Flash Wolves: The Road to Worlds
GAMURS takes a look at Flash Wolves (FW) and their journey to Worlds. Let’s see how they qualified and their performance leading up to the tournament.
Spring Split and Spring Playoffs 2016
After a successful top-eight finish at Worlds 2015, FW was determined to secure their spot at the competition once again. The team, consisting of MMD, Karsa, Maple, NL, and SwordArt, had their eyes set on the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) and a top seed at Worlds.
FW finished the Spring Split regular season in second place with a record of 9-2-3. They faced off against Machi E-sports in the Spring Playoffs and easily swept them 3-0. In the finals, they surprised everyone by defeating ahq and claiming the LMS title and the No. 1 seed for MSI.
The Mid-Season Invitational 2016
MSI in China was full of unexpected moments, and FW was no exception. They managed to win two games against world champions SK Telecom T1 and two games against EU LCS team G2 Esports. With this strong performance, they secured the third place in the group stage, right below Counter Logic Gaming.
In the knockout stages, FW faced off against CLG but unfortunately lost 3-1 and couldn’t make it to the final. Despite this, they made their region proud by securing a Pool 1 seed at Worlds, outperforming European teams.
Summer Split 2016
Coming off a top-four finish at MSI, FW entered the Summer Split as the overwhelming favorites. However, they faced competition from J Team, the rebranded Season 2 World Champions. J Team claimed the top spot in the regular season, pushing FW to fight for the No. 1 seed.
In the Summer Playoffs, FW faced off against ahq and managed to win a close five-game series. This set up a match against J Team for the No. 1 seed. FW dominated J Team with a 3-0 victory, securing the LMS No. 1 seed and their second LMS title in a season.
As we head into Worlds 2016, we want to know which team you are supporting in the competition and how far you think they can go. Let us know on Twitter @GAMURScom.
Written by Adam Newell