This article is part of our LoL Recap series.
UoL vs. Splyce
Unicorns of Love won a hardfought series over Splyce in Berlin during Thursday's first European League of Legends Championship Series.
Game 1 was an action packed back-and-forth match between the two teams, with kills being found early and neither team slowing down. Unicorns of Love's (10-2, 21-8 match record) mid laner Fabian "Exileh" Schubert found first blood with his LeBlanc in a solo kill against Splyce's mid laner Chres "Sencux" Laursen on Talon. Despite the small mistake, Splyce (7-5,17-11 match record) was able to rally together and find several skirmish victories of its own, allowing it to take the first dragon and amass a near 4,000-gold lead just 18 minutes into the game. UoL was able to bring themselves back into the game off the back of Exileh and Andrei "Xerxe" Dragomir's Ivern. With the game neck-and-neck, Splyce was able to secure a lead and ultimately the game after picking up a 32-minute Baron and dominating the resulting teamfight.
The second game of the series saw a similar sequence of action, with things getting started early and both teams hesitant to hit the brakes. In a 2-vs-2 fight between both teams junglers and top laners, Xerxe was able to pick up first blood onto Wunder's Kennen with Jonas "Trashy" Anderson quickly responding with a kill onto Tamás "Vizicsacsi" Kiss's Nautilus. The action didn't stop here, with both teams taking fights back and forth with neither team finding a discernable lead. Unicorns of Love's AD carry Samuel"Samux" Fernández proved to be the team's shining light, dominating fights on Lucian, allowing his team to take a 30-minute victory without dying a single time.
Staying true to the series, Game 3 was another action-packed slugfest. With the teams trading kills back and forth, the gold stayed even heading into the mid game. Splyce found the first gold lead of the game, winning a teamfight near the 20-minute mark off the back of Sencux's Orianna and Wunder's Kennen. This didn't faze Unicorns of Love as Xerxe continued to engage fights with Rengar as his support Zdravets "Hylissang" Galabov was able to keep his carries alive thanks to his Zilean ultimate. With a 25-minute fight resulting in a Baron for UOL, the team was able to begin cracking Splyce's base. With new found pressure, they were able to take a second Baron and pick up a 36-minute teamfight, closing out the game to secure the 2-1 series victory.
Unicorns of Love will end its regular season by taking on Team Vitality at 10 a.m ET on Saturday. Splyce will finish off its Spring Split regular season against H2K on Sunday at 10 a.m. ET.
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G2 Esports vs. Fnatic
G2 Esports reverse swept Fnatic in an action-packed series in the second match on Thursday, Week 10, Day 1 of the European League of Legends Championship series in Berlin.
Fnatic (5-7, 15-18 match record) began Game 1 with a rather unexpected performance. With their signature Fnatic-bush, they allowed mid laner Rasmus "Caps" Winther to pick up a first blood on Ekko. This was just the start of the domination as the team found kills left and right, securing a huge lead early into the game. With the lead, Fnatic's jungler Brock "Broxah" Pedersen was able to secure two infernal drakes for his team. G2 (12-0, 24-6 match record) struggled to find a way into the game, picking up their first kill of the game after 21 minutes. Although G2 was able to start finding fights, they were in no way favorable, falling quickly to Martin "Rekkles" Larson's massive Kennen damage.
In Game 2, G2 flipped the script on Game 1's early game, picking up first blood for AD carry Jesper "Zven" Svenningsen before minions spawned. Luka "Perkz" Perkoviæ's Syndra picked up a kill of his own early onto Caps' Ekko, allowing G2 to claim a near 2,000 gold lead five minutes into the game. With an early lead, Perkz was able to roam with Kim "Trick" Gang-Yun's Rengar early, picking up kills time and again to snowball the already massive lead. Playing slow and steady, G2 was able to force a teamfight that allowed them to take the first inhibitor of the game at 27 minutes. G2 was able to push into Fnatic's base, picking up a 29-minute victory to tie the series 1-1.
