having enough players the day of the game - one of them had a family emergency, and the substitute could not make it in time. Harsh!
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 1
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Kassadin, Jarvan][CW bans: Thresh, Twisted Fate, Zed]
EG: Zac, Cho'Gath, Anivia, Varus, Leona
CW: Rumble, Nasus, Ahri, Ezreal, Zyra
Woah, low kill game.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 2
[CW bans: Anivia, Thresh, Twisted Fate][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Zed]
CW: Shen, Nautilus, Kassadin, Varus, Lulu
EG: Zac, Volibear, Kayle, Kog'Maw, Alistar
Finally, some engages, and they all go CW's way. We still haven't figured out a good way to prevent spoilers: since you can see there's a third game, you know what happens here. Heck, if you glanced below these games, you'd see who wins. Don't look down, I guess. Also, blue team is listed first in bans and picks, if you haven't noticed so far.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 3
EG: Rumble, Nasus, Zed, Kog'Maw, Leona
CW: Shen, Nautilus, Orianna, Varus, Lulu
Apparently they played for some time before EU server issues forced them to recreate the game. I didn't see the bans from this point. Wicked was convinced that blue side = victory, but Deman claims that the stats don't bear that out. I wonder if they did the stats on just the teams in the playoffs, or even just EG, or what. What might hold true for pro teams probably doesn't not hold true for all LoL players across every ELO.
ALSO! I urgently need to confirm my theory that the top lane tank is physically the biggest person on the team! Wickd is taller than I previously realized. And, now that I think about it, when I roll five, our top lane man is always one of two guys, and those are the two biggest guys in our group.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 1
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Lux, Zed][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Kassadin, Twisted Fate]
Fnatic: Zac, Jarvan, Nidalee, Corki, Leona
EG: Shen, Volibear, Ahri, Varus, Alistar
It's easy to root for Nidalee teams, but I don't root for Corki teams. This presents a dilemma. Also, they lavish a lot of praise on Froggen's Anivia, but for some reason, he doesn't always pick the bird when it's available.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 2
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Kassadin][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Twisted Fate, Zed]
EG: Zac, Cho'Gate, Anivia, Varus, Alistar
Fnatic: Elise, Nasus, Caitlyn, Corki, Leona
Low kills, but high skills. Haha, see what I did there? No, really, what engages there are showcase some impressive micro on both sides. Interesting lineup, Fnatic, double-AP. Almost weird to see xPeke trying to build IE. But they did this against Froggen's Anivia before, I think, trying to use the Caitlyn net to get through the ice wall.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 3
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Lux, Zed][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Kassadin]
Fnatic: Rumble, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Varus, Leona
EG: Zac, Shen, Ahri, Kog'Maw, Elise
Fnatic themselves banned Twisted Fate last game, and who knows why. Twisted Fate on xPeke is win, everyone should know this. Even though EG got ahead early with kills and dragons and look in a dominant position, Fnatic was never that far behind in gold! All come-back wins must be hinged on TF or Tristana.
Gambit Gaming vs SK Gaming, Game 1
[GG bans: Twisted Fate, Nasus, Jarvan][SK bans: Kha'Zix, Shen, Zac]
GG: Elise, Udyr, Zed, Miss Fortune, Sona
SK: Rumble, Nautilus, Karthus, Varus, Thresh
GG steamroll. There should be a picture meme I can insert here instead of always saying that. Two pulls on SK's side, interesting but unsuccessful; Edward back on Sona, and still in fine form on those crescendos; Ocelot wearing a very ugly scarf today.
Gambit Gaming vs SK Gaming, Game 2
[SK bans: Kha'Zix, Zac, Shen][GG bans: nasus, Twisted Fate, Rumble]
SK: Zed, Nautilus, Kassadin, Ezreal, Elise
GG: Renekton, Jarvan, Malphite, Varus, Thresh
In case you didn't hear, and I didn't mention it previously, GG has not been together in the same place for practice in months because of their crazy travel schedules. When asked about it, AlexIch just shrugged and said, "we practice together in our sleep." Way to create more mystical atmosphere around your crazy team, Alex. At any rate, they showed up early in Germany for the playoffs, and they've had one week to practice together. And they're back to being monsters. This was even more of a regretful stomp than the last game. SK actually surrenders.
- And that brings to an end Wickd's dire prediction that the blue team would win every game. It held true for all the games up until that last one!
- On the one hand, I don't miss RageOcelot, because whoaaaa that was a lot of rage, and it would obliterate anything else you were trying to observe or talk about. But on the other, I just a little tiny bit miss RageOcelot, because his rage was special, you know?
- I cannot stand the EU interviewer, have I said? She drives me nuts. Xian thinks she's hot, and as usual, all sins can be forgiven depending on hotness scale.
- Alex's interview reveals GG's real intentions: they already assume they're the best in the EU (and who can blame them for that assumption, really) and they're using this time as idle practice for the international matches, already scoping out their Asian opponents (completely ignoring the other regions as non-competition).
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 1
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Kassadin, Jarvan][CW bans: Thresh, Twisted Fate, Zed]
EG: Zac, Cho'Gath, Anivia, Varus, Leona
CW: Rumble, Nasus, Ahri, Ezreal, Zyra
Woah, low kill game.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 2
[CW bans: Anivia, Thresh, Twisted Fate][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Zed]
CW: Shen, Nautilus, Kassadin, Varus, Lulu
EG: Zac, Volibear, Kayle, Kog'Maw, Alistar
Finally, some engages, and they all go CW's way. We still haven't figured out a good way to prevent spoilers: since you can see there's a third game, you know what happens here. Heck, if you glanced below these games, you'd see who wins. Don't look down, I guess. Also, blue team is listed first in bans and picks, if you haven't noticed so far.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves, Game 3
EG: Rumble, Nasus, Zed, Kog'Maw, Leona
CW: Shen, Nautilus, Orianna, Varus, Lulu
Apparently they played for some time before EU server issues forced them to recreate the game. I didn't see the bans from this point. Wicked was convinced that blue side = victory, but Deman claims that the stats don't bear that out. I wonder if they did the stats on just the teams in the playoffs, or even just EG, or what. What might hold true for pro teams probably doesn't not hold true for all LoL players across every ELO.
