Written by: DreXxiN and Nydra
Table of Contents
An insurmountable amount of drama and rivalry has fueled the LCS for the North American scene and results deviate far from the expected norms as we reach further and further into both regions' Championship Series. The LCS has brought us weeks worth of intensity and well-endowed teams fully crafted and sculpted as a result of their continual challenges with teams like Curse Gaming leading the charge in NA, which no one would have suspected. Furthermore, we have Copenhagen Wolves digging themselves out of their own grave while prosperous and well-versed team Evil Geniuses find themselves struggling to compete with the kings. Predating a truly spectacular weekend, let's find out what matches we should be looking out for.
NOTE: The number in the first parentheses shows team's position in the overall GosuRankings. The second number represents the climb/fall in team's position compared to the last time such ranking has been published (EU/NA super week). 1. ![f90a53e5ae3e11de9b196ef80c93328ae871c829672e356c7f3171d249.png]()
Gambit Gaming (#5) (-) 2. ![8a7bd56e89969e1b450af1e32d4d059c959e7bdda423efc8acd5d06c7a.png]()
Fnatic (#9) (-) 3. ![d6a5865ac2de5b736f9a548d7701e7296c84a04eaa5d1f34ecce1d6cb0.png]()
Team Curse (#8) (-) 4. ![48d9cc12de545337b0b5611a2d391afc1155795b5e4188be92a8c2ba1f.png]()
Team Dignitas (#13) (+2) 5. ![e88e92cda9d875bcf779f5161378de912146b19b4957a874d68fe5de52.png]()
Team Solimid (#14) (+2) 6. ![7e8cbdfe25483ba74fea6df4a5be5e5443284b61dd169322b9090769a2.png]()
Evil Geniuses (#17) (-2) 7. ![0e3288e21733bf149ed30bb739cb814401edab029a34a07b73d93783c8.png]()
SK Gaming (#26) (+3) 8. ![6f581d4d5fbcb686ac8095b1e7af2e46b32d67686c2d9a2ef114f0cfa7.png]()
Copenhagen Wolves (#28) (+7) 9. ![47840da13be8b61c7f9e1eed58cc3252b766a7595e7844934237b0ff14.png]()
Vulcun (#31) (+5) 10. ![cf88cadc70b878010014551221e8b050c533775281fadee5b057d83443.png]()
Counter Logic Gaming (#34) (-5) 11. ![f00dc377241ebc068ba02d422662beaef0790fb0bd28076ec393d50ded.png]()
Against All Authority (#42) (+1) 12. ![0e9334f4c435f06d6b7b4401aa155f4a76d82d6297c99e478846d4cdad.png]()
Team MRN (#174) (+1) 13. ![e71f0c866a78f8776ef2847fef81c639cd17887a83639d7971aa257302.png]()
GIANTS! Gaming (#214) (-5) 14. ![389da2211cafe70d28b9c6da9f60f78f65bc431feecb61b080479d87bb.png]()
Dragonborns (#218) (-5) 15. ![7a1fba795c22c537c99cae792095b996a319037399ca7095cb8d414953.png]()
Complexity (#219) (-4) 16. ![e1e2dffe2eb2676e05bb9f103460aa7147d5606fa89ce2000513cdaf78.png]()
Good Game University (#221) (-)
Gambit Gaming (#5) (-) 2. 
Fnatic (#9) (-) 3. 
Team Curse (#8) (-) 4. 
Team Dignitas (#13) (+2) 5. 
Team Solimid (#14) (+2) 6. 
Evil Geniuses (#17) (-2) 7. 
SK Gaming (#26) (+3) 8. 
Copenhagen Wolves (#28) (+7) 9. 
Vulcun (#31) (+5) 10. 
Counter Logic Gaming (#34) (-5) 11. 
Against All Authority (#42) (+1) 12. 
Team MRN (#174) (+1) 13. 
GIANTS! Gaming (#214) (-5) 14. 
Dragonborns (#218) (-5) 15. 
Complexity (#219) (-4) 16. 
