This article is part of our LoL Recap series.
RNG vs. LGD Gaming
No Uzi? No problem for Royal Never Give Up, who decimated LGD Gaming in a quick 2-0 series to kick off Week 8, Day 1 of the League of Legends Pro League on Thursday in Shanghai.
Royal Never Give Up (10-2, 21-8 match record) started the series by setting a blistering pace as top laner Yan "Letme" Jun-Ze's Camille picked up a solo kill first blood on LGD top laner Li "Funny" Yuan-Hui's Renekton. Funny certainly wasn't laughing as RNG repeatedly sent members to the top lane to kill him, snowballing out of control as it so often does in the early game. While LGD Gaming (3-9, 10-18 match record) managed to pick up a couple of kills to prevent a perfect game for RNG, RNG controlled the mid game with ease until it saw an opening. Capitalizing at the 30-minute mark with a clean ace, RNG didn't need a Baron buff to take Game 1 in 30 minutes, thanks to Letme's perfect 6/0/5 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 100 percent kill participation.
While LGD Gaming looked marginally better after subbing Funny out for top laner Lim "Jinoo" Jin-woo, RNG continued its rampage throughout Game 2. While substitute AD carry Tao "Again" Xiang looked somewhat uncomfortable on Lucian, RNG still got ahead thanks to the return of jungler Liu "Mlxg" Shi-Yu, who built RNG's gold lead with persistent pressure on Lee Sin. After taking an explosive 5-for-0 clean ace and subsequent Baron kill at 21 minutes, a brilliant initiation from Mlxg gave RNG a 4-for-1 teamfight win and a Game 2 win in just under 25 minutes in a thorough beating of LGD Gaming.
Royal Never Give Up next takes to the Rift to take on Invictus Gaming on Saturday at 1 a.m ET, while LGD and OMG will follow that matchup when they battle at 4 a.m ET the same day.
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Invictus Gaming vs. I May
It was a chaotic bloodbath that closed out Week 8, Day 1 of the League of Legends Pro League, but Invictus Gaming emerged victorious with a 2-1 series win over I May on Thursday in Shanghai.
In a bloody Game 1, Invictus Gaming (7-5, 18-12 match record) took first blood just before the five-minute mark when jungler Ge "KidKid" Yan's Rengar snuck into the bottom lane, but I May struck back with a 4-for-1 teamfight win a few minutes later. Invictus Gaming slowly grinded its way to a gold lead in the mid game before picking up a game-changing 5-for-2 ace at 25 minutes, capitalizing on the pick potential coming from mid laner Song "Rookie" Eui-jin's Taliyah.
After more scrappy fights leading into the late game, iG found a couple of picks to give it the go-ahead to secure a 35-minute Baron, and that was everything the team needed to make a final push. With Rookie's game-high 27,300 damage dealt and 7/4/14 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 81 percent kill participation leading the way, Invictus took a final 5-for-0 ace in I May's base to secure the Game 1 win in 39 minutes.
I May (6-6, 14-15 match record) looked like a completely different team in Game 2, overcoming another strong early game start for Invictus in which KidKid's Graves secured first blood before five minutes for the second straight game. I May roamed around the map to pick up scattered kills, playing around top laner Shek "AmazingJ" Wai Ho's Nautilus. I May earned a gold lead in the mid game through strong objective control, giving the Rift Herald buff to mid laner Kang "Athena" Ha-woon's Talon and knocking down several towers. Despite iG taking a 4-for-1 fight in the bot side river, I May remained undeterred, securing an unofficial 5-for-0 ace and Baron kill around 21 minutes. Led by AmazingJ, who had a perfect 1/0/17 KDA for 100 percent kill participation, I May took a second Baron at 29 minutes and finished its beatdown of Invictus Gaming in 32 minutes to force Game 3.
I May hoped to recapture its Game 2 form, but KidKid's Elise had other plans. After killing IM jungler Sung "Flawless" Yeon-jun's Graves at his blue buff around two minutes, KidKid proceeded to camp the bottom lane, picking up several kills and snowballing Invictus Gaming out of control. While iG wasn't as fortunate with Elemental Drakes, securing three Cloud Drakes with a semi-global team composition, it didn't matter much as Rookie's Ahri popped off, assassinating key targets while iG dominated the objective game. Securing a Baron at 32 minutes and an Elder Dragon at 35, Rookie's game-high 18,400 damage dealt and 4/2/4 KDA led Invictus Gaming to a convincing 38-minute Game 3 win.
Invictus Gaming has a tough task ahead of it in a red-hot Royal Never Give Up squad when the two meet Saturday at 1 a.m ET, while I May will look to recover against Snake Esports at 7 a.m ET that day.
