This article is part of our LoL Recap series.
Snake vs. I May
Week 2, Day 1 of the League of Legends Pro League began with a matchup of China's best as I May and Snake Esports squared off on Thursday. While both teams were rusty coming off of a long break, Snake emerged from Shanghai with a 2-0 series win.
Snake struck first in a chaotic Game 1 as I May jungler Tu "Ben4" Xin-cheng's Lee Sin got caught and killed by Lê "SofM" Quang Duy's jungle Kha'Zix for first blood during a failed invade around two minutes in. SofM was a monster in the early game, picking up several kills while applying massive pressure across the map. With his jungler firmly ahead, Park "TANK" Dan-won's mid lane Viktor was free to scale into the late game, dealing massive damage en route to a game-high 55,400 damage dealt to enemy champions to go along with his 8/2/14 KDA (kills/deaths/assists). While I May stayed in the game longer than they had any right to, drawing out the game after Snake earned a 9,000 gold lead at 33 minutes, Snake finally overwhelmed I May's defenses to take Game 1 in just over 55 minutes.
Despite his initial death in Game 1, Ben4 showed no fear in Game 2, playing Lee Sin and this time successfully invading SofM's Kha'Zix at his blue buff for first blood. I May had a firm grip on the game throughout the early-mid game, going as far as to earn a nearly 8,000 gold lead by 20 minutes, but couldn't stop Snake from taking control. SofM led the comeback with crucial picks and objective control, finishing with a KDA of 2/4/12 for 70 percent kill participation. Tank had another solid performance on Viktor, positioning well and shredding through I May as Snake completed the improbable comeback with a 37-minute win to secure the 2-0 series win.
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LGD vs. OMG
In the second match of Week 2, Day 1 of the League of Legends Pro League in China, LGD Gaming took on OMG to conclude Thursday's action. While it was by no means pretty, LGD left Shanghai with a 2-0 series sweep thanks to superior teamfighting and more than a bit of luck.
Both junglers had major impacts in Game 1, but LGD's Xie "Eimy" Dan's Ivern got the better of Hong "JueJue" Yan's Olaf by keeping his teammates alive while setting up AD Carry Gu "Imp" Seung-bin to deal a massive 26,400 damage to enemy champions. After a chaotic early-mid game, LGD jumped out to a gold lead by winning a 3-for-0 teamfight at 23 minutes to give LGD map control. After a particularly fruitful stretch for LGD around 31 minutes, securing four kills, a Baron kill, and an Infernal Drake, LGD were in complete control and poised to take the game. Eimy was huge for LGD on the support jungler, providing heals and shields for the team while summoning Daisy to ruin OMG's game plan. Finishing with a flawless 1/0/13 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 82 percent kill participation, Eimy utility-carried LGD to a Game 1 win in just under 36 minutes.
While LGD midlaner Wei "GodV" Zhen's Ekko was solo killed to start Game 2, he more than made up for it with good roams throughout the early-mid game, such as his roam bottom lane that gave LGD a seven-minute 3-for-0 and the first tower kill. Aside from that early kill, LGD was firing on all cylinders from the beginning of Game 2, finding several mid game picks that gave LGD crucial objectives like the first Baron kill of the game around 31 minutes. OMG held on to the remnants of its base, losing its final Nexus turret around 30 minutes. In a sloppy and chaotic finish, LGD finally managed to secure the win in just under 43 minutes to take the series sweep.
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Snake vs. I May
Week 2, Day 1 of the League of Legends Pro League began with a matchup of China's best as I May and Snake Esports squared off on Thursday. While both teams were rusty coming off of a long break, Snake emerged from Shanghai with a 2-0 series win.
