Copenhagen Wolves, SUPA HOT CREW XD, and Kiedyś Miałem Team emerge from the Challenger Stage of EU's Spring Promotion Tournament. Copenhagen Wolves escapes without losing a game.
The gods of EU Server Lag smiled on the Promotion Tournament today, as the final eight matches were played with minimal pauses and delays. At the end of the day, the top three contenders for LCS spots from the Challenger Stage emerged, and it's likely Ninjas in Pyjamas, SK Gaming, and Meet Your Makers are feeling the pressure.
The first game between Kiedys Mialem Team and Salade Tomate Oignon gave KMT their much needed first win and all but decided the fates of STO. With three losses, STO's prospects appeared unlikely, but both teams still had two games to play.
Game Two also proved instrumental in deciding the fates of the Challenger teams. SUPA HOT CREW XD acquired their third win against TCM Gaming, putting them in a comfortable spot for the rest of the day. TCM, meanwhile, sat at two wins and two losses in an uncertain position. Already it appeared that the last game of the day between TCM and KMT would decide the third spot into the Promotion Stage.
Kiedys Mialem Team continued to rise in their third game against Karont3 e-Sports. With their fourth loss, the Spanish team's LCS dreams were put on hold for at least another split. KMT, meanwhile, knew they would have to take a third win off either TCM or Copenhagen Wolves, two very strong contenders, to remain in the tournament.
The next four games had little bearing on the day's results. SUPA HOT CREW XD lost to Salade Tomate Oignon, already three games down. The Copenhagen Wolves won both their remaining games, making them undefeated with their new roster. Forg1ven even came out with a pentakill on Lucian against KMT. STO and K3 faced off from the bottom of the bracket, and STO came out with the win using a flashy support Gragas.
Game Eight of the day, however, would decide the third spot in the Promotion Stage. Both Copenhagen Wolves and SUPA HOT CREW XD had at least three wins, and K3 and STO at least three losses. That left TCM Gaming and Kiedys Mialem Team in the middle with two wins and two losses each. As if contrived by the tournament administrative staff, the final game was a face off between these two teams. Though TCM Gaming was a favorite for second place in the round robin stage, Kiedys Mialem Team made short work of them with excellent map pressure. Perhaps it was the advantage of having had more practice today, but KMT looked comparatively flawless next to TCM and won the third spot in the second stage of the Promotion Tournament.
Challenger Stage champions KMT, Copenhagen Wolves, and SHC XD are looking strong going into next week where NiP will have the unenviable task of picking their opponent first. I can say with a large amount of confidence that they won't be choosing the Copenhagen Wolves, but both KMT and SHC XD have proved themselves forces to be reckoned with, and it is unlikely any Summer Split LCS team will have an easy game to keep their spot. Games begin next week on the 13th at 21:00 CET.
HL Image Source: Leaguepedia
