EU LCS Week 9 Preview
Riot·3/19/2014, 10:50:23 PM·0 votes·879 views
Heading into Week 9, it’s important to note that some teams got a nice break, while others had mixed results at the IEM World Championships in Katowice. The real story here is Fnatic, who had an outstanding run through the bracket all the way to the finals. Under the lights, Fnatic shined brightly, so the question really becomes whether they can bring that play back into the LCS.
ROCCAT won’t make it easy. They’re 1-5 over the last two weeks, and have got to replant their feet. They’ve shown they have the skill to be No. 1 in the region, but now they’ve actually got to go out and do something with it. A win against Fnatic is necessary if they want to climb back up the rankings.
This match is critical for ROCCAT. Their loss to SK in Week 8 is sure to be fresh on their mind, but I expect the strategically brilliant ROCCAT will have something up their sleeve for this one. Armed with a week off to rethink their play, ROCCAT will be sure to mount a renewed assault on the EU LCS.
Supa Hot Crew, on the other hand, have already lost that consistency. A stable midseason performance had them looking poised to jump into the top three, but a winless Week 8 has them facing the bottom of the rankings. There is no doubt that SHC is good, but can they rein in their errant play and find some solid ground again? The key will be MrRalleZ, whose four kills (and five deaths) over four games were very uncharacteristic. He’ll have to bring back his initial signs of greatness that had people talking when the season started.
ROCCAT vs. Fnatic
When: Thursday, March 20, 20:00 CET / 1:00 PM PDT Fnatic’s first game of the week is against none other but the very team to unseat them from first place back in Week 4. Not only do Fnatic have a chance for revenge, but they have it after a confidence booster at IEM. Wins against Cloud 9 and Invictus Gaming have the team riding high and they’re going to be doing their best to channel that momentum into something measurable for the LCS.
ROCCAT won’t make it easy. They’re 1-5 over the last two weeks, and have got to replant their feet. They’ve shown they have the skill to be No. 1 in the region, but now they’ve actually got to go out and do something with it. A win against Fnatic is necessary if they want to climb back up the rankings.
ROCCAT vs. SK Gaming
When: Friday, March 21, 19:00 CET / 12:00 PM PDT ROCCAT’s challenges don’t end there. SK Gaming, who replaced ROCCAT in the top two, has played solidly to mount their resurgence in the last few weeks. They’re currently tied with Gambit, but could very well make a move for the No. 1 spot if they can triumph over ROCCAT. CandyPanda, the team’s veteran, has really whipped SK into shape, and will no doubt continue to flourish as SK defends their seating near the top of the league.
This match is critical for ROCCAT. Their loss to SK in Week 8 is sure to be fresh on their mind, but I expect the strategically brilliant ROCCAT will have something up their sleeve for this one. Armed with a week off to rethink their play, ROCCAT will be sure to mount a renewed assault on the EU LCS.
Alliance vs. Supa Hot Crew
When: Friday, March 21, 20:00 CET / 1:00 PM PDT Alliance’s four wins in Week 8 was enough to propel them up from No. 7 to tie for No. 4. Now, they have to defend that amazing week. The only problem is that the last time Alliance were No. 4, they lost their next two and tumbled down into last place. They need to find some consistency if they want to remain safely out of relegation.
Supa Hot Crew, on the other hand, have already lost that consistency. A stable midseason performance had them looking poised to jump into the top three, but a winless Week 8 has them facing the bottom of the rankings. There is no doubt that SHC is good, but can they rein in their errant play and find some solid ground again? The key will be MrRalleZ, whose four kills (and five deaths) over four games were very uncharacteristic. He’ll have to bring back his initial signs of greatness that had people talking when the season started.