ALSO! I urgently need to confirm my theory that the top lane tank is physically the biggest person on the team! Wickd is taller than I previously realized. And, now that I think about it, when I roll five, our top lane man is always one of two guys, and those are the two biggest guys in our group.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 1
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Lux, Zed][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Kassadin, Twisted Fate]
Fnatic: Zac, Jarvan, Nidalee, Corki, Leona
EG: Shen, Volibear, Ahri, Varus, Alistar
It's easy to root for Nidalee teams, but I don't root for Corki teams. This presents a dilemma. Also, they lavish a lot of praise on Froggen's Anivia, but for some reason, he doesn't always pick the bird when it's available.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 2
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Kassadin][Fnatic bans: Thresh, Twisted Fate, Zed]
EG: Zac, Cho'Gate, Anivia, Varus, Alistar
Fnatic: Elise, Nasus, Caitlyn, Corki, Leona
Low kills, but high skills. Haha, see what I did there? No, really, what engages there are showcase some impressive micro on both sides. Interesting lineup, Fnatic, double-AP. Almost weird to see xPeke trying to build IE. But they did this against Froggen's Anivia before, I think, trying to use the Caitlyn net to get through the ice wall.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses, Game 3
[Fnatic bans: Thresh, Lux, Zed][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Kassadin]
Fnatic: Rumble, Volibear, Twisted Fate, Varus, Leona
EG: Zac, Shen, Ahri, Kog'Maw, Elise
Fnatic themselves banned Twisted Fate last game, and who knows why. Twisted Fate on xPeke is win, everyone should know this. Even though EG got ahead early with kills and dragons and look in a dominant position, Fnatic was never that far behind in gold! All come-back wins must be hinged on TF or Tristana.
Gambit Gaming vs SK Gaming, Game 1
[GG bans: Twisted Fate, Nasus, Jarvan][SK bans: Kha'Zix, Shen, Zac]
GG: Elise, Udyr, Zed, Miss Fortune, Sona
SK: Rumble, Nautilus, Karthus, Varus, Thresh
GG steamroll. There should be a picture meme I can insert here instead of always saying that. Two pulls on SK's side, interesting but unsuccessful; Edward back on Sona, and still in fine form on those crescendos; Ocelot wearing a very ugly scarf today.
Gambit Gaming vs SK Gaming, Game 2
[SK bans: Kha'Zix, Zac, Shen][GG bans: nasus, Twisted Fate, Rumble]
SK: Zed, Nautilus, Kassadin, Ezreal, Elise
GG: Renekton, Jarvan, Malphite, Varus, Thresh
In case you didn't hear, and I didn't mention it previously, GG has not been together in the same place for practice in months because of their crazy travel schedules. When asked about it, AlexIch just shrugged and said, "we practice together in our sleep." Way to create more mystical atmosphere around your crazy team, Alex. At any rate, they showed up early in Germany for the playoffs, and they've had one week to practice together. And they're back to being monsters. This was even more of a regretful stomp than the last game. SK actually surrenders.
- And that brings to an end Wickd's dire prediction that the blue team would win every game. It held true for all the games up until that last one!
- On the one hand, I don't miss RageOcelot, because whoaaaa that was a lot of rage, and it would obliterate anything else you were trying to observe or talk about. But on the other, I just a little tiny bit miss RageOcelot, because his rage was special, you know?
- I cannot stand the EU interviewer, have I said? She drives me nuts. Xian thinks she's hot, and as usual, all sins can be forgiven depending on hotness scale.
- Alex's interview reveals GG's real intentions: they already assume they're the best in the EU (and who can blame them for that assumption, really) and they're using this time as idle practice for the international matches, already scoping out their Asian opponents (completely ignoring the other regions as non-competition).
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
LCS EU W10 pt2
Week 10, continued from the midway point.
Evil Geniuses vs Gambit Gaming
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Elise][GG bans: Twisted Fate, Jarvan, Nautilus]
EG: Zed, Volibear, Anivia, Varus, Thresh
GG: Jayce, Evelyn, Nunu, Miss Fortune, Sona
Another Nunu against Wickd? It's just cruelty, now. And no more LeBlanc for Froggen? I guess her passive is largely useless against pro players, or something. AlexIch took his Nunu top against Wickd, and just wasn't as effective as Soaz. It's alright - GG was mostly just messing around: they took baron three minutes after he was available, among other nonsense. They have nothing left to play for, having clinched top 2.
Fnatic vs Copenhagen Wolves
[Fnatic bans: Jarvan, Thresh, Kassadin][CW bans: Elise, Zed, Blitzcrank]
Fnatic: Kha'Zix, Nocturne, Ahri, Twitch, Leona
CW: Shen, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Varus, Zyra
CW got TF and Shen! Too much global to contend with! Fnatic would make a half-move, and then Twisted Fate would be there, with Shen on his heels.
Dragonborns vs Fnatic
[DB bans: Twisted Fate, Zed, Shen][Fnatic bans: Draven, Lux, Thresh]
DB: Kennen, Jarvan, Kayle, Miss Fortune, Elise
Fnatic: Nunu, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Twitch, Zyra
Sigh, DB
Gambit Gaming vs Against All Authority
[GG bans: Jarvan, Ezreal, Shen][aAa bans: Thresh, Kha'Zix, Twisted Fate]
GG: Rumble, Nasus, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
aAa: Renekton, Nautilus, Karthus, Tristana, Elise
Aw, man, aAa, you were ahead for a while there.