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Newbee vs. QG Reapers
Newbee looked like anything but a newbie in a 2-0 series win vs QG Reapers on Friday, opening up Week 8, Day 2 of the League of Legends Pro League with a clean sweep in Shanghai.
Newbee (6-7, 16-17 match record) took an early lead in Game 1, thanks to jungler Baek "Swift" Da-hoon's Lee Sin, who played like a man possessed. Ganking the top lane several times to set up its top laner Fan "Skye" Qi-Fang's Nautilus, Newbee had an impressively strong front line heading into the mid game. While the QG Reapers (6-7, 15-16 match record) kept things relatively even during a mid game lull, a 4-for-1 teamfight in the top lane gave Newbee a Baron kill and complete control of the game. After using the buff to push through the top lane and take down QG's top inhibitor, Newbee regrouped and made one final push, taking a 3-for-0 inside of QG's base on the back of Swift's initiation, en route to a 0/0/12 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 92 percent kill participation as Newbee took Game 1 in 32 minutes.
Game 2 began much in the same way for Newbee, as Swift's Kha'Zix found two kills by the seven-minute mark to start snowballing out of control. While QG Reapers found a 3-for-1 skirmish near the top of the river at 19 minutes to give it much needed momentum, NB's consistent gold lead prevented QG from snowballing, leading to a 3-for-1 for NB after QG secured a risky Baron kill. QG did what it could with the buff, but NB still remained in control, leading to a second risky Baron attempt for QG. Swift managed to steal the Baron as the rest of Newbee took a 4-for-1 teamfight win, immediately pushing through the mid lane and securing the Game 2 win in 36 minutes.
Newbee looks to maintain its momentum as it approaches a tough series against EDward Gaming on Sunday at 1 a.m ET, while QG Reapers prepares for a tall task of its own as it squares off vs Team WE at 7 a.m ET on Sunday.
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EDward Gaming vs. GT
EDward Gaming closed out Week 8, Day 2 of the League of Legends Pro League in style, shutting down Game Talents with a 2-0 series sweep on Friday in Shanghai.
It took a while for either team to pick up kills in Game 1 but when the teams finally fought, it turned into a bloodbath. Game Talents (4-8, 10-19 match record) picked up first blood, but it was EDward Gaming that came out on top, picking up a 4-for-2 teamfight win at 16 minutes to start its game domination. EDward Gaming played well as a unit, rotating around the map to find picks and tower kills, including a 28-minute pick on GT's jungler that allowed EDG to secure a Baron kill. Picking up three more kills after the Baron, EDward Gaming (8-4, 18-12 match record) dominated the late game, thanks in part to AD carry Hae "Zet" Sung-min's Varus, who finished Game 1 with a game-high 24,700 damage dealt alongside a 5/1/9 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 100 percent kill participation. Taking a 4-for-0 teamfight at 34 minutes in GT's base, EDward Gaming closed out Game 1 with a 15,000 gold-lead in 34 minutes.
EDG came into Game 2 firing on all cylinders, picking up first blood after a brilliant Death Sentence from support Tian "Meiko" Ye's Thresh at just under four minutes in. While Game Talents picked up kills of its own throughout the mid game, Meiko continued to find picks for EDG, en route to a 1/2/11 KDA for 86 percent kill participation and MVP honors, leading to a 27-minute Baron for EDG. While Game Talents initially held off EDG's Baron push with a 2-for-0 fight, EDG eventually regained its composure, rotating around the map to take what outer turrets were left for GT with clever Baron baits. Ultimately, EDG didn't need a second Baron, as it found a clean 5-for-0 ace in the top lane at 36 minutes, destroying Game Talents' Nexus a minute later to close out the 2-0 series sweep.
EDward Gaming will take on a red-hot Newbee squad on Sunday at 1 a.m ET, while Game Talents look to bounce back against a floundering Vici Gaming side shortly afterwards at 4 a.m ET on Sunday.
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Invictus Gaming vs. Royal Never Give Up
Royal Never Give Up lived up to its namesake with a 2-1 win over Invictus Gaming in a back-and-forth series Saturday to start Week 8, Day 3 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai.
Royal Never Give Up (10-2, 22-9 match record) took control of Game 1 early on as top laner Yan "Letme" Jun-Ze's Kled picked up a first blood double kill at four minutes. Letme picked up another double kill at 15 minutes in a 3-for-0 skirmish for RNG and quickly snowballed out of control from there, engaging relentlessly as RNG took a 4-for-1 fight to secure a Baron kill. Although Invictus Gaming's scrappy defense gave it a few kills later in the game, it couldn't stop Letme for long, who finished with a game-high 20,500 damage dealt alongside a flawless 8/0/5 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 87 percent kill participation as RNG took a second Baron buff to close out Game 1 in 35 minutes.
