Next week’s LCS games are going to be epic. We only have two weeks left until the split is over, and teams are trying to scrape together whatever wins they can get. Teams in NA are pretty close in the standings, and one win or loss can determine who makes it to playoffs. Immortals are still guaranteed first seed, but every other spot is up for grabs. Team Solo Mid, Cloud 9 and Counter Logic Gaming can all get second seed, depending on how their games go. Over in EU H2K, Team Vitality and G2 Esports are all tied for first place, making their games as hyped as ever.
Thursday- Team Vitality vs. G2 Esports
Two of the first-place European teams will take to the rift to decide who is better. Both teams are new to the LCS and have dominated the scene in a short amount of time. G2 Esports and their mixture of Koreans and Europeans have shown consistent performances. They are led by their top laner, Kikis who thrives on carry champions like Poppy and Fiora. Kikis has shown an affinity for split pushers with high team-fight capabilities. His Malphite ultimates have been on point, and helped G2 beat H2K during their Week 5 game.
Don’t count Vitality out though, their macro play and team-fighting is some of the best in the LCS. Caboshard and Shook have been playing in the LCS for years and are now seasoned veterans. They know when to dive towers or initiate fights and utilize their team’s advantage. Keep your eyes out for this match, these European titans won’t disappoint.
Saturday- Counter Logic Gaming vs. Team Liquid
The two “underdogs” of the NA LCS face off in what will most assuredly be a bloody game. Last week, CLG showed how well they play, handing Immortals their first loss of the split. Now that Doublelift is on TSM, CLG’s other players have stepped their game up. Aphromoo, their support, has taken the leadership role this split, using his aggressive style to net his team early advantages. Nobody plays a better Bard in the LCS. Darshan and Xmithie were never seen as the carries on CLG, until now. Last week, Darshan managed to split push on Fiora to victory against Cloud 9, in what was the most action-packed game of League of Legends this split.
Team Liquid has been inconsistent this split. They lost Quas and Iwilldominate, leaving them with roster openings. Lourlo and Dardoch have stepped in for them and are playing out of their minds. Last week’s game against TSM was a stomp; TSM didn’t even get any kills until the last few team fights. This game will be bloody and glorious, if last week’s TL shows up.
Sunday- Counter Logic Gaming vs. Echo Fox
Echo Fox is the most inconsistent team in the NA LCS. They started off the split in a rough spot, going 1-7. They had to play the first few games without their star player, Froggen, or their top laner, KFO. Once they got them back, EF went on to win four games in a row. Froggen’s Corki keeps carrying them, out farming every single mid laner he’s put up against. Last week, they went up against two of the best teams in the LCS, Immortals and TSM, and lost. They still put up quite the fight, and I expect this game to be no different. CLG’s aggressive early game style has screwed them over before, and Echo Fox‘s coordination might be able to capitalize on that weakness.