SK Gaming vs Giants
[SK bans: Kennen, Kassadin, Volibear][Giants bans: Jarvan, Nasus, Shen]
SK: Rumble, Pantheon, Twisted Fate, Varus, Lulu
Giants: Kha'Zix, Elise, Cassiopeia, Ashe, Thresh
I looked up one moment and the kill score was 9-9. At the end it was 42-22 (!) That's like the last ARAM I played.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves
[EG bans: Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Kassadin][CW bans: Anivia, Thresh, Zed]
EG: Rumble, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Leona
CW: Shen, Xin Zhao, Syndra, Varus, Lulu
CW had something going early, but Wickd's Rumble is surprisingly handy.
Giants vs Fnatic
[Giants bans: Nasus, Shen, Nunu][Fnatic bans: Kennen, Elise, Twisted Fate]
Giants: Irelia, Jarvan, Diana, Caitlyn, Zyra
Fnatic: Zed, Voliebear, Ahri, Twitch, Thresh
Getting down there in the matches that don't matter...
Copenhagen Wolves vs Gambit Gaming
[CW bans: Shen, Elise, Thresh][GG bans: Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Twisted Fate]
CW: Singed, Cho'Gate, Zed, Varus, Zyra
GG: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Miss Fortune, Sona
Nice match, CW! Or, Alex had nothing to play for...
Against All Authority vs Dragonborns
[aAa bans: Kha'Zix, Kayle, Zed][DB bans: Shen, Karthus, Elise]
aAa: Renekton, Nasus, Morgana, Ezreal, Thresh
DB: Riven, Jarvan, Maokai, Draven, Nunu
I guess aAa didn't have anything to play for, because they let Hosan have Draven, and the win to go along with it.
Evil Geniuses vs SK Gaming
[EG bans: Jarvan, Kassadin, Rumble][SK bans: Anivia, Twisted Fate, Lux]
EG: Renekton, Malphite, Zed, Varus, Thresh
SK: Shen, Nasus, Kayle, Ashe, Elise
Solid game out of EG, if largely unexciting.
Standings
Fnatic 22-6
GG 21-7
SK 17-11
EG 15-13
CW 13-15
aAa 10-18
Giants 8-20
DB 6-22
Evil Geniuses vs Gambit Gaming
[EG bans: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Elise][GG bans: Twisted Fate, Jarvan, Nautilus]
EG: Zed, Volibear, Anivia, Varus, Thresh
GG: Jayce, Evelyn, Nunu, Miss Fortune, Sona
Another Nunu against Wickd? It's just cruelty, now. And no more LeBlanc for Froggen? I guess her passive is largely useless against pro players, or something. AlexIch took his Nunu top against Wickd, and just wasn't as effective as Soaz. It's alright - GG was mostly just messing around: they took baron three minutes after he was available, among other nonsense. They have nothing left to play for, having clinched top 2.
Fnatic vs Copenhagen Wolves
[Fnatic bans: Jarvan, Thresh, Kassadin][CW bans: Elise, Zed, Blitzcrank]
Fnatic: Kha'Zix, Nocturne, Ahri, Twitch, Leona
CW: Shen, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Varus, Zyra
CW got TF and Shen! Too much global to contend with! Fnatic would make a half-move, and then Twisted Fate would be there, with Shen on his heels.
Dragonborns vs Fnatic
[DB bans: Twisted Fate, Zed, Shen][Fnatic bans: Draven, Lux, Thresh]
DB: Kennen, Jarvan, Kayle, Miss Fortune, Elise
Fnatic: Nunu, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Twitch, Zyra
Sigh, DB
Gambit Gaming vs Against All Authority
[GG bans: Jarvan, Ezreal, Shen][aAa bans: Thresh, Kha'Zix, Twisted Fate]
GG: Rumble, Nasus, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
aAa: Renekton, Nautilus, Karthus, Tristana, Elise
Aw, man, aAa, you were ahead for a while there.
SK Gaming vs Giants
[SK bans: Kennen, Kassadin, Volibear][Giants bans: Jarvan, Nasus, Shen]
SK: Rumble, Pantheon, Twisted Fate, Varus, Lulu
Giants: Kha'Zix, Elise, Cassiopeia, Ashe, Thresh
I looked up one moment and the kill score was 9-9. At the end it was 42-22 (!) That's like the last ARAM I played.
Evil Geniuses vs Copenhagen Wolves
[EG bans: Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Kassadin][CW bans: Anivia, Thresh, Zed]
EG: Rumble, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Leona
CW: Shen, Xin Zhao, Syndra, Varus, Lulu
CW had something going early, but Wickd's Rumble is surprisingly handy.
Giants vs Fnatic
[Giants bans: Nasus, Shen, Nunu][Fnatic bans: Kennen, Elise, Twisted Fate]
Giants: Irelia, Jarvan, Diana, Caitlyn, Zyra
Fnatic: Zed, Voliebear, Ahri, Twitch, Thresh
Getting down there in the matches that don't matter...
Copenhagen Wolves vs Gambit Gaming
[CW bans: Shen, Elise, Thresh][GG bans: Jarvan, Kha'Zix, Twisted Fate]
CW: Singed, Cho'Gate, Zed, Varus, Zyra
GG: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Miss Fortune, Sona
Nice match, CW! Or, Alex had nothing to play for...
Against All Authority vs Dragonborns
[aAa bans: Kha'Zix, Kayle, Zed][DB bans: Shen, Karthus, Elise]
aAa: Renekton, Nasus, Morgana, Ezreal, Thresh
DB: Riven, Jarvan, Maokai, Draven, Nunu
I guess aAa didn't have anything to play for, because they let Hosan have Draven, and the win to go along with it.