Snake struck first in a chaotic Game 1 as I May jungler Tu "Ben4" Xin-cheng's Lee Sin got caught and killed by Lê "SofM" Quang Duy's jungle Kha'Zix for first blood during a failed invade around two minutes in. SofM was a monster in the early game, picking up several kills while applying massive pressure across the map. With his jungler firmly ahead, Park "TANK" Dan-won's mid lane Viktor was free to scale into the late game, dealing massive damage en route to a game-high 55,400 damage dealt to enemy champions to go along with his 8/2/14 KDA (kills/deaths/assists). While I May stayed in the game longer than they had any right to, drawing out the game after Snake earned a 9,000 gold lead at 33 minutes, Snake finally overwhelmed I May's defenses to take Game 1 in just over 55 minutes.
Despite his initial death in Game 1, Ben4 showed no fear in Game 2, playing Lee Sin and this time successfully invading SofM's Kha'Zix at his blue buff for first blood. I May had a firm grip on the game throughout the early-mid game, going as far as to earn a nearly 8,000 gold lead by 20 minutes, but couldn't stop Snake from taking control. SofM led the comeback with crucial picks and objective control, finishing with a KDA of 2/4/12 for 70 percent kill participation. Tank had another solid performance on Viktor, positioning well and shredding through I May as Snake completed the improbable comeback with a 37-minute win to secure the 2-0 series win.
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Edward Gaming vs. Game Talents
Chinese Goliaths Edward Gaming looked to make quick work of a struggling Game Talents side in Week 2, Day 2 of the League of Legends Pro League on Friday. While Game Talents fought hard, Edward Gaming would not be denied as they left Shanghai with a 2-1 series win.
Game Talents held an early lead in Game 1 thanks to jungler Wang "Wushuang" Hai-Li's early aggression on Kha'Zix, securing first blood for GT just before 10 minutes. Despite some miscues, GT grew their lead by controlling Baron and using top laner Kim "GimGoon" Han-saem's Kled to rush EDG's long range poke comp. While GT struggled to close out the game, GimGoon's ability to bring his entire team into EDG's backline with his Kled's ultimate, alongside his flawless 7/0/13 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 77 percent kill participation, gave Game Talents what they needed to take Game 1 in just over 43 minutes.
Game 2 was a disaster for Game Talents, who were forced to put Wushuang on jungle Malzahar due to a mistake in the draft phase. Punishing GT's lack of early pressure, a rejuvenated EDG rotated around the map together to take an early gold lead. EDG used their superior teamfighting to tear through GT, taking a 4-for-0 skirmish at 15 minutes and a clean 5-for-0 ace at 24 minutes to cement their lead. Mid laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan's Syndra earned MVP honors with a 6/0/14 KDA as EDG took Game 2 in about 26 minutes.
In a tumultuous Game 3, EDG's bottom lane came up big, picking up a pair of kills around eight minutes to secure first tower gold for EDG. AD Carry Hae "Zet" Seong-min played well on Varus, poking GT down to force them out of EDG's way, dealing a total of 22,600 damage to enemy champions. EDG controlled the game well into the mid-late game, but heroics from Game Talents threatened to turn the tides in their favor when they won a 3-for-1 teamfight while defending their base. Despite the setback, EDG were still in full control, baiting a Baron attempt to win a 3-for-0 teamfight and take Game 3 in just over 41 minutes.
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QG vs. Vici Gaming
Qiao Gu Reapers bounced back from a first-game loss to close out Friday with a 2-1 series win against Vici Gaming in Week 2, Day 2 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai.
While QG did a good job of coordinating plays around Kim "Clid" Tae-min's jungle Kha'Zix, VG mid laner Lee "Easyhoon" Ji-hoon took over Game 1 on Cassiopeia. Easyhoon outplayed QG's Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang's mid lane Ryze throughout the early game, and Easyhoon's damage output carried VG to a strong mid-game lead. With their mid-laner's damage threat keeping QG at bay, Vici were free to take objectives with impunity, including three elemental drakes and two Baron kills. Easyhoon earned a 6/1/4 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) and 91 percent kill participation as VG took Game 1 in just more than 34 minutes.
