The European region enters 2017 with an improved reputation in League of Legends as they and North America look to close the gap to the Chinese as the main challengers to the all-conquering Koreans.
The Spring Split of the 2017 LCS Season has kicked off with 10 teams battling in two groups of five, with the hope that the region’s reputation will be enhanced by the end of it.
G2 Esports look dominant once more
Group A of the European LCS has had a little bit of everything so far.
To no-one’s surprise, G2 Esports already look like the team to beat after entering as favourites to win the Spring Split overall. G2 have looked dominant, opening up a 6-0 series score by absolutely demolishing their opponents. G2’s destruction of Origen, 20-0 in kill score while only giving up one turret, this past weekend is just one example of their dominance.
Second place in Group A currently belongs to Misfits (4-1), a brand new team to the LCS although one that does not lack in experience. With players from the LCK (the Korean server) as well as previous European LCS teams, Misfits have a deadly combination of fresh talent like top laner Alphari coupled with seasoned veterans such as KaKAO.
The most interesting member of Misfits has to be mid laner PowerOfEvil, who was picked up after they qualified for the LCS. After a poor season for Origen, many thought PoE would be a significant downgrade, but he has been a quality player for Misfits, with highlight plays on Corki among others.
Fnatic best of the rest
Rounding out Group A are Fnatic at 3-2, GIANTS! at 1-4 and ROCCAT at 0-5.
While GIANTS! and ROCCAT have shown little sign of growth, Fnatic have seen a quality improvement in their play after making key roster moves. During the off-season Fnatic brought in both sOAZ and Amazingx from Origen to man the top lane and jungle respectively, but after a poor start to the season, Amazingx was benched this past weekend in favour of Fnatic Academy player Broxah. Fnatic went on to win 2-1 in their best-of-three against Vitality, with all the signs pointing towards Broxah maintaining the starting role. However, even if Broxah does pan out, it is difficult to see Fnatic overtaking either G2 or Misfits in Group A.
Clear favourites in Group B
Similarly, Group B has two teams at the top in Unicorns of Love and H2k, who both appear to be a level of quality above the competition.
Unicorns of Love sit atop the Group with a 5-0 series record, impressing many along the way. A last-second roster change before the season started has done wonders as Xerxe has provided a consistent threat from the Jungle with an incredibly wide champion pool. Unicorns of Love have long been underestimated in the European LCS, but this team has what it takes to go all the way, particularly as Group B is the weaker pool of the two. The Unicorns will get a real test when they play G2 Esports this coming Thursday in the match of the week though.
H2k are sitting in second place with a 4-2 series score and ambitions of securing the first seed for the second half of the Split. Coming off their run to a semi-final appearance at Worlds, H2k would replace three members in the off-season and the changes would immediately become apparent. While mid laner Febiven has done well in replacing Ryu, it has been difficult for Nuclear in particular to get out of the shadow of former AD Carry FORG1VEN, who is one of the most mechanically gifted players in the game. The lack of his presence has showed, with H2k dropping down a notch to second place. However, look for H2k to challenge the Unicorns of Love for the entire Split as their team chemistry keeps getting better and better.
Splyce struggles a surprise
Rounding out Group B are Splyce (2-3), Vitality (1-4) and Origen (0-5).
Splyce are a team struggling to the surprise of many as they retained all five players from last year. Considered opinion was that Splyce would battle with G2 as the best team in the competition, but the team (particularly Trashy in the Jungle) have not adapted well to the changes of Season 7. If Splyce can find their comfort zone in the coming months they could challenge UoL alongside H2k for a top two seed in Group B though.