Evil Geniuses vs SK Gaming
[EG bans: Jarvan, Kassadin, Rumble][SK bans: Anivia, Twisted Fate, Lux]
EG: Renekton, Malphite, Zed, Varus, Thresh
SK: Shen, Nasus, Kayle, Ashe, Elise
Solid game out of EG, if largely unexciting.
Standings
Fnatic 22-6
GG 21-7
SK 17-11
EG 15-13
CW 13-15
aAa 10-18
Giants 8-20
DB 6-22
Friday, June 7, 2013
LCS EU W10 pt1
Week 10 in the EU. They finally have the headsets that allow the players to not have to wear two, but some of them still are wearing double, perhaps for sponsorship purposes.
In case you didn't hear, voting is closed for All-Star players, more on that later. Polls were extremely close for the top lane in the EU, Wickd vs Soaz (from Fnatic). Wickd, in his infinite Wickdness, offered to 1v1 Soaz, best of 5, on his stream. No less than 140,000 people were watching live as it came down to the Shen (I think Wickd was on Shen) vs Nunu. In the NA, the analysts pondered why Wickd would take such a team contributor, since Soaz was taking an obviously 1v1-strong champ, but it was an exciting finish, and Wickd lost. He honorably conceded defeat, and said everyone should vote for Soaz for the All-Star team, which they did.
Against All Authority vs Evil Geniuses
[aAa bans: Twisted Fate, Varus, Shen][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Elise, Renekton]
aAa: Xin Zhao, Jarvan, Karthus, Ezreal, Thresh
EG: Zed, Nautilus, Lux, Miss Fortune, Leona
Exciting and back and forth. The kind of battles that exhausts the commentators, haha.
Dragonborns vs SK Gaming
[DB bans: Diana, Twisted Fate, Renekton][SK bans: Dravan, Jarvan, Kha'Zix]
DB: Jayce, Shen, LUx, Ezreal, Thresh
SK: Rumble, Nasus, Kayle, Varus, Elise
Sigh, DB.
Against All Authority vs Giants
[aAa bans: Twisted Fate, Olaf, Shen][Giants bans: Thresh, Renekton, Kayle]
aAa: Xin Zhao, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Varus, Leona
Giants: Rumble, Elise, Karthus, Kennen, Zyra
Kennen's finally not banned for Jimbz! Here's another stat-crunching idea: how often these high-banned champs = win for certain people. And yet, it's not win for them, here.
Fnatic vs SK Gaming
[Fnatic bans: Kayle, Thresh, Jarvan][SK bans: Twisted Fate, Nasus, Volibear]
Fnatic: Elise, Dr. Mundo, Ezreal, Urgot, Blitzcrank
SK: Irelia, Shen, Lux, Varus, Janna
xPeke is actually running an AD Ez in mid - double AD comp. It sometimes works. What really works is Blitzcrank snatching a squishy and dragging them into the group to be insta-murdered. When that happened, Fnatic would jump on the 5v4 and destroy SK, and after a while, SK would just back off once one of them got grabbed. And that happened quite a lot. It's how SK was winning in kills but losing in towers.
Gambit Gaming vs Giants
[GG bans: Kennen, Twisted Fate, Jarvan][Giants bans: Thresh, Shen, Renekton]
GG: Jayce, Nasus, Kayle, Ezreal, Elise
Giants: Kha'Zix, Nautilus, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
It was pretty close, but GG gets angry vengeance for Giants always somehow beating them.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses
[Fnatic bans: Lux, Thresh, Leona][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Zed, Kassadin]
Fnatic: Nunu, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Zyra
EG: Shen, Volibear, LeBlanc, Varus, Elise
What, LeBlanc?! And how did you not know that EG was coming for jungle invade level 1, Fnatic? They have Shen, Voli, Elise, LeBlanc! But your worry is for naught, because Soaz is out to prove that Nunu vs Shen was not a one time thing, and that Nunu can be very team-oriented, not just 1v1. Wickd will be seeing that Absolute Zero in his nightmares.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Dragonborns
[CW bans: Draven, Kayle, Kha'Zix][DB bans: Kassadin, Zed, Thresh]
CW: Shen, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Ashe, Lulu
DB: Renekton, Nasus, Gragas, Varus, Elise
CW playing like a team that wants to get into the playoffs, DB playing like a team that doesn't want to win anymore.
Against All Authority vs SK Gaming
[aAa bans: Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Shen][SK bans: Karthus, Thresh, Renekton]
aAa: Kennen, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Leona
SK: Rumble, Volibear, Kayle, Varus, Elise
Quick and easy for SK
Dragonborns vs Gambit Gaming
[DB bans: Thresh, Elise, Kha'Zix][GG bans: Draven, Jarvan, Miss Fortune]
DB: Zed, Nasus, Kennen, Jayce, Soraka
GG: Renekton, Amumu, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Sona
Sigh, DB
Copenhagen Wolves vs Giants
[CW bans: Kennen, Elise, Kassadin][Giants bans: Zed, Shen, Singed]
CW: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Syndra, Varus, Lulu
Giants: Jax, Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Thresh
That was the best Syndra I've ever seen. Attention Summoner's Rift. Please Do Not Feed the Bjergsen. Thank you.
In case you didn't hear, voting is closed for All-Star players, more on that later. Polls were extremely close for the top lane in the EU, Wickd vs Soaz (from Fnatic). Wickd, in his infinite Wickdness, offered to 1v1 Soaz, best of 5, on his stream. No less than 140,000 people were watching live as it came down to the Shen (I think Wickd was on Shen) vs Nunu. In the NA, the analysts pondered why Wickd would take such a team contributor, since Soaz was taking an obviously 1v1-strong champ, but it was an exciting finish, and Wickd lost. He honorably conceded defeat, and said everyone should vote for Soaz for the All-Star team, which they did.