Invictus Gaming came storming back in Game 2 despite Letme's Renekton securing another first blood at four minutes. On the back of a 3-for-0 skirmish in the top lane, Invictus Gaming (7-5, 19-13 match record) surged ahead of RNG, led by mid laner Song "Rookie" Eui-jin's Talon and his impressive roaming abilities. Finding kills and assists throughout the midgame, iG took complete control and secured three Infernal Drakes and an Ocean Drake. After a 4-for-0 fight for iG that gave it a Baron kill, Rookie was officially out of control, dealing a game-high 26,300 damage to enemy champions. Finishing with a KDA of 8/2/10, Rookie was a rock in Invictus Gaming's 34-minute win.
Although RNG mid laner Li "Xiaohu" Yuan-Hao's Lucian got killed for first blood just over two minutes into Game 3, RNG pulled ahead when a horrific iG dive went 3-for-0 in RNG's favor a few minutes later. RNG snowballed in the mid game, holding a 7-to-2 kill advantage at the 15-minute mark that it parlayed into objective control. Securing a 25-minute Baron and a 3-for-1 teamfight win, Royal Never Give Up never let up on the map pressure, knocking down towers while securing two Ocean Drakes and a Cloud Drake. Invictus Gaming made a desperate push around 33 minutes, but a 4-for-2 teamfight win for RNG led to a fast push and eventual 35-minute win.
Royal Never Give Up next face Snake Esports at 8 a.m ET on Friday, while Invictus Gaming will have to wait until 4 a.m ET on April 8 to meet Snake Esports on the Rift.
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OMG vs. LGD Gaming
OMG was firing on all cylinders against LGD Gaming on Saturday, taking a 2-0 series sweep during Week 8, Day 3 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai.
OMG jungler Chen "World6" Yu-Tian's Rengar gave his team an early lead that LGD Gaming (3-10, 10-20 match record) never recovered from. OMG (6-6, 14-14) picked up several kills throughout the early-mid game, most of them going to mid laner Xie "Icon" Tian-Yu's Ekko. After giving Icon a Rift Herald buff at 19 minutes, OMG's suffocating neutral objective control gave it three Mountain Drakes and an uncontested Baron kill at 26 minutes, leading to a big 4-for-1 teamfight in LGD's Base at 30 minutes. With Icon dealing a game-high 15,000 damage to enemy champions while picking up a 6/1/2 KDA (kills/deaths/assists), OMG demolished LGD Gaming in a 30-minute Game 1 win.
OMG stuck to its early game script in Game 2 as World6's Lee Sin picked up first blood in the mid lane, getting himself and Icon's Syndra ahead early. OMG held a decent gold lead in the mid game and took two Mountain Drakes and a couple of towers, but LGD started to fight back. With its season potentially on the line, LGD support Chen "Pyl" Bo made a hero play as Tahm Kench during a 25-minute OMG Baron attempt, taxiing jungler Xie "Eimy" Dan's Graves into the Baron pit for the Baron steal and subsequent 2-for-1 teamfight win. It seemed as though LGD's prayers were answered, and AD carry Gu "Imp" Seung-bin's Kog'Maw started racking up kills, but OMG quickly regained control with a 5-for-1 ace in the bottom lane at 30 minutes. Another 5-for-2 ace at 37 minutes, and the series was over as OMG overcame LGD's formidable late game to take Game 2.
OMG next takes on I May at 5 a.m. ET on Friday. LGD Gaming, meanwhile, has a bit longer to stew over its loss before squaring off against I May at 7 a.m. on April 9.
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Snake vs. I May
It was the ugliest, sweatiest 2-0 sweep the League of Legends Pro League has seen this split, featuring more than 90 minutes of game time, but a win's a win for Snake Esports, who took down I May on Saturday to close out Week 8, Day 3 in Shanghai.
In Game 1, Snake Esports (5-7, 12-16 match record) held even with I May (6-7, 14-17) until the 10-minute mark, when jungler Le "SofM" Quang Duy's Lee Sin picked up first blood in the mid lane. SofM picked up several kills in the following minutes, including his contributions to a 4-for-1 teamfight win for Snake around a Cloud Drake at 17 minutes, and Snake Esports seemed to be in complete control heading into the mid game. After pressing its lead and converting on tower kills, Snake secured a Baron at 34 minutes, but I May started to counter on the back of top laner Shek "AmazingJ" Wai Ho's Kled, who found several kills to keep I May in hypothetical striking distance.