QG came back in Game 2, with top laner Kan "Kabe" Ho Man's Maokai picking up first blood at four minutes. Thanks to two more kills around seven minutes, Kabe built an early gold lead, and his tank build helped him dominate teamfights. With Vici unable to cut through Kabe, the rest of QG was free to wreak havoc on VG's backline. After taking a clean 5-for-0 ace in a teamfight around 17 minutes, QG took firm control and eventually secured a Baron kill and cruised through VG's base to take Game 2 in 30 minutes.
In Game 3, Kabe got his hands on Camille, and he once again picked up an early solo kill at four minutes. After securing a double kill in a 3-for-1 skirmish at six minutes, Kabe got rolling for a second straight game with solo kills every few minutes and completing his Trinity Force just 12 minutes into the game. QG's mid-range champions prevented VG from meaningfully teamfighting, and with Kabe's Camille able to find long-range picks from thanks to Hookshot/Wall Dive, QG was unstoppable. Kabe led Qiao Gu with a 10/0/2 KDA for 75 percent kill participation, and QG took the game at 25 minutes following a 3-for-0 teamfight in Vici's base.
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RNG vs. Snake
Week 2, Day 3 of the League of Legends Pro League kicked off on Friday with a struggling Snake Esports taking on Royal Never Give Up. In dominating fashion, RNG left Shanghai, China with a decisive 2-0 win.
RNG had a great start to Game 1, with top laner Yan "Letme" Jun-Ze's Jayce picking up first blood around eight minutes alongside a blue buff. Taking first tower a few minutes later, RNG jumped all over a discombobulated Snake side, picking up consecutive teamfight wins to accrue a moderate gold lead going into the mid-late game. Teamfighting well together, RNG took a 3-for-0 fight at the 24 minute mark to secure a Baron kill on the back of mid laner Li "Xiaohu" Yuan-Hao's Orianna, who finished with a flawless 5/0/10 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 94 percent kill participation, putting RNG in the driver's seat for good. After Snake jungler Le "SofM" Quang Duy's Rek'Sai made several questionable decisions with positioning and splitpushing, RNG were able to run through Snake's base, taking a prolonged 5-for-0 ace and Game 1 in just under 29 minutes.
Game 2 picked up roughly where Game 1 left off, with RNG jungler Liu "Mlxg" Shi-yu's Kha'Zix ganking bottom lane at three minutes to give AD Carry Jian "Uzi" Zi-Hao's Sivir first blood. Snake would try to pull even with a dive in the middle lane, but RNG would have none of it, securing two kills to start what would become an unstoppable snowball. Uzi did a good job of dealing consistent damage through Ricochets and Boomerang Blades, dealing a game-high 20,400 damage to enemy champions while Mlxg acted as the catalyst for a majority of RNG's aggressive plays. Notably, Snake's SofM made terrible decisions under duress in the late game, this time on Lee Sin, manipulating the wrong minion waves while a Baron-buffed RNG was busy taking down his base among other worrying trends. With Mlxg thoroughly dominating his matchup, finishing with a 5/0/12 KDA for 71 percent kill participation, RNG cruised to a commanding 34 minute win to take the clean 2-0 series sweep.
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OMG vs. I May
I May took on a struggling OMG in Week 2, Day 3 of the League of Legends Pro League on Saturday. In a shocking turn of events, OMG surprisingly dominated the series taking a decisively clean 2-0 series win in Shanghai, China.
OMG jungler Chen "World6" Yu-Tian had an immediate impact as Lee Sin in Game 1, picking up first blood on I May's Ha-woon "Athena" Kang's mid lane Orianna around five minutes. OMG snowballed off of World6's early aggression, smothering the bottom side of the map and repeatedly killing I May's bottom lane. OMG top laner Hu "Xiyang" Bin's Shen also had a phenomenal performance, earning a flawless 8/0/6 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 70 percent kill participation while splitpushing with impunity, occasionally using his Stand United ultimate to instantly turn teamfights across the map in OMG's favor. Dominating the objective game with four elemental drakes, OMG swatted aside I May's late game attempts at a comeback, winning a 3-for-0 teamfight in I May's base to secure the Game 1 win in just under 40 minutes.