Against All Authority vs Evil Geniuses
[aAa bans: Twisted Fate, Varus, Shen][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Elise, Renekton]
aAa: Xin Zhao, Jarvan, Karthus, Ezreal, Thresh
EG: Zed, Nautilus, Lux, Miss Fortune, Leona
Exciting and back and forth. The kind of battles that exhausts the commentators, haha.
Dragonborns vs SK Gaming
[DB bans: Diana, Twisted Fate, Renekton][SK bans: Dravan, Jarvan, Kha'Zix]
DB: Jayce, Shen, LUx, Ezreal, Thresh
SK: Rumble, Nasus, Kayle, Varus, Elise
Sigh, DB.
Against All Authority vs Giants
[aAa bans: Twisted Fate, Olaf, Shen][Giants bans: Thresh, Renekton, Kayle]
aAa: Xin Zhao, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Varus, Leona
Giants: Rumble, Elise, Karthus, Kennen, Zyra
Kennen's finally not banned for Jimbz! Here's another stat-crunching idea: how often these high-banned champs = win for certain people. And yet, it's not win for them, here.
Fnatic vs SK Gaming
[Fnatic bans: Kayle, Thresh, Jarvan][SK bans: Twisted Fate, Nasus, Volibear]
Fnatic: Elise, Dr. Mundo, Ezreal, Urgot, Blitzcrank
SK: Irelia, Shen, Lux, Varus, Janna
xPeke is actually running an AD Ez in mid - double AD comp. It sometimes works. What really works is Blitzcrank snatching a squishy and dragging them into the group to be insta-murdered. When that happened, Fnatic would jump on the 5v4 and destroy SK, and after a while, SK would just back off once one of them got grabbed. And that happened quite a lot. It's how SK was winning in kills but losing in towers.
Gambit Gaming vs Giants
[GG bans: Kennen, Twisted Fate, Jarvan][Giants bans: Thresh, Shen, Renekton]
GG: Jayce, Nasus, Kayle, Ezreal, Elise
Giants: Kha'Zix, Nautilus, Kassadin, Miss Fortune, Sona
It was pretty close, but GG gets angry vengeance for Giants always somehow beating them.
Fnatic vs Evil Geniuses
[Fnatic bans: Lux, Thresh, Leona][EG bans: Kha'Zix, Zed, Kassadin]
Fnatic: Nunu, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Zyra
EG: Shen, Volibear, LeBlanc, Varus, Elise
What, LeBlanc?! And how did you not know that EG was coming for jungle invade level 1, Fnatic? They have Shen, Voli, Elise, LeBlanc! But your worry is for naught, because Soaz is out to prove that Nunu vs Shen was not a one time thing, and that Nunu can be very team-oriented, not just 1v1. Wickd will be seeing that Absolute Zero in his nightmares.
Copenhagen Wolves vs Dragonborns
[CW bans: Draven, Kayle, Kha'Zix][DB bans: Kassadin, Zed, Thresh]
CW: Shen, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Ashe, Lulu
DB: Renekton, Nasus, Gragas, Varus, Elise
CW playing like a team that wants to get into the playoffs, DB playing like a team that doesn't want to win anymore.
Against All Authority vs SK Gaming
[aAa bans: Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Shen][SK bans: Karthus, Thresh, Renekton]
aAa: Kennen, Nasus, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Leona
SK: Rumble, Volibear, Kayle, Varus, Elise
Quick and easy for SK
Dragonborns vs Gambit Gaming
[DB bans: Thresh, Elise, Kha'Zix][GG bans: Draven, Jarvan, Miss Fortune]
DB: Zed, Nasus, Kennen, Jayce, Soraka
GG: Renekton, Amumu, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Sona
Sigh, DB
Copenhagen Wolves vs Giants
[CW bans: Kennen, Elise, Kassadin][Giants bans: Zed, Shen, Singed]
CW: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Syndra, Varus, Lulu
Giants: Jax, Xin Zhao, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Thresh
That was the best Syndra I've ever seen. Attention Summoner's Rift. Please Do Not Feed the Bjergsen. Thank you.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
LCS NA W10 pt2
Week 10, continued from here. If I have not mentioned it yet, NA has a new toy recently: a picture in picture of live action, which they squeeze into the bottom left corner when split pushes and base races happen. Sweet!
Dignitas vs Curse
[d bans: Jarvan, Miss Fortune, Thresh][Crs bans: Diana, Shen, Gragas]
d: Singed, Volibear, Evelynn, Caitlyn, Zyra
Crs: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Ashe, Sona
Another Ashe, but it works less well when your arrows miss, etc.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command
[CLG bans: Karthus, Nasus, Diana][VC bans: Vayne, Malphite, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Shen, Amumu, Lux, Tristana, Sona
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Twitch, Lulu
This was all really even until CLG managed a late baron that seemed to make the difference?
Team MRN vs Counter Logic Gaming
[MRN bans: Cho'Gath, Nidalee, Shen][CLG bans: Renekton, Riven, Malphite]
MRN: Irelia, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Tristana, Thresh
CLG: Jax, Amumu, Ahri, Vayne, Sona
That was the biggest comeback I've ever seen, amateur or professional. I was really hoping for an unstoppable Jax from HotshotGG.
Curse vs Complexity
[Crs bans: Zed, Jayce, Shen][coL bans: Volibear, Thresh, Jarvan]
Crs: Gragas, Udyr, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
coL: Darius, Amumu, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Kayle
Wow, complexity is really on a roll. Or PEDs.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University
[TSM bans: Riven, Elise, Thresh][GGU bans: Renekton, Draven, did not ban third]
TSM: Shen, Nocturne, Karthus, Varus, Sona
GGU: Jayce, Nasus, Lux, Caitlyn, Janna
GGU lost their first ban because they tend to chat about their strategy during pauses. It's a natural thing to want to do, but the commentators are clear the they had been warned at least once and continued to ignore the rule. There you go, GGU, now TSM has a very global team and makes you look like rookies again.
