LMQ Dominates North American Region
As the League of Legends competition enters its final quarter, the focus of every team is solely on the playoffs. In the North American region, LMQ has emerged as the leading team after a period of seemingly even competition. Meanwhile, in Europe, Fnatic has picked up speed and is now the only real contender challenging first-place Alliance. Let’s take a look at the statistics from week nine of the LCS.
LMQ’s Dominance in North America
LMQ has become incredibly dominant in the North American region. They have overcome their early season struggles, with impressive performances in week nine. With a gold-per-minute rate of over 1,900 and almost 100 percent objective control, LMQ is now two games ahead of their closest competition. With only six games left, it seems unlikely that anyone can stop them from reaching the playoffs.
Cloud9 Leads the Chase
Cloud9 is the clear favorite among the teams in second place. After a rough midseason, the former champions are now on the rise, delivering a dominant performance in week nine. Counter Logic Gaming, who seemed like a sure bet before a disastrous week, and Team SoloMid, amidst a desperate roster change, are now losing momentum. Among the bottom four teams, only Curse and Dignitas are showing signs of life and will likely fight hard to avoid relegation.
Fnatic Rises in Europe
In Europe, the fight for first place is much closer. Alliance started off strong and has been leading the league throughout the season. However, Fnatic, the three-time champions of the European LCS, is closing in on the gap with incredible efficiency. With an eight-game winning streak, Fnatic has even surpassed LMQ’s gold income. Both Fnatic and Alliance have similar KDA and objective control numbers, but Alliance is currently maintaining the lead with an impressive 25.0 KDA. With only one game separating these two powerhouses, it’s clear that both teams are playing to win.
Challenges for the Trailing Teams
The teams in third place, Millenium and the Supa Hot Crew, appear to be the best contenders in Europe. However, SK and ROCCAT’s 0-2 weeks have left them fighting to avoid relegation. The final two teams, Gambit and the Copenhagen Wolves, are all but eliminated from the playoffs and would need a miracle to make it into the quarterfinals.
Individual Performances
LMQ mid laner, Yu “XiaoWeiXiao” Xian, stood out this week with an outstanding gold per minute rate of 505.91, putting him in the MVP spotlight once again. Meanwhile, Fnatic’s Martin “Rekkles” Larsson has been leading the charge for his team, with 19 kills, five assists, and zero deaths. His performance not only broke records but also made him a fantasy superstar for the week.
The rise of Xerath was the major change in champion picks this week, and teams will need to adapt to his long-range style. Additionally, first towers have fallen from relevancy, making laning safely, ganking opponents, and securing objectives like the First Dragon and First Baron crucial for victory.
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