World6 began Game 2 where he had left off in Game 1, picking up first blood as Graves just after the two minute mark. OMG's bottom lane impressed as well, winning a couple of straight-up 2-vs-2's to give AD Carry Han "Smlz" Jin's Jhin a massive gold lead going into the mid game. As Smlz was repeatedly catching poor I May support Yun "Road" Han-Gil's Miss Fortune with Deadly Flourishes and Curtain Calls en route to dealing 19,500 damage to enemy champions and earning his 6/0/7 KDA for 87 percent kill participation, OMG were free to take objectives with impunity. Constantly threatening to run I May over with a beefy frontline and devastating backline, OMG ensured that I May were unable to make any impact on the map. Securing a very early Baron kill around 21 minutes to secure a massive mid-late game gold lead, OMG secured a second Baron at 28 minutes to put the game away, destroying I May's Nexus in 31:30 to take home a clean 2-0 series sweep.
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Invictus Gaming vs. LGD
Invictus Gaming rounded out Saturday's Week 2, Day 3 League of Legends Pro League action with a series against LGD Gaming in Shanghai. Invictus Gaming took commanding leads early throughout the series, sweeping LGD Gaming to secure a 2-1 record in the 2017 Spring Split.
Invictus Gaming's mid laner Song "Rookie" Eui-jin's Katarina and top laner Lee "Duke" Ho-seong's Nautilus snowballed leads in lane which allowed them to roam early in Game 1. As a result, LGD Gaming struggled to find favorable teamfights and fell behind in kills, turrets and gold. Around the 33 minute mark LGD finally found a pick on Rookie leading to a winning teamfight and a Baron buff. However LGD Gaming's comeback didn't last long as Invictus Gaming scored an ace 38 minutes in, immediately rushing down mid lane to finish Game 1.
Invictus Gaming drafted a great assassin-friendly team composition in Game 2 as Rookie's Katarina and jungler Ge "Kidkid" Yan's Rengar snowballed leads early. LGD's mid laner Wei "GODV" Zhen counter picked Rookie with Kassadin which kept him close in lane, but he couldn't keep up with rotations. Invictus Gaming top laner Duke's Shen and support Wang "Megan" Lui-Yi's Lulu raked in assists as they aided in the assassin dives with Stand United and Wild Growth. LGD did their best to turtle and stall out Game 2, but an ace 33 minutes in put an end to their hopes of extending the series.
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Newbee vs. EDG
Edward Gaming looked to continue their streak of domestic dominance against Newbee on Sunday in Week 2, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League. In a shocking upset, Newbee stood strong in Shanghai, China with a 2-0 series sweep, handing EDG their first domestic series loss this season.
EDG pulled ahead early in Game 1 as top laner Chen "Mouse" Yu-Hao's Poppy teleported to the bottom lane to pick up two kills at seven minutes after EDG's bottom lane had secured the first tower gold by taking the bottom lane tower. EDG controlled the early to mid game through methodical play, but was unable to make significant gains on the map. EDG found a pick at 30 minutes and started Baron, but NB jungler Baek "Swift" Dae-Hoon's Rek'Sai came in for the miracle steal to turn the game in favor of Newbee. Despite a quadra kill for EDG mid laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan's LeBlanc, Newbee held onto their gold lead to take a back-and-forth Game 1 in just over 44 minutes.
Shaken after their heartbreaking Game 1 loss, EDG struck first in Game 2 with a four-man dive in the bottom lane to pick up two kills and first tower gold. NB struck back quickly afterwards, however, finding several picks in the mid lane. In the mid game, both teams seemed content to have poke battles in the mid lane, effectively playing dodgeball, but Mouse's Gangplank created good splitpushing pressure that NB couldn't deal with. Opting to start Baron at the 29-minute mark, NB secured the kill and the ensuing 3-for-1 teamfight, taking control in the late game. While EDG were scrappy until the bitter end, NB mid laner Shin "Coco" Jin-yeong's Corki was too much to handle, dealing 26,100 damage to enemy champions alongside a 3/1/11 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 82 percent kill participation as Newbee completed the shocking upset with a Game 2 win in just under 38 minutes.