Dignitas vs Vulcun Command
[d bans: Jarvan, Karthus, Thresh][VC bans: Diana, Caitlyn, Shen]
d: Renekton, Volibear, Gragas, Draven, Alistar
VC: Malphite, Nasus, Cassiopeia, Tristana, Sona
Odd game, another close ending / comeback win, if that's what you want to watch. Dignitas was pretty solidly in control early game, and VC somehow managed. Later, I want to go back and check if all the 'comeback' games have involved Tristana...
Good Game University vs Counter Logic Gaming
[GGU bans: Malphite, Cho'Gath, Shen][CLG bans: Twitch, Karthus, Thresh]
GGU: Jayce, Elise, Ryze, Tristana, Yorick
CLG: Udyr, Jarvan, Orianna, Ezreal, Lulu
Support Yorick?! This is one of those times that I can agree with (I think it was) pr0lly's theory that people are bad against champs that they don't remember. I'm always bad against Yorick, because I never played him, and I'm always surprised by his abilities and how they do so much damage and slow.
Dignitas vs Team SoloMid
[d bans: Thresh, Malphite, Karthus][TSM bans: Gragas, Diana, Shen]
d: Zed, Nasus, Katarina, Draven, Alistar
TSM: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
I was excited to see scarra back on Katarina, but nope, he does not really get a chance to do either thing that she does: split push, or dive in and kill all. Not that I've seen a Katarina in a high level manage to do some 1v5ing, but one can always dream.
Complexity vs Team MRN
[coL bans: Renekton, Malphite, Jarvan][MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Zed, Amumu]
coL: Jayce, Nasus, Gragas, Caitlyn, Thresh
MRN: Riven, Shen, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Sona
Not such a roll now, coL. A level 1 fight in the jungle puts them far enough behind that there was no catching up, especially when MRN had TF and Shen. Afterwards, in an interview with ClakeyD, he tells us that they knew where coL would be level 1 because they had seen them execute a sneaky pull with Thresh before.
Vulcun Command vs Curse
[VC bans: Miss Fortune, Volibear, Kassadin][Crs bans: Shen, Thresh, Renekton]
VC: Zed, Xerath, Draven, Udyr, Sona
Crs: Nunu, Fizz, Tristana, Ezreal, Elise
Yes, you read those champ picks right. The commentators were saying something about the match being meaningless for Curse's standings. If they mentioned it was also meaningless for VC, I missed it. I hope so, because they've switched up roles? The champs are listed in order of the player's usual role, but Zed on Sycho Sid ran with smite, and Zuna was on Udyr in the top lane.
Standings
TSM 21-7
Crs 19-9
dig 17-11
CLG 13-15
VC 12-16
GGU 11-17
MRN 10-18
coL 9-19
Dignitas vs Curse
[d bans: Jarvan, Miss Fortune, Thresh][Crs bans: Diana, Shen, Gragas]
d: Singed, Volibear, Evelynn, Caitlyn, Zyra
Crs: Renekton, Nasus, Karthus, Ashe, Sona
Another Ashe, but it works less well when your arrows miss, etc.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Vulcun Command
[CLG bans: Karthus, Nasus, Diana][VC bans: Vayne, Malphite, Twisted Fate]
CLG: Shen, Amumu, Lux, Tristana, Sona
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Twitch, Lulu
This was all really even until CLG managed a late baron that seemed to make the difference?
Team MRN vs Counter Logic Gaming
[MRN bans: Cho'Gath, Nidalee, Shen][CLG bans: Renekton, Riven, Malphite]
MRN: Irelia, Jarvan, Twisted Fate, Tristana, Thresh
CLG: Jax, Amumu, Ahri, Vayne, Sona
That was the biggest comeback I've ever seen, amateur or professional. I was really hoping for an unstoppable Jax from HotshotGG.
Curse vs Complexity
[Crs bans: Zed, Jayce, Shen][coL bans: Volibear, Thresh, Jarvan]
Crs: Gragas, Udyr, Twisted Fate, Caitlyn, Lulu
coL: Darius, Amumu, Kha'Zix, Miss Fortune, Kayle
Wow, complexity is really on a roll. Or PEDs.
Team SoloMid vs Good Game University
[TSM bans: Riven, Elise, Thresh][GGU bans: Renekton, Draven, did not ban third]
TSM: Shen, Nocturne, Karthus, Varus, Sona
GGU: Jayce, Nasus, Lux, Caitlyn, Janna
GGU lost their first ban because they tend to chat about their strategy during pauses. It's a natural thing to want to do, but the commentators are clear the they had been warned at least once and continued to ignore the rule. There you go, GGU, now TSM has a very global team and makes you look like rookies again.
Dignitas vs Vulcun Command
[d bans: Jarvan, Karthus, Thresh][VC bans: Diana, Caitlyn, Shen]
d: Renekton, Volibear, Gragas, Draven, Alistar
VC: Malphite, Nasus, Cassiopeia, Tristana, Sona
Odd game, another close ending / comeback win, if that's what you want to watch. Dignitas was pretty solidly in control early game, and VC somehow managed. Later, I want to go back and check if all the 'comeback' games have involved Tristana...
Good Game University vs Counter Logic Gaming
[GGU bans: Malphite, Cho'Gath, Shen][CLG bans: Twitch, Karthus, Thresh]
GGU: Jayce, Elise, Ryze, Tristana, Yorick
CLG: Udyr, Jarvan, Orianna, Ezreal, Lulu
Support Yorick?! This is one of those times that I can agree with (I think it was) pr0lly's theory that people are bad against champs that they don't remember. I'm always bad against Yorick, because I never played him, and I'm always surprised by his abilities and how they do so much damage and slow.