In what swiftly became a chaotic bloodbath, I May secured a 42-minute Baron but was pushed all the way up to its Nexus thanks to a supercharged Snake. Although I May AD carry Xie "Jinjiao" Jin-Shan's Caitlyn dealt massive damage late, Snake had secured three Cloud Drakes, a Mountain Drake, and a 37-minute Elder Dragon, leading to a final 4-for-0 fight where SofM earned part of his 10/3/14 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 92 percent kill participation as Snake picked up the 51-minute Game 1 win.
I May started Game 2 with first blood on SofM's Elise but was unable to convert that early kill into a gold lead. In the mid game, while I May held a 6-to-4 kill lead, Snake had secured a 3-to-0 tower advantage to maintain a modest gold lead. The game got busted wide open at 25 minutes, though, when I May caught Snake trying to rush a Baron kill and took an unofficial 5-for-1 ace and the Baron buff. I May used the buff to surge ahead in gold and towers around the 30-minute mark, but Snake started to fight back, repelling I May's pushes while finding time to take a Cloud Drake. After some uncharacteristically fantastic macro play from Snake gave it a Baron buff and mid lane tower near 34 minutes, Snake was back in control. While I May stalled as best it could, a stacked Elder Dragon buff for Snake and top laner Li "Flandre" Xuan-Jun's Gangplank dealing a massive game-high 32,300 damage to enemy champions, Snake took the 40-minute win to put the finishing touches on the 2-0 sweep.
I May prepares to face a red-hot OMG at 5 a.m. ET on Friday, while Snake Esports will next take to the Rift to take against Group A leaders Royal Never Give Up at 8 a.m. ET that day.
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Newbee vs. EDward Gaming
EDG kicked off Week 8, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai in style, dropping Game 1 to Newbee before smashing the series 2-1 on Sunday.
Newbee (5-9, 16-20 match record) had a great start to Game 1 despite losing first blood, picking up a 3-for-1 skirmish after jungler Baek "Swift" Da-hoon's Rengar initiated to begin a Newbee gold swing. Newbee were dominant throughout the mid game, taking an early Baron kill at 21 minutes. Newbee struggled to push into EDward Gaming's base, however, getting repeatedly stalled and requiring a second Baron buff at 29 minutes to break through. EDward Gaming started to flirt with the idea of making a comeback by trading kills in the late game, but a third Baron kill for Newbee all but dashed those hopes. With mid laner Yu "Cool" Jia-Jun's Taliyah playing immaculately in the late game, separating EDG with great Weaver's Walls and dealing a team-high 41,300 damage, Newbee finally took a Game 1 win in just over 43 minutes.
EDward Gaming, perhaps incensed by Newbee's confidence in Game 1, came storming back in Game 2, taking a nearly perfect game over Newbee. Beginning when jungler Zhao "Fireloli" Zhi-Ming's Lee Sin picked up first blood at six minutes, EDward Gaming (10-4, 22-14 match record) repeatedly found kills in the early game, holding a 11-to-0 kill lead around 20 minutes. While Newbee eventually found a kill of its own at 27 minutes, it came far too late as EDG's 26-minute Baron kill gave it all the tools it needed to break into Newbee's base. A 4-for-1 teamfight win for EDG just a few minutes later, and it was all over for Game 2 as EDG closed out the decisive win in just over 30 minutes.
Fireloli's Lee Sin once again kicked off the early game for EDG by picking up first blood around six minutes, beginning what was another dominant showing for EDG. After finding kills early on, EDG took a Baron buff on spawn at 20 minutes, blasting through Newbee's outer turrets thanks to the pressure coming from mid laner Lee "Scout" Ye-chan's Syndra, who was massive throughout the game. While NB managed to take a 3-for-1 fight at 28 minutes to prevent a Baron attempt from EDG, EDG's two Infernal Drakes, Ocean Drake and Mountain Drake gave it all the buffs it needed to repeatedly bait the Baron attempt to pick up more kills. A 3-for-0 teamfight after a second EDG Baron kill on the back of Scout's game-high 17,600 damage and 6/2/5 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for 79 percent kill participation was all that EDG needed to finally lock up the 2-1 series win in just over 33 minutes.
Newbee will next take to the Rift to face Vici Gaming on Saturday at 4 a.m ET, followed by EDward Gaming's crucial battle against Group B leaders Team WE at 7 a.m ET on Saturday.
