EU LCS: Many upsets in Week 9


(Image courtesy of Riot Games)

Warning: spoilers below!

So that’s it – the regular 2018 EU LCS Summer Split is over. Thankfully, we’ve still got the playoffs to look forward to, and if week nine’s games (particularly day two) are anything to go by, they should be spicy!

While we’re waiting for the first playoffs game to start, let’s remind ourselves of the madness that was week nine!

Upsets left, right, and center

Every now and again, an underdog team pulls through – you only need to look at how well Griffin has performed in the LCK this Split for evidence of that.

However, the EU LCS took it to a whole new level on Saturday. Aside from Splyce’s game against Giants, which Splyce comfortably won with a surprisingly strong early game, twist after turn ensued throughout.

H2k pulled it out of the bag and grabbed their second win of the Split by beating FC Schalke 04. That would usually be enough of a shock win to satisfy, but the EU LCS wasn’t done yet. In another turn, ROCCAT defeated a struggling Misfits, who still couldn’t find their form, even with Mikyx back in bot lane with Hans Sama.

After that, Unicorns of Love also ended their Split on a high and took down Fnatic, who has consistently looked like the strongest team in the whole league, especially with the flexibility of Rekkles and Bwipo in bot lane.

To wrap up Saturday’s games, G2 Esports took on Vitality. Quickly, Vitality pulled ahead thanks in huge part to Kikis and his counter jungling that left Jankos floundering. Although Vitality’s near-perfect win wasn’t necessarily a shock, it forced a three-way tie for second place, which was settled through three extra games played on Sunday.

The battle for second

On Sunday, Vitality, FC Schalke 04, and G2 Esports took part in a single round robin to determine which team would take second, third, and fourth seed going into playoffs.

Vitality asserted their dominance during both games and showed themselves as real threats to the title this Split, ending up with the second seed and that all-important bye. With Kikis now in the jungle, coupled with the talents of Attila and Jiizuke, they will be exceptionally hard to beat.

G2 Esports continues to struggle, having lost both their tie-breaker games against Schalke and Vitality, and they will need to regroup and rethink their strategy heading into playoffs.

Playoffs teams confirmed

Overall, the playoff teams are confirmed as the following seeds:

  1. Fnatic
  2. Vitality
  3. FC Schalke 04
  4. G2 Esports
  5. Misfits
  6. Splyce

The first best-of-five series will take place between FC Schalke 04 and Splyce on Friday 24 August, followed by G2 Esports versus Misfits on Saturday 25 August.

Which team do you think will win the 2018 EU LCS Summer Split? Let us know in the comments below!

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