Turbulence in the LCS Spring Split: Power Rankings Shake-Up
In a surprising turn of events, week six of the 2020 LCS Spring Split completely changed the power rankings, overturning the consensus from the previous week. Let’s take a look at the unexpected missteps and standout performances:
TSM suffered a baffling 0-2 week, including a shocking loss to CLG where they seemed to be playing solo queue. Immortals salvaged a win against CLG but lost to Golden Guardians, adding more uncertainty to the playoff picture. Team Liquid’s 2-0 week was a significant improvement, as consistency has been an issue for them this year. Even Cloud9, who had been dominating, finally lost their mid lane outer turret.
Disagreement in Rankings
When our analysts reconvened to vote, there was much more disagreement over the standings of each team. We rate each team on a scale of one to ten, with one being the worst and ten being the best.
| Rank | Team | Points | Rank Change |
| 1) | Cloud9 | 60 | — |
| 2) | FlyQuest | 52 | — |
| 3) | Team Liquid | 46 | +1 |
| 4) | TSM | 44 | -1 |
| 5) | Dignitas | 38 | — |
| 6) | Immortals | 30 | — |
| 7) | 100 Thieves | 24 | +1 |
| 8) | Evil Geniuses | 18 | -1 |
| 9) | Golden Guardians | 11 | — |
| 10) | CLG | 7 | — |
An overwhelming sentiment among analysts is that Cloud9 maintains the top position, followed by FlyQuest. Team Liquid is showing signs of improvement, while the rest of the teams struggle to make an impact.
CLG’s Resurgence
CLG made a statement with their win over TSM, showing signs of a potential comeback after a rough start. Although the win wasn’t flawless, with CLG controlling objectives and shutting down TSM early on, TSM seemed disinterested and lacked direction. While substituting Pobelter for Crown in the mid lane was an attempt to fix issues, there are other areas of concern, particularly with players like Ruin and Stixxay. CLG may have to consider making additional changes to regain their former glory.
Failing Forward for 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, and Golden Guardians
Despite the missed opportunities, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, and Golden Guardians remain in the playoff mix. 100 Thieves had a convincing win against Evil Geniuses, but their loss to Liquid due to a level one cheese strat setback highlights their inconsistency. Similarly, Golden Guardians secured a crucial victory over Immortals, only to falter against EG. The outcome seems to depend on which version of these teams shows up on any given day.
Challenges for TSM, Dignitas, and Immortals
TSM, Dignitas, and Immortals are likely to make it to the playoffs, but their recent performances have raised concerns. TSM had a disastrous week, losing to both Liquid and 100 Thieves. Their lackluster gameplay and Dardoch’s struggles were evident. Dignitas, initially performing well as a collection of talented players, is starting to show cracks. Immortals missed a chance to secure a win against Golden Guardians due to questionable draft decisions. These teams need to address their issues swiftly to maintain their playoff positions.
FlyQuest and Team Liquid on the Rise
FlyQuest’s attempt to challenge Cloud9 fell short, but they continue to impress. While Liquid had struggled in the bot lane, their recent 2-0 week proved promising. Making timely substitutions, such as resting Doublelift, has shown positive results. It’s time for esports to adopt the practice of making changes for the long-term success of players. The only team capable of halting Cloud9’s dominance in the playoffs seems to be a refreshed and focused Team Liquid.
Cloud9’s Unstoppable Performance
Cloud9 remains the team to beat, with their near-perfect record. Blabber, previously criticized for being too aggressive, is excelling. While they haven’t secured the title yet, they appear unstoppable.
All photos via Riot Games.
LCS Spring Split, power rankings, TSM, CLG, Immortals, Team Liquid, Cloud9, FlyQuest, Dignitas, 100 Thieves, Evil Geniuses, Golden Guardians, esports, playoffs