With the series brought to a deciding Game 3, Fnatic aimed to shake things up by picking Fiddlesticks for support Jesse "Jesiz" Le. Fnatic found an early lead thanks to a roam by Caps' LeBlanc, picking up first blood. Although G2 reacted with several kills thanks to Ki "Expect" Dae-han's Fizz and Trick's Rengar, Fnatic pushed their early lead to create a decent gold gap. As G2 attempted to force teamfights, Fnatic was able to respond, picking up more kills for themselves and furthering the gold gap. Though they had a large lead, Fnatic made a critical mistake at 33 minutes, giving up two kills along with Baron, which allowed G2 to take control of the game. At 40 minutes, Fnatic sent Caps bot to backdoor the first inhibitor of the game while G2 secured their second Baron. Fnatic found a miracle fight, catching all of G2 out as Expect finished his recall, allowing them to take both Nexus towers. Thanks to an impressive defense, G2 was able to delay and take a final fight against Fnatic at 47 minutes, closing out the game, and protecting the team's undefeated streak.
G2 will look to remain undefeated as they take on Roccat on Saturday 1:00 p.m. ET, while Fnatic will look to bounce back from their loss as they take on Misfits Sunday 1:00 p.m. ET.
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H2K vs. Origen
H2K Gaming easily picked up a 2-0 sweep over Origen on Friday to open up Week 10, Day 2 of the European League of Legends Championship Series in Berlin.
After the first few minutes of this game, Origen (0-13, 2-26 match record) managed to have an ever-so-slight lead over H2K Gaming (9-3, 20-8). The winless team took the first teamfight of the game for a 2-to-1 kill advantage, but it didn't last long. H2K got a pick in the bottom lane at the 11-minute mark that allowed it to get first tower and jump out to a 2,000-gold lead. From then on, H2K started rolling its snowball down the hill throughout the rest of the game.
Things started to get out of hand when Origen forced a teamfight in the mid game that saw H2K pick up a 5-for-3 ace and continue pushing advantages all across the map. Try as it might, Origen couldn't muster much of a defense in the mid to late game here, as it managed only three more kills after losing the ace, while H2K pounded Origen into submission with 13 kills over the final 16 minutes of the game. A final clean ace allowed H2K to finish up the win in 32 minutes.
Origen began Game 2 with renewed energy rarely seen this split, with four kills before 10 minutes had passed in the game. The early advantage also allowed Origen to push for the first tower in the top lane and a 3,000-gold lead at the 15-minute mark. At this point, though, Origen's inability to close out games reared its ugly head, as Origen let H2K inch its way back into the game.
After securing a few picks here and there to go along with a couple of destroyed towers, H2K really pushed ahead with a 3-for-0 teamfight that was led by a double kill from Fabian "Febiven" Diepstraten's Orianna. That fight also gave way to a Baron at the 29-minute mark. The Baron ended up being not only game-changing, but game-winning, as H2K used it to waltz right into the Origen base to pick up four more kills and take down the Nexus.
H2K will next hit the stage to face Splyce at 11 a.m. ET on Sunday. Origen, on the other hand, has wrapped up its season and will now have to set its eyes on the Promotion Tournament to defend its spot in the EU LCS.
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Misfits vs. Giants Gaming
Despite being locked in for playoffs, Misfits didn't show any complacency in its 2-0 sweep of Giants Gaming on Friday during Week 10, Day 2 of the European League of Legends Championship Series in Berlin.
The first game of the series was all Misfits (7-4, 16-10 match record) from the onset. Giants (2-10, 8-22) simply looked outmatched. After building a massive gold lead by forcing skirmishes and taking objectives, Misfits was able to close out the game after a well-played ace 34 minutes in. Misfits mid laner Tristan "PowerOfEvil" Schrage dominated the game with an 11/1/7 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) as Orianna.
The second game was a little better for Giants early on, as jungler Jonas "Memento" Elmarghich played proactively and gave his team first blood. That, though was before PowerOfEvil earned four kills within the first 15 minutes of the game. Giants hung around in the game until Misfits earned an ace near the 38-minute mark to close out the series.
PowerOfEvil, with a 9/3/4 KDA, again proved his dominance for Misfits.
