Froggen returns to playoffs after four years
It’s been over four years since Henrik “Froggen” Hansen has competed in the playoffs. The last time he was relevant was when he played for European team Alliance.
After taking a break and moving to North America, Froggen is now playing for the Golden Guardians. The team had a rough start but has shown improvement in the second half of the split.
However, their next challenge is against FlyQuest in the LCS quarterfinals on March 30. FlyQuest also has a Danish player, Lucas “Santorin” Larsen, who has returned to the playoffs after a long absence. FlyQuest recently won a revenge game against Golden Guardians in the tiebreaker.
Although Froggen is the biggest name in the match, FlyQuest is not intimidated by him.
The impact of Lucas “Santorin” Larsen
Another Danish player to watch in this match is FlyQuest jungler Santorin. Santorin has been playing in North America for a longer time than Froggen, and many fans remember him from his days on TSM.
Although Santorin faced many failures, this split he has been a revelation for FlyQuest. He has shown impressive plays and is being considered for LCS awards. Santorin has resurrected his career.
In the last regular season match between Golden Guardians and FlyQuest, Santorin almost single-handedly defeated Golden Guardians. His performance on Nocturne was unstoppable. FlyQuest will need Santorin to repeat that performance to win on Saturday.
The importance of the bot lane
FlyQuest has an advantage in the bot lane with Jason “WildTurtle” Tran. Although he is not considered one of the best ADCs in the region anymore, he has been solid for the team.
Golden Guardians’ bot laner Deftly has a better lane phase, but WildTurtle has become a more consistent performer. He is content to play patiently and scale into the game. Deftly, on the other hand, sometimes struggles to contribute during team fights.
In team fights on an equal playing field, FlyQuest has an advantage. However, recent matches have shown that both teams don’t always fight on equal terms.
The key players
Golden Guardians’ success will depend on their ability to force advantageous situations and spread the map. Their strongest players, Froggen and top laner Hauntzer, will play crucial roles in achieving this.
Hauntzer, although not receiving much recognition this year, has quietly put together a strong split. He will have a dream match-up against FlyQuest’s rookie top laner, Omran “V1per” Shoura.
If Golden Guardians can give space and time to Froggen and Hauntzer, they have a chance to win. Their discipline will be tested against FlyQuest’s strong team fighting abilities.
In the playoffs, Froggen has the opportunity to showcase his skills and prove that he is still one of the best players in the world.