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Game Talents vs. Vici Gaming
Two gladiators took over the Rift on Sunday as Vici Gaming took out Game Talents in a bloody and entertaining 2-0 sweep during Week 8, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League in Shanghai.
Action aplenty took over the early game in Game 1, starting with a bang from VG jungler Bae "Bengi" Seong-woong's Graves when he picked up first blood in the mid lane just three minutes in. Vici Gaming (4-8, 11-18 match record) couldn't run away with the game, however, as GT's rock in the top lane, Kim "Gimgoon" Han-saem, picked up two solo kills before seven minutes. The mid game was chaotic and bloody, as both teams were ready to fight at the drop of a ward, but Vici started to pull ahead after taking a 3-for-2 teamfight around the Baron. Vici surged ahead on the back of Lee "Easyhoon" Ji-hoon's Syndra dealing a game-high 28,200 damage while picking up a 6/2/9 KDA (kills/deaths/assists) for just under 80 percent kill participation. A 34-minute Baron led to a 37-minute 5-for-0 ace, featuring a Bengi triple kill, and Game 1 win for Vici.
Game Talents (4-9, 11-20 match record) was bloodthirsty heading into Game 2 as jungler Liang "Xiaoyu" Jian's Graves found Bengi's Lee Sin in the jungle at four minutes for first blood, followed by Gimgoon's Kled continuing to pick on VG top laner Zhu "Loong" Xiao-Long with another solo kill on Loong's Shen around five minutes. GT crushed the early game, giving Gimgoon a Rift Herald buff and dominating VG in the tower game, holding a 5-to-0 lead at 22 minutes. While Game Talents held a roughly 6,000-gold lead, VG stayed close behind, taking a 5-for-2 ace and Infernal Drake at 25 minutes. After a 3-for-0 fight and Baron kill for GT at 32 minutes, GT looked to end the game but Easyhoon's Vladimir came alive, dealing massive damage and leading VG late in the game. Picking up a 3-for-0 fight and Elder Dragon at the 37-minute mark and sneaking a Baron at 42 minutes, Vici Gaming surged late on the back of Easyhoon's game-high 66,800 damage. Gimgoon was a hero in late game fights, but he couldn't stop Easyhoon from picking up a 11/4/7 KDA and a 49-minute win for Vici.
Vici Gaming looks to carry its momentum over into Week 9, starting with a match against QG Reapers on Thursday at 5 a.m ET, followed by Game Talents taking on Group B leaders Team WE at 8 a.m ET.
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QG Reapers vs. WE
Week 8, Day 4 of the League of Legends Pro League ended in shock as Group B leaders Team WE showed that gods could bleed, getting decimated in a clean 2-0 sweep by QG Reapers on Sunday in Shanghai.
QG Reapers (7-6, 17-14 match record) started off strong in Game 1 as jungler Kim "Clid" Tae-min's Lee Sin and top laner Kan "Kabe" Ho Man's Nautilus picked up first blood in a cheeky invade of Team WE's jungle. Clid proceeded to roam bot and pick up a couple of kills, snowballing out of control. While Team WE managed to stay within striking distance of QG, a big 5-for-3 ace at the 21-minute mark gave QG Reapers decisive neutral objective control, leading to a 23-minute Baron. WE punished QG's first Baron attempt with a 4-for-1 teamfight win, but QG stayed ahead with a 4-for-1 fight of its own a few minutes later, taking advantage of its double Infernal Drake buffs. Securing a second Baron proved less costly for QG at 31 minutes as Team WE only found a 3-for-1 fight, pushing to end on the back of Clid's great teamfighting and Lee Sin mechanics en route to a 10/3/14 KDA (kills/deaths/assists). One 5-for-2 fight in Team WE's base later, and QG wrapped up a 34-minute win.
Kabe's Nautilus started Game 2 in style with a solo kill on WE top laner Ke "957" Chang-Yu's Maokai at eight minutes, beginning the QG Reapers snowball. Picking up several kills throughout the mid game, QG Reapers clobbered Team WE (9-3, 19-9 match record) through objective control, picking up three Ocean Drakes while running a poke composition with a fed Jayce in mid laner Kim "Doinb" Tae-sang, who dealt a whopping game-high 28,200 damage to enemy champions while earning 90 percent kill participation. While WE showed some signs of life with a 3-for-1 fight at the 26-minute mark, QG could not be stopped as it took a 29-minute Baron buff and 3-for-2 teamfight in the ensuing push to close out the series with another 34-minute win.
QG Reapers take to the Rift against Vici Gaming on Thursday at 5 a.m ET, while Team WE look to bounce back against Game Talents at 8 a.m ET on Thursday.
