LoL: Weeks three and four of the European League of Legends Championship Series shape up as crucial as the early leaders look to press home their advantage, while those off to a slow start know that they must regroup quickly.
G2 Esports must bounce back
G2 Esports have been a major disappointment thus far, given their preseason expectations of being a title contender. Currently sitting at 1-3, G2 have a golden opportunity to produce some forward momentum in the coming weeks, playing against teams with a .500 record or lower. G2 square off first against Splyce, who have been inconsistent thus far at 2-2, before facing off against H2K, who share the same disappointing 1-3 record with G2.
After an interesting battle with Schalke 04, G2 should almost certainly end the week with a win, given they play the only currently winless team, Unicorns of Love. This has to be where G2 snap out of their poor form should they make any sort of playoff push. G2 must learn to snowball the early advantages they have been acquiring, with an emphasis on mid and late-game shot-calling a must in the coming weeks.
GIANTS will be tested
GIANTS have one of the toughest schedules over the next two weeks, facing two 3-1 teams in ROCCAT and Misfits Gaming, as well as two 2-2 sides Schalke 04 and Fnatic. GIANTS have impressed thus far, coordinating a solid pick-and-ban strategy – primarily counter-pick – and building their in-game play from there. Of course, GIANTS have also had arguably the easiest schedule to date, with wins over two 1-3 teams, G2 and H2K, who have both struggled to find their identity, and also a victory over the winless Unicorns of Love.
This is where GIANTS have a chance to prove themselves, given not only the stiffer competition, but also the fact that teams can expect their counter-picks and anti-strat, or plan accordingly, against them moving forward. The key for GIANTS will continue to be veterans Betsy and Steeelback, who have been the core of this team’s success thus far.
Misfits as well
Misfits have a difficult road coming up, with an opportunity to show that they are the favourites to claim the first seed moving forward. Misfits have two 2-2 teams, Fnatic and Splyce, and two 3-1 teams, ROCCAT and GIANTS, on the schedule and victories could be key – especially against the other 3-1 teams should tiebreakers be relevant later in the season. Misfits have pulled off three wins in a row, with their only loss being to G2 Esports to open the year; oddly G2’s only win.
Misfits are arguably the most well-rounded team in the league, with top-tier coaching staff supporting quality talent in every role. The initial questions of synergy have long since been answered, with new additions Sencux and Mikyx performing well thus far. While Misfits are favoured in any matchup moving forward, facing off against the top half of the league in the next two weeks could cause them to falter at some point.
Tough schedule for Fnatic
Fnatic might be in for a disastrous two weeks, with matches against three 3-1 squads in Misfits, ROCCAT, and GIANTS, alongside a match against UOL. Fnatic have been surprisingly slow out of the gate, after coming in as one of the favourites to claim the first seed alongside Misfits and G2. Fnatic have had a fairly weak schedule thus far, with a loss to H2K, the latter’s only win, as their most notable shortcoming.
Fnatic’s continuity from last year in carrying over four players was supposed to give them an edge early on in the season while teams adapted to multiple new players. However, Fnatic have struggled at times even with the pick-ban phase, selecting the likes of Janna, one of – if not the – most passive supports in the entire game, when their support is known as the playmaker of the team. Fnatic are in a position where trending even at .500 through these two weeks would be a step forward, given their overall poor start to the season.
With four teams grouped in first place with a 3-1 record, the question in weeks three and four is which team seizes the initiative atop the standings. Meanwhile, all eyes will be on G2 Esports to see if they can respond to their disappointing start.
