A lot of upsets and surprises took place today in the North American League of Legends Championship Series. Let’s break down which teams came out on top, and which teams need to rethink their battle plans.
Clutch Gaming – TSM
Our first match of the day was a rematch from week 4, as Clutch Gaming looked to prove that their last victory over TSM was not a fluke. With a team built around catching out individual members of TSM, Clutch Gaming was able to secure multiple map objectives almost unopposed, as TSM was left floundering in their wake. TSM was only able to net a single kill, a single turret, and a single Dragon, as Clutch Gaming took everything else and ended the game with a nine-kill and 13k gold lead. You can read more about Clutch Gaming’s victory here.
Team Liquid – Golden Guardians
The second match of the day was something of an underdog story, as the Golden Guardians looked to try and score their second victory, in a rematch from week 3. Team Liquid brought out a surprise pick to try and stop them however, opting to take Sion in the top lane match-up. The match was fairly even throughout the early game, with both teams trading kills and objectives. The Golden Guardians made the first move, securing a Baron buff and pushing towards the base of Team Liquid, however Liquid was able to bounce back, winning the first major team fight and taking down multiple members of GGS. Not to be deterred however, GGS quickly rebounded, taking more and more objectives while also taking down members of Team Liquid. In the end, the new found strength of the Golden Guardians was too much for Liquid. You can read more about the Golden Guardians victory here.
Echo Fox – Cloud9
Our third match of the day was to settle the score between the two teams currently occupying the top spot in the NA LCS. Cloud9 fired the first shot before the game even started, picking a top lane Lucian to try and take down Huni, a champion that he himself has used in the top lane in the past. Perhaps incensed by this perceived slight, Huni and jungler Dardoch made quick work of Cloud9’s top laner Licorice, making sure that he would regret the champion selection. Cloud9 attempted to rally in the mid game, winning minor skirmishes and securing a Baron buff, but the damage was already done, as Echo Fox steamrolled their way to victory, and sole possession of the number one spot in the NA LCS. You can read more about Echo Fox’s victory here.
100 Thieves – Counter Logic Gaming
The second last match of the day was a match featuring not only a new champion, but also a grudge match between aphromoo, current support for 100 Thieves and former team captain of CLG, and his former team-mates. The teams traded objectives and gold advantage like they were baseball cards, with neither team really able to get a good advantage over the other. In the end, it came down to an excellent play by Meteos, the jungler for 100 Thieves, to steal the Baron and allow his team to secure the victory. You can read more about 100 Thieves and their victory here.
Flyquest – OpTic Gaming
Our final match of the day between Flyquest and OpTic Gaming was a back and forth match that came down to the wire with an ending that you had to see to believe. While OpTic tried their best to remain level with Flyquest, despite managing to keep an objective parity for much of the game they were unable to stay level. Flyquest managed to secure far more of the map, and when OpTic found a minor skirmish win, they were forced to make an end game play, diving deep into the base of Flyquest to try and end the game. Flyquest was able to defend the base however, in a final fight that you have to see to believe, before walking up to the base of OpTic to end the game unopposed.
These were the final games for week 5, and featured games that were so full of twists and turns that they might as well have been on the dance floor. For more information on where the teams now sit on the ladder after this week, check out the official standings page here.
