GROUP A

To absolutely no one’s surprise, SKT comes out as the first seed in Group A. With a fierce competition going on among the others, SKT had a relatively easy time securing this spot, but one piece of history was made. First the first time EVER, SKT has dropped a game in the second week, and that game was a crushing defeat from AHQ, with SKT only picking up two kill to AHQ’s twelve. Though SKT is still quite dominant, coupled with their 0-3 loss to Longzhu in the Korean finals, this is the first real time that the best team in the world is starting to slip. We may very well see this Worlds go to a team other than SKT.

C9 secured the second spot but only thanks to SKT. After dropping two games, one to EDG and one to SKT, C9 had to rely on a win against AHQ and SKT’s win over EDG not to go into a tie breaker. This mars what was an otherwise impressive record and shows some weaknesses in the C9 lineup. C9 drafted poorly against EDG, giving them a Galio which was not only dominant for their comp, but dominant to their team and in their region. This failure was followed by a loss to SKT that showed the team still has jitters about taking on the world champs. However, C9’s laning does look quite strong, as even against SKT, C9 managed to win in gold just through lane domination.

Pulling into a close third, EDG came out of the gates swinging in week two. They             opened by playing to their strengthens with a dive comp that C9 could not withstand and then translating it into hyper, hyper aggressive plays against AHQ with their ADC iBoy. iBoy brought their AHQ game home by picking up four kills back-to-back with nearly unmatched aggression. Unfortunately, EDG fell once more to SKT and once more after beating them soundly in the early game. EDG’s pride cost them as they pushed too aggressive and compounded on their mistakes. They gave two kills, then three, then five for the ace. After that, EDG had lost their momentum, and it sent them their ticket out of Worlds.

AHQ may have finished last, but they finished strong as the only team in their group to defeat SKT, and not just defeat, but to absolutely stomp. This game finished in a 12 – 2 that completely caught SKT off guard. It started with the draft when AHQ predicted a Fizz pick for Faker and stole it away. The shock of the loss seemed to shake the entire team, and SKT’s slow plod forward simply failed in the face of massive early game aggression. Unlike EDG, AHQ never gave a window for success to SKT, and AHQ has now highlighted a window to victory for other teams. Beat SKT in the draft, and never give them a window to come back. It was AHQ’s parting gift as the exit.

GROUP B

Longzhu took the first seed out of this group in a clean 6-0, the only clean 6-0 of any of the groups. Like SKT, LZ is a team of discipline, one that is not invincible, but indomitable. Though it was interesting that the team that did best against them was GAM, a team that played unconventionally and that didn’t show the same fear that many veterans have showed against playing Korean powerhouses.

But the star of Group B was team Fnatic, making Worlds history with the greatest comeback sweep of all time and securing themselves the second seed. We covered it all in a breakdown dedicated just to Fnatic, but this team showed an adaptability and perseverance that could make them a very real threat to every single team at Worlds. Against IMT and GAM, it was a game of attrition. FNC simply didn’t break under pressure – or at least, not as much as their opponents. FNC earned their spot, but against unflappable teams like SKT and LZ, FNC will need to up their coordination. They can’t always expect the other team to make faults that get them ahead.

Though they are gone now, GAM continues to be one of the most impressive, creative teams on the Rift. They never shied from interesting comps and drafts, and unlike other teams, it never felt like a gimmick. GAM had a strategy behind their bizarre choices, and when it worked, it worked big. There is much to be said for a team that took LZ to the ropes and nearly took them through sheer force of will. We definitely hope to see them next year.

The curse of week two strikes again. But in reality, the Immortals biggest enemy was themselves. Their games were rife with errors – from Pobelter throwing Orianna ults into empty space in the middle of a team fight to CodySun committing suicide into the middle of Fnatic. The only explanation for plays that were baffling and mechanical mistakes that were amateur is nerves. This was something we saw at the NA LCS finals as well when IMT showed a clear mental block when it came time to do or die. Hopefully, it won’t be a deciding factor in their application to the league.

GROUP C

Group C was a drop down brawl. This could have been nearly anyone’s to take, but it was RNG that came out on top. Oddly enough, it wasn’t sheer mechanics, perseverance or any of the normal factors that kept RNG in this game. It was a game-by-game breakdown, beating 1907 Fenerbahçe by playing to their strengths with Vayne and beating RNG by playing the map better.

SSG secured the second spot in much the same way. SSG’s inability to change their style is worrying though, even as they move onto the quarterfinals. They simply play too slow, and their victories in Group C were largely by the allowance of other teams to let them scale into the late game.

G2 fell to a similar issue, showing that they are simply an inferior style to SSG. Both teams play slow and steady, letting the game carry on until they feel strong enough to make plays. This is something we have seen from top teams time and again. Korea has been known for playing some of the slowest games of attrition to whittle down their opponent, but G2 simply didn’t have the other skills to back it up.

No one expected Fenerbahçe to make it far. They were a team too young to take on the veterans and strategies of the world stage, but they also showed an amazing amount of skill for such a new addition. Like GAM, if FB can hone their skills, they may have a real shot of it next year.

GROUP D

With a three-way tie in week 1, Group D holds the true title of brawling madness. Teams dropped games, won by huge leads, and fell apart. Ultimately, Team WE has showed the greatest growth – something we frankly didn’t expect out of the third seed from China – and have adapted to be aggressive in the early game, something SSG and G2 simply couldn’t do.

Meanwhile, Misfits are looking absolutely stunning going into the quarterfinals. This is the team that brought to life the Tank Busters and has consistently challenged the meta and other teams. Though their performance has been uneven, this is the amped up version of GAM, a team that can truly challenge other Worlds teams and make them think twice about comfort picks.

Maybe it was the pressure, but like IMT, TSM just did not play to the standards of Worlds teams. Doublelift floundered on every ADC he chose as teams identified Tristana as his power pick. However, even once he got Tristana, he hyper aggressed on Flash Wolves Maple and underestimated him dramatically. In the end, even FW was able to identify that TSM’s strength is in obvious, transparent comps and strategies, and once they identified them, they picked TSM apart. Unfortunately, TSM learned this lesson too late, and it’s lights out for the NA LCS first seed.

Flash Wolves went out as a strong competitor, but one which could almost never get the edge they needed against their opponents. They still made questionable decisions, such as a too defensive Shen with only a Spectral Cowl and Ninja Tabi trying to defend his team, but the team showed promise against TSM in their ability to read and predict their style, something which led AHQ to victory against SKT. Both teams have shown that it never matters the size of the enemy, it matters the quality of the strategy.