Dignitas vs Team SoloMid
[d bans: Thresh, Malphite, Karthus][TSM bans: Gragas, Diana, Shen]
d: Zed, Nasus, Katarina, Draven, Alistar
TSM: Renekton, Cho'Gath, Twisted Fate, Miss Fortune, Sona
I was excited to see scarra back on Katarina, but nope, he does not really get a chance to do either thing that she does: split push, or dive in and kill all. Not that I've seen a Katarina in a high level manage to do some 1v5ing, but one can always dream.
Complexity vs Team MRN
[coL bans: Renekton, Malphite, Jarvan][MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Zed, Amumu]
coL: Jayce, Nasus, Gragas, Caitlyn, Thresh
MRN: Riven, Shen, Twisted Fate, Twitch, Sona
Not such a roll now, coL. A level 1 fight in the jungle puts them far enough behind that there was no catching up, especially when MRN had TF and Shen. Afterwards, in an interview with ClakeyD, he tells us that they knew where coL would be level 1 because they had seen them execute a sneaky pull with Thresh before.
Vulcun Command vs Curse
[VC bans: Miss Fortune, Volibear, Kassadin][Crs bans: Shen, Thresh, Renekton]
VC: Zed, Xerath, Draven, Udyr, Sona
Crs: Nunu, Fizz, Tristana, Ezreal, Elise
Yes, you read those champ picks right. The commentators were saying something about the match being meaningless for Curse's standings. If they mentioned it was also meaningless for VC, I missed it. I hope so, because they've switched up roles? The champs are listed in order of the player's usual role, but Zed on Sycho Sid ran with smite, and Zuna was on Udyr in the top lane.
Standings
TSM 21-7
Crs 19-9
dig 17-11
CLG 13-15
VC 12-16
GGU 11-17
MRN 10-18
coL 9-19
Monday, June 3, 2013
LCS NA W10 pt1
Another super week, this one to determine final standings before playoffs. Phreak and Jatt keep telling me how it's going to work, but without any visuals I think it's just not sticking. Bottom line is, there's so many games this week, everyone is still mathematically viable to survive relegation, especially since there's ties at 2nd and 2nd to last place.
Complexity vs Team Dignitas
[coL bans: Diana, Caitlyn, Renekton][d bans: Zed, Kayle, Kha'Zix]
coL: Jayce, Jarvan, Gragas, Miss Fortune, Thresh
d: Shen, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Draven, Sona
Have not seen Scarra on Twisted Fate, or pr0lly on Gragas, so it promises to be interesting. The real interesting lane turns out to be bottom, though, where M eye A has gone mad with the desperation to avoid relegation. Scarra used to be my hero, back when he played the only Katarina in high level play. Has he become distinctly less ballsy, or is it just my imagination? At any rate, non-aggressive AP mid players don't have much use for TF, really. We've seen it used to fine advantage by xPeke and AlexIch, but scarra just isn't as murder-filled as those guys.
Team MRN vs Team SoloMid
[MRN bans: Thresh, Shen, Karthus][TSM bans: Riven, Evelynn, Twisted Fate]
MRN: Malphite, Jarvan, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Lulu
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Diana, Twitch, Sona
It's always a close game when each team has inhibitors down, and there are a lot of fights to watch. But the end seemed to come down to who had more experience with this kind of late game.
Complexity vs Good Game University
[coL bans: Twitch, Elise, Thresh][GGU bans: Amumu, Zed, Shen]
coL: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Gragas, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Riven, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Urgot, Kayle
Like I said before, coL is suddenly intent on not being in last place. I also suddenly notice that their team mostly looks like their roles, which is hilarious. Pr0lly could pass for a tiny black mage, and Nickwu looks like a fairly large tanky bruiser. Even Lautemortis looks like a jungler. Really!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Team SoloMid
[CLG bans: Draven, Nocturne, Vladimir][TSM bans: Vayne, Shen, Malphite]
CLG: Cho'Gath, Jarvan, Nidalee, Twitch, Lulu
TSM: Jayce, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
There's that lineup from CLG that won them some nice games before. But TSM plays a regular roll.
Curse vs Good Game University
[Crs bans: Jayce, Karthus, Thresh][GGU bans: Renekton, Miss Fortune, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Morgana, Twitch, Lulu
GGU: Riven, Elise, Orianna, Caitlyn, Janna
Interesting game. May want to watch this one to get an idea of how a team can come back from way down.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Dignitas
[CLG bans: Gragas, Diana, Draven][d bans: Vayne, Twitch, Caitlyn]
CLG: Shen, Amumu, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Thresh
d: Singed, Nasus, Karthus, Corki, Zyra
Did you notice up there that dignitas tried to ban out Doublelift? It's not as if he's really the ONLY damage on CLG; I think CLG just lets everyone believe that because it suits them. But yes, they generally run with mostly Protect the Doublelift strategy. And besides, there's more ADC's out there. Doublelift got Ezreal, and you got stuck with Corki. I hope if Corki has a 0% win rate that pros will stop picking Corki.
Vulcun Command vs Team MRN
[VC bans: Riven, Malphite, Twisted Fate][MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Karthus, Diana]
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Trist, Sona
MRN: Shen, Evelynn, Lux, Twitch, Thresh
Battle for sixth place, and I think ClakeyD should stick with Nocturne - his Eve hasn't demonstrated a lot of helpfulness.
Complexity vs Team SoloMid
[coL bans: Malphite, Renekton, Shen][TSM bans: Gragas, Zed, Thresh]
coL: Jayce, Javan, Diana, Caitlyn, Elise
TSM: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Karthus, Draven, Sona
Early on, TSM was winning in kills and gold, but coL's winning in turrets. Usually turrets are best, but TSM just had more gold and items.
