The LEC returns to our screen this week and with only 6 sides involved, Round 1 of matches has some spicy matchups. The LEC had quiet the Summer Split. G2 Esports and Fnatic failed to challenge the top spot, with the sides ending the split 3rd and 4th respectively. Rogue placed first in the regular season meaning regardless of playoff result they will make Worlds via the play-in stage. With some huge matchup taking place over the three days, we break down each series.
SK Gaming v Schalke Schalke
SK started off Summer Split strong, but with G2 and Fnatic always likely to come back it was expected that they’d fall off slightly. Though it ended up being a fairly night run thing in the end, with SK only just securing playoffs on the final day. SK will now find themselves in an awkward position of playing against Schalke and their #MiracleRun. It’s also important to note that this is the only series of the weekend that will see the loser eliminated from playoffs, with that in mind we have SK as outsiders at 19/10.
The other unfortunate backdrop for SK is that jungler Kim “Trick” Gang-yun cannot go to Worlds due to a passport issue if his side makes it that far. As of now we still don’t have official word on the situation so Trick will likely still play. Schalke are on an incredible run right now and momentum is with them. Keeping it going during a Bo5 is going to be tricky, however, we think SK is ripe for the picking. Schalke will likely see the momentum continue into this series, and we have them at 5/13 favourites to advance.
G2 Esports v MAD Lions
G2’s Summer Split hasn’t been ideal, the side struggled to find any kind of form. G2 even looked like a side out of playoffs contention at one point. However, the mid-season break seemed to help and G2 started to pick up results when it mattered. They go into playoffs as the 3rd seed and have been handed the series against MAD after Rogue chose to play Fnatic. Despite some of their earlier fumbles, we have them as 5/14 favourites.
With a 1-1 record between the two sides in Summer Split it should be a nailbiter of a series, however, it’s worth remembering that back in Spring MAD was able to best G2 in a Bo5 so MAD will be looking to inflict a second Bo5 defeat to G2. The series is going to come down to who adapts to the meta quickest, as this will only be the second EU series played on patch 10.16. MAD Lions only just missed out on first place, so while outsiders at 41/20, they could undo G2 in drawn-out series.
Rogue v Fnatic
Rogue comes into this series full of confidence, while the prospect of selecting Fnatic as your preferred opponent probably wasn’t in their dream scenario. They play a Fnatic side that appears to lack identity and leadership, however, and dosn’t look like the Fnatic side we’re used to seeing. Fnatic had a 2-1 final week, picking up key victories against XL and SK, however, the loss to Schalke shows that work still needs to be done if Fnatic is to make it to Worlds, let alone compete. At 5/7, Rogue are favourites, and as always with Fnatic, the entire series is based on which version of that team shows up.
This series should be the game of the week on paper. Rogue comes into the series as favourites, with mid-laner Larssen being a catalyst for the sides play, and he might come up against a very low confidence mid-laner in Nemesis on the Fnatic side. Rogue is a side that has likes to play it slow and methodical, dictating the play and closing out games. Fnatic has always been more aggressive and in your face, trying to dictate play early and snowball a lead. The two styles are in complete conflict. However. Fnatic relies much more on communication to make their strategy work, something they’ve badly lacked in Summer Split. Fnatic are 21/20 outsiders for the series.