Good Game University (#221) (-)
TSM![2328a79c0014214a7b66404bf2422d8ef418847bec157d49121e3e4101.png]()
vs ![9fed303c3dabffc48b6971c94aeeecaf038bc3bc71de1ed0532c237c9c.png]()
CLG March 30th, 21:00 CET First thing's first and the obvious must not go unstated: This will most likely be the most anticipated match of the entire LCS -- arguably so even if you aren't a fan of the two teams. Their rivalry roots back longer than any others can claim to have in the League of Legends professional scene. Any LoL fans of old know when these two were unstoppable juggernauts, but also doubling as fan favorites to everyone across the globe. The rivalry between HotshotGG and Reginald predates to many years ago, both team captains and both CEO's and founders of their respective teams. They were not alone in this, however, and the tides would shift and new times would arise. Enter Doublelift and Chaox -- except Chaox won't be participating which unravels more stories rather than storing potential adversary drama in its tomb. Doublelift had some choice words to speak in regards to Chaox as well as other participants in the LCS, most notably his rivals in the bottom lane. Truth struck through his heart last week, however, when the sub of TSM Wildturtle would put him in his place and deliver a crushing blow not only to his ego, but to the rhetoric of Doublelift and his claims of what he knows as an AD Carry. TSM came back last week looking reborn and will only get stronger as they become accustomed to WildTurtle and synergize with their new starter. Counter Logic Gaming didn't have the same pleasure, however, and looked miniscule and squashable in terms of viability. Will Counter Logic Gaming prove itself a fine adversary this weekend and prepare extra hard, or will TSM just wash this out once again? Curse![2c7c4ba96022932347d5733970fa228ef9a4e4a864182c0b4d59da0d54.png]()
vs ![2ab745d894855f04a26e5bce1eff242bc1fa44586ffcdeba5a6cbcbad7.png]()
Dignitas March 30th, 22:00 CET While the rivalry between these two doesn't have the same longevity of others to be cherished with, these two have been battling it out over the top spots for weeks now. While Curse Gaming seems to have the more consistent of performances, Team Dignitas seems more than capable to whip out surprised to overcome their foes. Though merely one match is not capable of settling a dispute between the strength of two teams, it'll be nice to see where they've come now that we're steadily progressing past the midway point of the LCS. Now, I know what you might be thinking -- "Two top teams competing and a match to look out for without a drama-filled backstory?" Well, this is indeed that exact situation -- because while teams can trashtalk, prepare, and develop plans and announcements to bring the demise of other teams, these two quintuplets have shown above all else that they can back the talk up with results. So what is the spark that makes this match special outside of them being the top class North American teams? The exclusivity of this matchup lies in this being the "silent giants" (metaphorically speaking, of course.) Curse Gaming and Team Dignitas hold each other in high regard and with the utmost respect, and they will battle it out honorably and cross swords, saying what they need to say with their actions, which speak much louder than words. Marn![807a2fd276a59a63d068bb04cd41d9c455bf13c9fa9ff8c36abaf7ec4e.png]()
vs ![a32fa0abc3685bb6b7b6d6b6a93e4bf3a4a00a53bef72c16d8c207b639.png]()
Complexity March 31st, 00:00 CET I could have wrote about my feelings with Curse Gaming vs. Counter Logic Gaming, but adamantly decided against it as there's no story anyone hasn't heard before. Yes, Curse Gaming is "CLG Bench" and CLG bench is stastically crushing CLG -- but something I find a bit untargetted in the LCS is sibling companionship and rivalry. So here we have it, Team MRN vs. Team Complexity. What is in common between these teams besides having siblings? They are both near the bottom of the barrel but have both provided us with some exceptional underdog-story upsets. These teams deserve a lot of credit for giving us some of the most entertaining matches, which is after all, the reason why we love eSports. The problem therein lies at the potential threat of these two teams dropping out of the LCS entirely (and this is even more likely with Good Game University coming back into it potentially with Shiptur, meaning they will have their true roster.) On top of this, though, is the expectations viewers had for this team were predominantly low -- yet here they are competing in one of the most prestigious leagues in all of eSports. The two brothers ClakeyD' and 'NickWu' both enjoy the prowess, skill, and dedication that led them to live a life playing video games, but are also desperately holding onto the anxious possibility of letting that drop from them. In certain outcomes, the possibility is that one of the players continue to be salaried and represent North America by competing in LCS while the other withers away living a life of mediocrity(which, by my definition, just means things that aren't eSports related!) Will one of them be the deciding factor of the other sibling's fate? Will one's team triumph over the other, will both wither away, or will they both triumph fighting as respectable rivals, competing with the best of their region and tackle through the hardships? As always, one match cannot be the deciding factor, but foreshadowing is a very, very real thing.