Team MRN vs Curse
[MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Ryze, Karthus][Crs bans: Vayne, Renekton, Twisted Fate]
MRN: Malphite, Shen, Ahri, Draven, Sona
Crs: Riven, Volibear, Orianna, Ashe, Thresh
Usually I enjoy games with a lot of 5v5 fights, but all of these seemed to end with one or two people from each team limping away, so it was always hard to tell who was winning. Apparently the answer is Crs, and I will just credit Ashe for that, since she is the original.
Vulcun Command vs Good Game University
[VC bans: Caitlyn, Jayce, Thresh][GGU bans: Malphite, Twisted Fate, Nasus]
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Diana, Twitch, Sona
GGU: Kha'Zix, Elise, Karthus, Tristana, Lulu
Clearly it's the lack of uniforms, GGU.
Complexity vs Team Dignitas
[coL bans: Diana, Caitlyn, Renekton][d bans: Zed, Kayle, Kha'Zix]
coL: Jayce, Jarvan, Gragas, Miss Fortune, Thresh
d: Shen, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Draven, Sona
Have not seen Scarra on Twisted Fate, or pr0lly on Gragas, so it promises to be interesting. The real interesting lane turns out to be bottom, though, where M eye A has gone mad with the desperation to avoid relegation. Scarra used to be my hero, back when he played the only Katarina in high level play. Has he become distinctly less ballsy, or is it just my imagination? At any rate, non-aggressive AP mid players don't have much use for TF, really. We've seen it used to fine advantage by xPeke and AlexIch, but scarra just isn't as murder-filled as those guys.
Team MRN vs Team SoloMid
[MRN bans: Thresh, Shen, Karthus][TSM bans: Riven, Evelynn, Twisted Fate]
MRN: Malphite, Jarvan, Katarina, Miss Fortune, Lulu
TSM: Renekton, Nasus, Diana, Twitch, Sona
It's always a close game when each team has inhibitors down, and there are a lot of fights to watch. But the end seemed to come down to who had more experience with this kind of late game.
Complexity vs Good Game University
[coL bans: Twitch, Elise, Thresh][GGU bans: Amumu, Zed, Shen]
coL: Kha'Zix, Jarvan, Gragas, Caitlyn, Sona
GGU: Riven, Nasus, Twisted Fate, Urgot, Kayle
Like I said before, coL is suddenly intent on not being in last place. I also suddenly notice that their team mostly looks like their roles, which is hilarious. Pr0lly could pass for a tiny black mage, and Nickwu looks like a fairly large tanky bruiser. Even Lautemortis looks like a jungler. Really!
Counter Logic Gaming vs Team SoloMid
[CLG bans: Draven, Nocturne, Vladimir][TSM bans: Vayne, Shen, Malphite]
CLG: Cho'Gath, Jarvan, Nidalee, Twitch, Lulu
TSM: Jayce, Nasus, Karthus, Caitlyn, Sona
There's that lineup from CLG that won them some nice games before. But TSM plays a regular roll.
Curse vs Good Game University
[Crs bans: Jayce, Karthus, Thresh][GGU bans: Renekton, Miss Fortune, Twisted Fate]
Crs: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Morgana, Twitch, Lulu
GGU: Riven, Elise, Orianna, Caitlyn, Janna
Interesting game. May want to watch this one to get an idea of how a team can come back from way down.
Counter Logic Gaming vs Dignitas
[CLG bans: Gragas, Diana, Draven][d bans: Vayne, Twitch, Caitlyn]
CLG: Shen, Amumu, Twisted Fate, Ezreal, Thresh
d: Singed, Nasus, Karthus, Corki, Zyra
Did you notice up there that dignitas tried to ban out Doublelift? It's not as if he's really the ONLY damage on CLG; I think CLG just lets everyone believe that because it suits them. But yes, they generally run with mostly Protect the Doublelift strategy. And besides, there's more ADC's out there. Doublelift got Ezreal, and you got stuck with Corki. I hope if Corki has a 0% win rate that pros will stop picking Corki.
Vulcun Command vs Team MRN
[VC bans: Riven, Malphite, Twisted Fate][MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Karthus, Diana]
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Ryze, Trist, Sona
MRN: Shen, Evelynn, Lux, Twitch, Thresh
Battle for sixth place, and I think ClakeyD should stick with Nocturne - his Eve hasn't demonstrated a lot of helpfulness.
Complexity vs Team SoloMid
[coL bans: Malphite, Renekton, Shen][TSM bans: Gragas, Zed, Thresh]
coL: Jayce, Javan, Diana, Caitlyn, Elise
TSM: Kha'Zix, Nasus, Karthus, Draven, Sona
Early on, TSM was winning in kills and gold, but coL's winning in turrets. Usually turrets are best, but TSM just had more gold and items.
Team MRN vs Curse
[MRN bans: Kha'Zix, Ryze, Karthus][Crs bans: Vayne, Renekton, Twisted Fate]
MRN: Malphite, Shen, Ahri, Draven, Sona
Crs: Riven, Volibear, Orianna, Ashe, Thresh
Usually I enjoy games with a lot of 5v5 fights, but all of these seemed to end with one or two people from each team limping away, so it was always hard to tell who was winning. Apparently the answer is Crs, and I will just credit Ashe for that, since she is the original.
Vulcun Command vs Good Game University
[VC bans: Caitlyn, Jayce, Thresh][GGU bans: Malphite, Twisted Fate, Nasus]
VC: Renekton, Jarvan, Diana, Twitch, Sona
GGU: Kha'Zix, Elise, Karthus, Tristana, Lulu
Clearly it's the lack of uniforms, GGU.
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