Misfits will play its final regular-season game of the split against Fnatic at 2 p.m. ET on Sunday. Giants has finished its Spring Split in last place of Group A and will be competing in the Summer Promotion Tournament to return to the EU LCS for the summer.
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UoL vs. Team Vitality
With Team Vitality already locked out of the playoffs, this April Fools' Day series was suitably lighthearted, with Unicorns of Love winning 2-0 on Day 3 of Week 10 in the European League of Legends Championship Series in Berlin.
The draft phase of Game 1 started this series out entertainingly, with a Shaco pick in the jungle and a Gragas support being picked up for Vitality (3-10, game record 9-21), to which Unicorns (11-2, 23-8) responded with a Hecarim. Vitality jungler Charly "Djoko" Guillard was able to abuse Shaco's early presence, participating in all of his team's kills before the 20-minute mark for a 5/2/4 KDA. However, as expected, Vitality's composition had a lot of trouble in late-game teamfights, and UoL was able to capitalize on an overaggressive Baron attempt from Vitality at 23 minutes to take the lead. After that, Unicorns had no trouble dominating the remainder of the 27-minute game.
Game 2 saw another tongue-in-cheek draft for Vitality, with a Yasuo in the mid lane for Erlend "Nukeduck" Holm paired with an Alistar support. While the picks once again did well early, with quick two kills and two assists coming in for Nukeduck, some overextensions from Vitality threw the early lead right back to UoL. Vitality's comp had trouble fighting from behind, and it soon became clear that, in its last game of the split, the members of Vitality were just trying to have a bit of fun. This made it all too easy for Unicorns to stride into the base to end the game at 28 minutes to take the Nexus.
With this victory, Unicorns of Love has secured its semifinals berth in the playoffs, while Vitality will have to wait until the Summer Split to see more action.
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ROCCAT vs. G2
Just one match victory away from an undefeated season, G2 Esports was stopped short Saturday by ROCCAT, who took the series 2-1 on Day 3 of Week 10 of the European League of Legends Championship Series in Berlin.
Perhaps feeling the April Fools' Day spirit, ROCCAT mid laner Felix "Betsy" Edling graced the Rift with an AP Nasus for Game 1. Unfortunately, though farming is the one thing the pick certainly should have excelled at, Betsy still fell well behind in creep score to the Syndra of Luka "Perkz" Perkoviæ. Still, ROCCAT (6-7, 14-17 match record) and G2 (12-1, 25-8 match record) stayed close until 29 minutes, when a sneaky Baron start from G2 earned it the buff and two kills. Two inhibitors, a couple of easy teamfight victories and another Baron later, G2 ended the game at the 40-minute mark.
ROCCAT stepped it up for Game 2 in a big way. While G2 managed to eke out an early lead, ROCCAT top laner Ambrož "Phaxi" Hren's Fizz found a solo kill in lane, and Betsy's Ryze also found a couple of early kills. Betsy used that advantage to blow the game wide open at 18 minutes, grabbing three kills and an assist in a 4-for-0 fight for ROCCAT to end up with 5/0/1 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) afterward. G2 wasn't about to go down easy, however, and took an inhibitor at 24 minutes after winning a fight. By securing the Baron buff and a 4-for-1 just shy of 30 minutes, ROCCAT was finally able to nail down a lead and ended the game over the next 10 minutes.
Game 3 started out with a bottom lane skirmish before the three-minute mark that ended in a 2-for-2 trade. The teams continued to trade kills and objectives back and forth, leaving the game almost dead-even until the 22-minute mark, when ROCCAT took a 3-for-1 fight around Baron. Returning to the scene of the crime just a couple of minutes later, ROCCAT took the buff and three more kills. Looking disheartened, G2 rolled over as ROCCAT pushed its lead and ended the series and G2's win streak in 27 minutes.
G2 will still receive a bye into the semifinal round of playoffs. With its win, however, ROCCAT has kept its playoff hopes alive and well, and the team will be waiting on Sunday's results with bated breath.