vs 
CLG March 30th, 21:00 CET First thing's first and the obvious must not go unstated: This will most likely be the most anticipated match of the entire LCS -- arguably so even if you aren't a fan of the two teams. Their rivalry roots back longer than any others can claim to have in the League of Legends professional scene. Any LoL fans of old know when these two were unstoppable juggernauts, but also doubling as fan favorites to everyone across the globe. The rivalry between HotshotGG and Reginald predates to many years ago, both team captains and both CEO's and founders of their respective teams. They were not alone in this, however, and the tides would shift and new times would arise. Enter Doublelift and Chaox -- except Chaox won't be participating which unravels more stories rather than storing potential adversary drama in its tomb. Doublelift had some choice words to speak in regards to Chaox as well as other participants in the LCS, most notably his rivals in the bottom lane. Truth struck through his heart last week, however, when the sub of TSM Wildturtle would put him in his place and deliver a crushing blow not only to his ego, but to the rhetoric of Doublelift and his claims of what he knows as an AD Carry. TSM came back last week looking reborn and will only get stronger as they become accustomed to WildTurtle and synergize with their new starter. Counter Logic Gaming didn't have the same pleasure, however, and looked miniscule and squashable in terms of viability. Will Counter Logic Gaming prove itself a fine adversary this weekend and prepare extra hard, or will TSM just wash this out once again? Curse
vs 
Dignitas March 30th, 22:00 CET While the rivalry between these two doesn't have the same longevity of others to be cherished with, these two have been battling it out over the top spots for weeks now. While Curse Gaming seems to have the more consistent of performances, Team Dignitas seems more than capable to whip out surprised to overcome their foes. Though merely one match is not capable of settling a dispute between the strength of two teams, it'll be nice to see where they've come now that we're steadily progressing past the midway point of the LCS. Now, I know what you might be thinking -- "Two top teams competing and a match to look out for without a drama-filled backstory?" Well, this is indeed that exact situation -- because while teams can trashtalk, prepare, and develop plans and announcements to bring the demise of other teams, these two quintuplets have shown above all else that they can back the talk up with results. So what is the spark that makes this match special outside of them being the top class North American teams? The exclusivity of this matchup lies in this being the "silent giants" (metaphorically speaking, of course.) Curse Gaming and Team Dignitas hold each other in high regard and with the utmost respect, and they will battle it out honorably and cross swords, saying what they need to say with their actions, which speak much louder than words. Marn
vs 
Complexity March 31st, 00:00 CET I could have wrote about my feelings with Curse Gaming vs. Counter Logic Gaming, but adamantly decided against it as there's no story anyone hasn't heard before. Yes, Curse Gaming is "CLG Bench" and CLG bench is stastically crushing CLG -- but something I find a bit untargetted in the LCS is sibling companionship and rivalry. So here we have it, Team MRN vs. Team Complexity. What is in common between these teams besides having siblings? They are both near the bottom of the barrel but have both provided us with some exceptional underdog-story upsets. These teams deserve a lot of credit for giving us some of the most entertaining matches, which is after all, the reason why we love eSports. The problem therein lies at the potential threat of these two teams dropping out of the LCS entirely (and this is even more likely with Good Game University coming back into it potentially with Shiptur, meaning they will have their true roster.) On top of this, though, is the expectations viewers had for this team were predominantly low -- yet here they are competing in one of the most prestigious leagues in all of eSports. The two brothers ClakeyD' and 'NickWu' both enjoy the prowess, skill, and dedication that led them to live a life playing video games, but are also desperately holding onto the anxious possibility of letting that drop from them. In certain outcomes, the possibility is that one of the players continue to be salaried and represent North America by competing in LCS while the other withers away living a life of mediocrity(which, by my definition, just means things that aren't eSports related!) Will one of them be the deciding factor of the other sibling's fate? Will one's team triumph over the other, will both wither away, or will they both triumph fighting as respectable rivals, competing with the best of their region and tackle through the hardships? As always, one match cannot be the deciding factor, but foreshadowing is a very, very real thing.
