Photo credits go to lolesports' flickr
Feel left out cause you couldn’t watch the LCS this weekend? Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.
The NA LCS continues to thrill and excite, proving each week that each team is capable of beating anybody. The only exception to this axiom? Immortals, who sit far at the top of the standings with an impressive 6-0 record. Beneath them is a veritable mosh pit of teams, wildly throwing their fists about trying to rise above their peers. What happened this week? Records were made, upsets were had, and teams continued to struggle with roster changes. Let’s take a look:
Team Impulse vs. Dignitas
TIP continues to be one of the most singularly impressive and surprising teams in the NA LCS. The fact that they’ve won any game at all already means they’ve smashed pretty much every popular analyst’s predictions, and this, after their embarrassing 18-minute, zero-kill loss to Immortals week one. The unprecedented success of this versicolour, ever-changing team can be attributed chiefly to two players: WooYeong "Seraph" Shin, their toplane sub on loan from Team Dragon Knights, and Austin "Gate" Yu, called the “fill lord” by some. With their win against Dignitas day one of week three, Gate becomes the first player in history to win three contiguous games in three different roles: mid, top, and support. TIP is a team to watch, and certainly not one anyone can underestimate anymore.
Cloud 9 vs. Team SoloMid
This week’s game of the week was certainly one worth watching. It was a battle of two titans who have struggled with roster changes. TSM have an incredible amount of raw talent, but they have struggled with synergy issues since starting in the NA LCS. C9 was having some trouble syncing up with their new jungler, YunJae "Rush" Lee, but were undefeated whilst running Hai “Hai” Lam, their legendary shotcaller, as a support. The game was incredible from a tactical standpoint (first blood didn’t occur till 20 minutes into the game), with both teams focusing on macro play and advantageous trades. C9 had the upper hand for the first 20 minutes, but their gold lead remained slight because TSM kept themselves in it well. This all culminated in two big teamfights that ultimately won TSM the game and handed Hai his first loss of the split.
NRG eSports vs. Team SoloMid
TSM is getting featured in two highlight games this week, though this one is for a much different reason than the last. Going into Week 3, NRG were looked at as a squad with a lot of unrealized potential. They had some very awkward, stumbling games the previous two weeks that allowed them to take wins against weaker teams, but got them stomped on by Immortals. Day 1, they played against Team Liquid, who, despite their roster struggles, also walked all over them. TSM was favored in this matchup, as they had been trending upwards each game since the start of the split. However, NRG had other plans. In an absolutely heartbreaking game, TSM was utterly dismantled by NRG, who found themselves unable to secure even a single kill through the whole affair. ChangSeok "GBM" Lee, who played Zilean midlane, was nothing short of an utter monster, outlaning superstar Søren "Bjergsen" Bjerg and keeping his teammates alive even through the most ridiculous of plays (see: Impact’s dive about 23 minutes into the game). It was a heartbreaking game for TSM fans, and an uplifting one for NRG fans (so I wasn’t sure how to feel at all really).
Standings
Immortals, as we have come to expect, remain undefeated in the first place spot. Not only that, they have extended their lead and are now two games above second place and three games above third. With each passing week it seems more and more unlikely that they will be dethroned, and could likely coast to the end of the split as the number one team. NRG and Counter Logic Gaming are tied for second. Five separate teams tie for third, including good surprise TIP and sad surprise TSM. Dignitas sits at fourth, and bringing up the rear are Renegades and Echo Fox, a team that has been running subs for two weeks running now (I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: visas are ruining esports).
Week 4 will continue to diversify the standings; it will likely be the week the mishmosh of teams tied for second and third finally separate into more distinct rankings. We’ll enter with many questions: is TIP the real deal, or is this all a fluke? Can TSM shake their new roster jitters and overcome their crushing defeat mentally? Can anyone defeat Immortals? Find out more next weekend.