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H2k vs. Splyce
Week 10, Day 4 of the regular season in the European League of Legends Championship Series featured H2K facing off against Splyce in Berlin. Despite Splyce's unusual picks, H2K showed no mercy in its 2-0 sweep to finish the regular season on Sunday.
Game 1 started off with Splyce (7-6, 17-13 match record) locking in some unconventional competitive picks in Warwick for top laner Martin "Wunder" Hansen and Lux for mid laner Chres "Sencux" Laursen. While Splyce secured first blood, H2K was in complete control of the early game. Outside of a 3-for-1 fight for Splyce just after the 10-minute mark, H2K (10-3, 22-8 match record) dominated Splyce in nearly every facet of the game. All of H2K shined as it finished with a 29-to-9 kill lead, but jungler Marcin "Jankos" Jankowski shined brightest with a 6/1/11 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) as Rengar. Continuing to smother Splyce across the map in the mid-late game, an H2K ace led to a Baron kill and eventual 1-0 lead in the series.
The unconventional champion picks continued in Game 2 with Wunder playing Teemo top and and Sencux busting out the Ezreal mid. Much like in Game 1, though, H2K was unfazed as it crushed top lane, giving Wunder a 1/10/2 KDA, which set the record for most deaths by a top laner in the split. While Splyce did take an early lead by finding picks, H2K surged ahead with a stronger team composition later in the game, with top laner Andrei "Odoamne" Pascu's Rumble posting a 11/1/10 KDA while dealing massive damage and landing high-impact Equalizers. After winning a 4-for-0 fight around Baron, H2K claimed the buff and proceeded to push into Splyce's base the close the series 2-0.
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Fnatic vs. Misfits
Week 10, Day 4 of the European League of Legends Championship Series ended with Misfits taking on Fnatic. It took three games, but Fnatic was able to qualify for the EU LCS Spring Playoffs with a 2-1 victory on Sunday in Berlin.
The first game of the series was a close bout for most of the way. Fnatic (6-7, 17-19 match record) seemed desperate to win, but almost to a fault as both teams kept even throughout the early game. Misfits (8-5, 19-12 match record) blew the game wide open at the 30-minute mark when MSF found two kills while dancing around the Baron. Securing the Baron kill shortly afterwards, Misfits broke down Fnatic's base with the Baron buff and via split-pushing from top laner Barney "Alphari" Morris's Camille, who played well around the map en route to a 3/2/3 KDA (kills/deaths/assists), ending the game with a strong final push to go up 1-0 in the series.
With its back against the wall, Fnatic came alive in Game 2. The game kicked off with a well-timed gank in the top lane by Fnatic jungler Mads "Broxah" Brock-Pederson as Lee Sin. After that, Broxah made his way to the bottom lane and earned his team a 2-for-0 skirmish, beginning what would become an unstoppable Fnatic snowball. Fnatic steamrolled through the mid game on the back of Broxah's strong Lee Sin play, finishing with a 4/1/9 KDA. Fnatic quickly moved to close out the game after picking up a Baron kill around 22 minutes, with mid laner Rasmus "Caps" Winther's Leblanc initiating a fight inside Misfits' base. AD carry Martin "Rekkles" Larsson's Kennen finished the fight with a triple kill, and Fnatic tied the series up at 1-1.
A crucial Game 3 started out with both teams making proactive plays to take an early lead. Broxah's Lee Sin made plenty of moves around the map to put his team ahead in the early game but Fnatic as a whole generally displayed better macro play going into the mid game, which was a sign of things to come. Fnatic surged into the lead at the 24-minute mark when Rekkles' Kennen looked to be caught out, but a fast reaction by Fnatic turned the fight around for a 5-for-2 ace, with Rekkles posting a 6/2/9 KDA in a do-or-die situation. After grabbing a Baron kill and breaking down Misfits' base, a final ace in the top lane allowed Fnatic to close out the game and win the series 2-1.
At the conclusion of this series, Misfits is slotted to play against Splyce in the first round of the playoffs, while Fnatic will face H2K. The quarterfinals begin on Saturday, April 8.