GIANTS!![056cdf7f970cce9191d2026fd79abc00d5c5a1566b051cce4d1fb4391b.png]()
vs ![b0e7b12af4f481b83dac53fc9e48be4ad5d9a014c8a9b411a733af16e1.png]()
Gambit March 30th, 15:00 CET Do you know what everybody loves? A revenge story! What people like even more is a revenge story where one of the parties has infinitely less renown than the other and such is the case with with GIATNS! against Gambit. Many of our readers will remember how the Spaniards was part of the reason for Gambit’s horrible start in the LCS. The two teams met in week one and Gambit were diligently taught what Jimbownz can do with an AD Kennen and why you must always ban Ryze against Exterminare. The game was brutal and ripe with entertainment, GIANTS’ aggression was devouring and Gambit fell to a 1-2 start. Of course, the Russian did return the favor two weeks later but once again the game was close and not until the very last minutes there was a clear victor. The fact that a “lesser” (and oh how inaccurate this term is nowadays) European team can make Gambit bleed excited the audience and how could it not? This weekend, the two teams play each other for a third time and whoever is not glued to the stream during their match is simply foolish. If the previous two games are any indication, this face-off should be epic. The Russians don’t want to be behind in the competition against GIANTS while GIANTS themselves want to prove once again that the machine that is Alex_Ich and co can be clogged. In short, be at home at 15:00 CET on March 30th. CPW![d3b009c8e8021196f306a6563d9c92134bdfcafdbdac56763a4985462d.png]()
vs ![8d7b5fddc0d1a5c80234448c83f0b1f5b250399a6ddd2a21b2cc5e6596.png]()
aAa March 31st, 16:00 CET What? When did Copenhagen Wolves earn the right to be featured? Weren’t they, like, the worst team in LCS? That was the case, yes, until they won four of their last five matches, beating people like EG and Giants, climbing to the #5 spot, scoring quadra and penta kills as easily as Sunday morning and showing the most improvement out of all LCS teams. Additionally, the fact they’re playing AAA this weekend makes it all the more exciting. AAA are not only the first team to lose to Copenhagen Wolves (a shameful achievement at that point) but also the first team to lose to them twice! Furthermore, this is the fourth and last time the two teams will play against each other in the group stage so this will decide if Wolves will come out ahead with 3-1 or the score will end up tied. Gambit![b0e7b12af4f481b83dac53fc9e48be4ad5d9a014c8a9b411a733af16e1.png]()
vs ![d3b009c8e8021196f306a6563d9c92134bdfcafdbdac56763a4985462d.png]()
CPW March 31st, 18:00 CET Weirdly enough, after seven weeks of competition, this is only the second time these two teams meet. Even more weirdly, Gambit almost lost the first encounter and this was at the time that everyone was winning against Copenhagen Wolves. Now, the Danes are on a spree, their momentum is high and so should be their spirits. If they reflect back on their performance against EG last week and the aforementioned Gambit game in week two, they will see that even the teams in the big four are beatable. They also have Bjergsen where ForellenLord used to be so there’s another strong point supporting Wolves’ cause. As mentioned at the start of this EU write-up, matching a highly-esteemed team against an underdog is always entertaining, if only for the possibility of a major upset. And when the underdog is on a tremendous rise, well, let’s say the upset is more likely to happen than not.
vs 
Gambit March 30th, 15:00 CET Do you know what everybody loves? A revenge story! What people like even more is a revenge story where one of the parties has infinitely less renown than the other and such is the case with with GIATNS! against Gambit. Many of our readers will remember how the Spaniards was part of the reason for Gambit’s horrible start in the LCS. The two teams met in week one and Gambit were diligently taught what Jimbownz can do with an AD Kennen and why you must always ban Ryze against Exterminare. The game was brutal and ripe with entertainment, GIANTS’ aggression was devouring and Gambit fell to a 1-2 start. Of course, the Russian did return the favor two weeks later but once again the game was close and not until the very last minutes there was a clear victor. The fact that a “lesser” (and oh how inaccurate this term is nowadays) European team can make Gambit bleed excited the audience and how could it not? This weekend, the two teams play each other for a third time and whoever is not glued to the stream during their match is simply foolish. If the previous two games are any indication, this face-off should be epic. The Russians don’t want to be behind in the competition against GIANTS while GIANTS themselves want to prove once again that the machine that is Alex_Ich and co can be clogged. In short, be at home at 15:00 CET on March 30th. CPW
vs 
aAa March 31st, 16:00 CET What? When did Copenhagen Wolves earn the right to be featured? Weren’t they, like, the worst team in LCS? That was the case, yes, until they won four of their last five matches, beating people like EG and Giants, climbing to the #5 spot, scoring quadra and penta kills as easily as Sunday morning and showing the most improvement out of all LCS teams. Additionally, the fact they’re playing AAA this weekend makes it all the more exciting. AAA are not only the first team to lose to Copenhagen Wolves (a shameful achievement at that point) but also the first team to lose to them twice! Furthermore, this is the fourth and last time the two teams will play against each other in the group stage so this will decide if Wolves will come out ahead with 3-1 or the score will end up tied. Gambit vs CPW March 31st, 18:00 CET Weirdly enough, after seven weeks of competition, this is only the second time these two teams meet. Even more weirdly, Gambit almost lost the first encounter and this was at the time that everyone was winning against Copenhagen Wolves. Now, the Danes are on a spree, their momentum is high and so should be their spirits. If they reflect back on their performance against EG last week and the aforementioned Gambit game in week two, they will see that even the teams in the big four are beatable. They also have Bjergsen where ForellenLord used to be so there’s another strong point supporting Wolves’ cause. As mentioned at the start of this EU write-up, matching a highly-esteemed team against an underdog is always entertaining, if only for the possibility of a major upset. And when the underdog is on a tremendous rise, well, let’s say the upset is more likely to happen than not.
