Taken from LoL Esports
In a back and forth series, both teams put everything on the line knowing that winning meant a spot in the European League of Legends Championship Series, and losing would be waiting another six months their shot at glory. Before we get into the series, here is a look at the promotional tournament up to this point:
Taken from LoL Esports
Game 1
The game started off slowly, with no kills or major gold differential in the first ten minutes of play. Both teams were feeling each other out, and no team wanted to make too bold of a play. Perhaps some nerves, both teams were definitely playing more passive than they usually do.
A gank in the mid lane resulted in a few teleports in and eventually Huma were able to pick up first blood. Giants Gaming turned around the fight to pick up three total kills after Huma’s one. This fight was a major swing point of the game where a Huma overextension resulted in a loss of three members and a 2k gold differential. Through some nice farming from Huma in the minutes after the team fight, however, they were able to close the difference to less than 1k, which was crucial for them to remain in the game. Giants bullied Huma out of top lane, which got them a Rift Herald, top outer turret and dragon. Through these objectives, Giants solidified their lead.
An aggressive Twisted Fate play bot lane from Dan Van “Godbro” Vo resulted in trading kills with Isaac “xPeppi” Flores being the causality for Giants. In total Giants took three kills to Huma’s two, and an inner bot lane turret. Shortly after this fight Godbro trades his life for xPepii again, but afterwards, Huma was able to win a fight mid lane and take the outer mid turret. Not long after this, though, Giants won a teamfight around Baron and secured the buff along with a dragon.
Huma forced too many fights that they could not win, making a comeback improbable. With almost a 10k gold differential and a Baron buff, Giants pushed into the Huma nexus and came up short on ending the game on the first attempt, but shortly afterwards were able to end the game for real, putting them up 1-0 in the series.
Game 2
In champ select, we saw many of the same picks and bans, but Huma hoped to see a different result. The game started out passively again, but this time it was Taewan "Wisd0m" Kim who took first blood for Giants. Godbro cleaned up, picking up two kills for Huma. Minutes later he picked up another kill mid lane, which put Godbro at 3-0. Despite Godbro’s success, the rest of Huma did not see much of the same, as Giants took the first dragon and continued to dominate bottom lane.
By the 20 minute mark Giants boasted a marginal 2k gold lead over Huma, but more importantly had taken two dragons to Huma’s none at this point. In a bottom side jungle fight near dragon, Huma picked up a favorable teamfight victory thanks to a great engage by Morgan “Hustlin” Granberg with an Alistar combo and broke the game open with a 9-4 kill lead and a baron. This was exactly the momentum Huma needed to get themselves back on track in the series. With a fresh baron buff, Huma pressured mid and bot lane with their empowered minions, and were able to pick up a couple kills and an inhibitor.
Huma, with a 5k gold lead over Giants, looked to put the game away before Giants had any opportunities to bridge the gap. Huma took another baron just before the 33 minute mark and caught out multiple members of the Giants squad in their jungle. Huma destroyed Giants’ nexus on this push, 34 minutes into the game, evening out the series at 1-1
Game 3
With the set tied, this game was pivotal for both teams if they hoped to be playing in the EU LCS next split. The teams retained some of the parts of their team comps, but we saw Giants pick up Lulu in the mid lane for xPepii which was a change that they hoped would remedy the struggles they had last game.
First blood was picked up in the top lane for Huma, and a bottom side jungle fight saw each team trade kills. Giants traded 1 for 3 in the bot lane and were able to get a tower out of it as well. Though Huma won the first 10 minutes of the game handily, Giants were able to fight back and put themselves at a 1k gold lead. Compared to last game, this one was much calmer. At 15 minutes in, Giants held a 2k gold lead, took the only dragon, and trailed in turrets 1 to 2. Another fight in the jungle saw Giants take a one for zero trade, and built on their solid lead. They began knocking on the mid inner tower and were able to take it, reaching a nearly insurmountable gold lead.
This game was sunk for Huma once Giants picked up three kills and a baron. A comeback was possible at this point, but was very slim, especially from how well Giants were playing at this point. A brilliant blind dragon steal by xPepii all but sealed the deal. All that was left was the formality of destroying the nexus. Giants finally did it 37 minutes in, and took a 2-1 series lead over Huma.
Game 4
With Giants on set point, and Huma doing everything they could to bring it to a Game 5, the game began with both teams focused on what they needed to accomplish.
A three man gank top gave Huma the first blood, but because the fight was under the tower the top laners were traded. Wisdom on Graves showed up bot lane to help pick up a pair of kills for Giants, to put them into a 2.5k gold lead at 10 minutes. A fight in Huma’s top lane jungle gave Giants two more kills and a 7k gold lead. For Huma to comeback from the 2-1 series defecit, and the 7k gold defecit this game, it would require a miracle. Huma did pick up a kill bot lane, but that would be one of the last few they would get this game.
Giants went on to win a few more team fights across the map and ended up with a 12-3 kill spread, a 10k gold differential, and Baron buff at 25 minutes in. They looked to end the game pushing with four mid and were able to do so 26 minutes in, taking the nexus and securing their spot in European LCS for another split.
Giants had to be relieved after securing the series, not even letting the series go to a decisive Game 5. Huma no doubt had to be disappointed for coming so close, but will have to be motivated to get back here next split.
