Day 2 Recaps
SK Gaming vs yoe Flash Wolves: yoe Flash Wolves
Going into this match, it appeared that SK would be the clear winner. However, your took a page out of GE's book and targeted their bans on FORG1VEN. SK was slow to take advantage of item spikes, and cracked under yoe's pressure. Once the game moved beyond the damage spikes, the Flash Wolves took advantage of their lead and brought the pressure of the late game Kog'Maw. The Flash Wolves closed out the game in 35 minutes. 9-3 towers, 19-7 kills. Notable player of the game: Karsa on Rek'sai, for controlling the map.
WE vs CJ Entus: WE
WE came to this competition as the true underdogs. WE's preparation was evident going into this match. While the match against Gambit felt a little like they found some good picks and lucked into the decider match, this match ended with a solid win over the #2 Korean team. The beginning, though, seemed to be the game of throws--the lead bounced back and forth--all up to that crucial baron fight. WE took advantage of the foothold, and pushed the game hard for the final in 41 minutes. 8-3 towers, 16-13 kills. Notable player of the game: Xiye on Diana, who pulled off the mid lane teleport and pushed hard from the get go.
[Semi-Finals] Team SoloMid vs yoe Flash Wolves
Game 1
From the picks, it seemed as though the Flash Wolves were one step ahead of TSM. TSM were forced onto less comfortable picks. Even so, they kept the match pretty even for the first twenty minutes. However, the pushing power of the Flash Wolves' composition and their constant pressure on Dyrus' Maokai made this a clear victory for the Flash Wolves, who closed out the game in 40 minutes. 9-3 towers, 25-14 kills. Notable player of the game: SwordArt on Nami, who kept a constant presence around the map, enabling kills right and left.
Game 2
Never give Bjergsen Zed. Before any encounter with TSM, the strategy for Picks and Bans should always start with those four words. Bjergsen was everywhere, split pushing a turret down one minute, and solo killing a player the next. Lustboy's Lulu also cannot be underestimated in this game--his Wild Growth saved so many teammates and made the game impossible for the Flash Wolves to recover. However, the lack of siege capability kept TSM from closing out the match quickly (albeit convincingly with over a 24k gold lead) in 46 minutes. 10-2 towers, 20-7 kills. Notable player of the game: Bjergsen on Zed.
Game 3
The yoe Flash Wolves were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The ban on Bjergsen's Zed was a given; after Game 2, allowing Bjerg such a powerful pick was out of the question. However, revealing their strategy with the third pick Ezreal and second pick Corki gave a little too much information to TSM. This mistake was most evident once the game reached the twenty minute mark, about five minutes after Corki got Trinity Force and just after Ezreal got his. Instead of the mid game power spike that they were expecting to ride into victory, Bjergsen and WildTurtle stopped them cold, leveling four members of the team and taking two towers besides. After that point, TSM was relentless, punishing the yFW for every mistake. They closed out the match in 36 minutes. 9-3 towers, 18-1 kills. Notable player of the game: Dyrus on Lulu, who (honestly, for the first time this season) really brought it this game and enabled his team across the board.
[Semi-Finals] Team WE vs GE Tigers: Team WE
Game 1
After a rough start, GE stepped up to their usual efficiency and systematically tore apart WE. WE managed to secure First Blood and the first dragon, but had a rough time really pulling ahead of the Tigers. Taking down the Tier 1 turrets helped establish a gold lead, but by that point GE had started rolling into their objective every two minutes approach that helped them win so efficiently Day 1. They closed out the match just over 37 minutes. 10-3 towers, 22-7 kills. Notable player of the game: KurO on Ezreal, proving to be a constant threat and sweeping up team fights.
Game 2
It seems that WE only needs a game to really feel out an opponent. WE kept the match pretty even through the first twenty minutes, conceding no more than a 1k gold lead throughout that time period. As things typically do in these games, everything melted at dragon (dragon #3 for WE). A dragon contest turned into an Ace, and WE took the momentum back on GE hard. The teams traded a little skirmish here and there, but when it came to a head again WE clearly stood out as the victors, time and time (and time and time) again. WE closed out the game under 32 minutes. 10-2 towers, 23-6 kills. Notable player of the game: Mystic on Ezreal in the ADC position made a strong argument why he's not just a viable mid laner.
Game 3
It seems that losing a game can really demoralize the Tigers. WE established a lead with a kill mid lane at six minutes, and things fell apart for the Tigers from there. WE kept constant pressure on GE, routinely taking objectives and punishing GE for their missteps. WE wrapped this match up concisely in under 30 minutes. 10-1 towers, 15-4 kills. Notable player of the game: YuZhe on Morgana, with the constant roam that enabled all but one kill.
Day 3 Predictions
[Finals] Team SoloMid vs Team WE
Prediction: Team SoloMid, 3-2. These teams are both looking really good coming into this match, but TSM took down WE summarily the first time around; if they were watching their games against GE today, they'll do it again. However, WE will pull off at least a win, probably a pair off of TSM (especially if they remember to ban the Zed). The matches will be fairly close, with both teams pressuring the advantages of their individual play styles throughout. These games will no doubt be worth tuning into.
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