The League Championship Series: A Week of Parity
The fourth week of the League Championship Series brought about a sense of parity in both regions. The top teams in League of Legends suffered unexpected losses, causing the standings to even out and the competition to become even tighter.
Four teams managed to post 2-0 records this week and surprisingly, none of these teams were ranked in the top three. This has made the competition even more intense. In the North American region, five teams are now within one game of first place, while Europe finds itself in a similar situation.
Millenium and ROCCAT were able to improve their standings with impressive 2-0 performances. This helped boost Millenium to third place, ahead of Supa Hot Crew. ROCCAT is still currently in the relegation zone, but their strong showing this week has given them hope of making it into the playoffs.
In the North American region, Counter Logic Gaming and Team SoloMid, the old stalwarts, remained undefeated this week. Team SoloMid looked particularly strong as they defeated Cloud9 and Complexity, placing them in a tie with the defending champions. Counter Logic Gaming’s two wins were enough to put them in a tie with LMQ and Dignitas, both of whom disappointed with 1-1 showings.
The Good
Team SoloMid (6-4): Finally living up to their potential, Team SoloMid had an impressive week thanks to their new coach Yoonsup “Locodoco” Choi. Choi’s guidance during the pick and ban phase has made a significant impact on the team’s performance. With coach Choi’s support, Team SoloMid’s star players are shining. The team’s success will depend on whether they can maintain this level of play, but having a coach to keep them focused is a positive sign.
Fnatic (5-5): Despite ending the week with one win and one loss, Fnatic’s performance against the top two teams in the league, SK Gaming and Alliance, was solid. They had an impressive victory against SK and showed promise against Alliance before eventually losing. If this level of play becomes consistent, Fnatic can confidently declare that they are back as champions.
New EG jungler Shin “Helios” Dong-Jin: Although Evil Geniuses finished the week with a 0-2 record, the addition of their new Korean jungler, Shin “Helios” Dong-Jin, brought positive changes to the team. Despite struggling to close out games against LMQ and Counter Logic Gaming, Helios’ map pressure proved difficult for opponents to handle. Once Evil Geniuses fully integrates their new player, they will be strong contenders for a playoff spot.
The Bad
Supa Hot Crew (5-5): This week was disastrous for Supa Hot Crew, who had an easier schedule than most. They were expected to win against Millenium and ROCCAT, but unfortunately lost both matches. This missed opportunity could have boosted them to 7-3 and put them near the top of the league alongside SK Gaming. Instead, they find themselves trapped in mediocrity with Gambit Gaming chasing closely behind.
The Ugly
Cloud9 (6-4): While their win against Dignitas was superb, Cloud9’s match against Team SoloMid was a disappointment. They made questionable picks and their execution was sloppy, resulting in a loss. This inconsistency has become a recurring issue for Cloud9. Last week, they lost to Evil Geniuses while defeating Counter Logic Gaming in an equally messy match. Although they managed to win, they were far behind in terms of gold before taking the enemy’s nexus.
LMQ (7-3): LMQ faced Curse Gaming and Evil Geniuses, which should have been an easier schedule for them. However, they struggled in both matches. They managed to secure a win against Evil Geniuses after farming for 40 minutes, but couldn’t overcome Curse Gaming. Their decision to let Kassadin through to Curse proved costly as their chosen counter, Pantheon, did not work out. LMQ’s best player, Yu “XiaoWeiXiao” Xian, failed to make a significant impact, causing the team to crumble without his carry potential. This may just be an off week for LMQ, but underestimating opponents in such a tough league can have severe consequences.
This week’s results demonstrate just how competitive the LCS truly is. Even the weaker teams, such as ROCCAT and Evil Geniuses, are strong contenders. Dominant teams like Alliance, LMQ, and SK Gaming cannot afford to become complacent, as every match matters.
Next week, the LCS heads to Wembley Arena in London. SK Gaming and Alliance will battle for the top spot, while Fnatic aims to climb up the standings against Millenium.
The North American region promises more excitement as LMQ faces Complexity and Counter Logic Gaming, while Team SoloMid looks to prove that their success wasn’t just a fluke against Dignitas.
All in all, the Summer Split of the LCS is shaping up to be the most competitive season of League of Legends yet.