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Vici Gaming vs. Game Talents
In the second match of Week 2, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League, Vici Gaming squared off against Game Talents in Shanghai, China on Sunday. While it wasn't particularly clean, Vici Gaming took a decisive 2-0 series sweep.
Vici Gaming took an early lead in Game 1 when top laner Zhu "Loong" Xiao-Long's Camille turned a gank around for a first blood double kill at nine minutes. While Game Talents tried to claw away at VG's gold lead approaching the mid game, Loong was simply too fed for VG to lose. Picking up several kills while teamfighting and splitpushing, en route to a flawless 8/0/6 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 88 percent kill participation while also dealing 22,400 damage to enemy champions, Loong was unstoppable as VG took a gold lead into the late game. Taking a 3-for-0 teamfight at the 29-minute mark, Vici snowballed Loong's success into a 36-minute Game 1 win.
Vici picked up where they left off in Game 1 with Loong's Maokai turning a gank around for first blood while jungler Bae "bengi" Seong-woong's Olaf began to camp the mid lane for VG's Lee "Easyhoon" Ji-hoon's Syndra, killing GT's mid laner a total of five times before 15 minutes. While VG was by no means clean in the early-mid game, Bengi's ability to set up picks for VG was invaluable, giving the team an uncontested Baron kill at the 28 minute-mark and allowing Easyhoon to deal a massive 28,700 damage to enemy champions. Finishing with a 4/1/15 KDA for 73 percent kill participation, Bengi took MVP honors for Game 2 as Vici picked up an extended 5-for-0 ace in Game Talents' base to secure the 2-0 sweep in just under 37 minutes.
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QG vs. World Elite
In the final matchup of Week 2, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League, Qiao Gu Reapers defeated Team World Elite in a close 2-1 series in Shanghai, China on Sunday.
Taking advantage of the chaos of a delayed lane swap early on in Game 1, WE jungler Xiang "Condi" Ren-Jie's Rengar got rolling early with a first blood double kill around 11 minutes. Condi linked up well with support Nam "Ben" Dong-hyun's Malzahar, who locked QG members down with his Nether Grasp while Condi tore the unfortunate soul apart en route to a 3/0/7 KDA (kills/deaths/assists). With QG repeatedly walking into this deadly combination, WE wasted no time chipping away at the QG base. Baiting QG out of their base around Baron near the 27-minute mark, WE took a 3-for-0 teamfight and cruised into QG's base, taking Game 1 in just under 29 minutes.
Qiao Gu fired back in Game 2 with top laner Kan "Kabe" Ho-man's Maokai securing first blood and first tower around eight minutes in. Abusing WE top laner Ke "957" Changyu, who got killed several times as Shen, Kabe earned a considerable gold lead heading into the mid game. Once the teamfighting broke out, Kabe was an unkillable monster, pressuring WE's backline en route to a perfect 4/0/6 KDA. While World Elite snuck a Baron kill at the 26-minute mark, QG had the last laugh with a 3-for-0 teamfight win around 34 minutes, marching into WE's base to take down the Nexus and force a Game 3.
Tensions were high going into Game 3, with both teams picking up a kill in the mid lane around three minutes in. After a long stretch of WE out-rotating QG to take towers, QG stunned WE with a 2-for-1 teamfight at 26 minutes to snatch the Baron from WE. In a wild back-and-forth match, both teams took turns finding picks and taking major neutral objectives, leading to a completely even game in terms of gold in the late game. QG mid laner Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang's Karma wouldn't be denied, though, dealing a game-high 55,600 damage to enemy champions and earning a 7/4/7 KDA as QG closed out a ridiculous Game 3 in 57 minutes.
