The Golden Age had begun. By week 6 of the NA LCS Spring Split, Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) was in first place, tied with TSM. Everything was going well. Link, Aphroomo, ZionSpartan, and Xmithie were all performing at their best. CLG’s dominant early game strategies were unmatched. They would build up large gold advantages by the 15-20 minute mark and easily defeat their opponents. However, their first match against TSM changed everything.
In that match, CLG had another strong early game, but TSM turned things around with a well-executed team fight. CLG’s poor team fighting skills were exposed, and this weakness haunted them for the rest of the split. CLG finished the first round robin with a 5-4 record and dropped to 3rd place after losing a tiebreaker to Cloud 9. In the playoffs, CLG faced Team Liquid and lost all three games, only gaining 10 championship points.
So how did a team that was so dominant in the early game lose their momentum? One reason is that CLG had an early advantage against weaker teams. But against stronger teams like TSM, Cloud 9, and Team Impulse, they struggled. CLG’s leads were not enough to overcome their opponents’ better understanding of the game. Another factor was the shift in the meta towards tank champions. CLG’s early game strategies were not as effective in team fights, which became more important in the tank meta.
CLG’s decline also had to do with the lack of practice opportunities. CLG started preparing for the Spring Split earlier than other teams. They formed their roster quickly and had no language barriers. This allowed them to focus on early game strategies, but they had little time to practice team fighting. Their dominance in the early game prevented them from effectively practicing this aspect of the game.
Despite their struggles, CLG is determined to qualify for Worlds this year. With the new championship point system, they will need to secure a top 3 spot in the Summer Playoffs. Fans may suggest roster changes, but it is uncertain if that would solve CLG’s issues. Signing a new player could either rejuvenate the team or undo their progress.
CLG, Spring Split, early game, dominant, team fighting, meta shift, tank champions, practice, championship points, Summer Playoffs, Worlds.