EU LCS Playoff Preview
Riot·4/12/2014, 1:04:51 AM·0 votes·2,606 views
No team in the EU LCS has remained unscathed in one of the closest regular seasons to date. Everyone has a story: Fnatic, the fallen champions. SK, the underdogs. ROCCAT, the newcomers. Wolves, with a second chance. Alliance, the super-team. And Gambit, old favorites who are struggling to keep up with the changing landscape. With everything on the line, it’s time to see who can come out on top of a league where there’s no clear victor.
Alliance’s winning streak is over, but at eight in a row, it still stands as the longest of the split for EU. Moreover, it propelled them from 7th place all the way up into first heading into Week 11. A few losses at the end isn’t enough to damper this team’s spirits—they’ve clearly found their groove, and will be heading into the playoffs locked and loaded to finish on a high point. They entered the league as one of the most promising new rosters, but many had written them off after a depressing first few weeks. But now, they sit just short of greatness, and of delivering on that promise.
Their opponents, however, won’t just roll over and play dead. The Copenhagen Wolves have shown signs of greatness of their own. They had their own midseason push which saw five teams fall to them in a row. Forg1ven, their rookie AD carry, currently holds the CS record and is one of this split’s brightest new stars. But, there is some bad news for the Wolves—their only victory against Alliance happened in Week 1. The Wolves are going to have to dig deep to come out on top of this one.
What could be more exciting than the LCS standard-bearers (Gambit), who have created a legacy of greatness that extends down to the very roots of the game, facing off against a team that arguably has the best new roster in the LCS. ROCCAT, who at times this split appeared to be firmly in control of the top spot, have shown some impressive individual strengths and some brilliant strategies that knocked the socks off the league’s best. A late-season faltering for ROCCAT speaks to their mortality, but with a full bye week of prep, I’d expect these Polish savants to bring more than just a single trick up their sleeve.
But if any team is well-suited to facing off against them, it’s Gambit. The two teams were clawing at each other for weeks to take the lead, with Gambit finally defeating ROCCAT before their own super week losses. Gambit has been here before. They have years of experience of playing at the highest of levels, and they’ve held their own against the best teams in the world. Gambit, with the ability to stay strong in a constantly changing league, should have the scales tipped in their favor for this exciting quarterfinal match.
Awaiting the winner of the battle of new rosters will be Fnatic, the 2013 spring and summer split champs. Their mid-season failings forgotten, Fnatic have rebuilt their confidence and core gameplay to ascend to the top two again, and are just one set away from another finals appearance. They aren’t just fighting to do well—with a three-peat on the line, and a new AD to etch into the growing Fnatic legend, they’re playing for a whole lot more than either of their potential opponents can claim.
Who would have expected lowly SK, the team that lost almost every player on their roster during the offseason, to finish in first place after one of the most tumultuous seasons ever in the LCS? While being held together by Scotch tape and CandyPanda’s solid leadership, SK mounted a consistent season, further reinforcing that the best team in EU isn’t necessarily the flashiest, rather, it’s the team that endures together through good times and bad. When the chips were down, SK didn’t give up, and their slow rise through the ranks speaks a testament to their well-managed and quietly efficient roster. All they need is just a little more fuel to push themselves into the finals.
ROCCAT are the biggest question mark heading into playoffs. On point, they may be one of the best teams in the world. But their tough losses aren’t easy to dismiss. The biggest key for them is to keep Overpow alive and well in the game, and his lane will be a key area for ROCCAT to control, especially if they have some trick plays. Take special care to watch for surprise picks from this star mid laner.
Rekkles - AD Carry, Fnatic
Rekkles displayed an outstanding talent this split, especially in the beginning when he seemed practically invincible. Now, faced with his first playoff appearance, and with the season of Fnatic yet to be redeemed, he’ll have the most pressure to find that brilliance again, and deploy it against teams with just as much at stake. Rekkles is good, perhaps the best AD the EU LCS has ever seen (and is currently the leading All-Star contender for EU). To prove he deserves the praise, he’ll have to rise above the pressure and put on a show.
When push comes to shove, the team that stays together, plays together. Fnatic’s roster this season was a long time coming, and now armed with the dream team, they won’t stop at just a bronze or silver medal. Both of their potential opponents in the semifinals are teams with new rosters. With everything on the line, Fnatic will step up and deliver yet another first place trophy to their already impressive collection.
Quarterfinals: Alliance vs. Copenhagen Wolves
When: Tuesday, 4/15, 17:00 CEST / 8:00 AM PDT
Alliance’s winning streak is over, but at eight in a row, it still stands as the longest of the split for EU. Moreover, it propelled them from 7th place all the way up into first heading into Week 11. A few losses at the end isn’t enough to damper this team’s spirits—they’ve clearly found their groove, and will be heading into the playoffs locked and loaded to finish on a high point. They entered the league as one of the most promising new rosters, but many had written them off after a depressing first few weeks. But now, they sit just short of greatness, and of delivering on that promise.
Their opponents, however, won’t just roll over and play dead. The Copenhagen Wolves have shown signs of greatness of their own. They had their own midseason push which saw five teams fall to them in a row. Forg1ven, their rookie AD carry, currently holds the CS record and is one of this split’s brightest new stars. But, there is some bad news for the Wolves—their only victory against Alliance happened in Week 1. The Wolves are going to have to dig deep to come out on top of this one.
Quarterfinals: ROCCAT vs. Gambit
When: Tuesday, 4/15, 17:00 CEST / 8:00 AM PDT
What could be more exciting than the LCS standard-bearers (Gambit), who have created a legacy of greatness that extends down to the very roots of the game, facing off against a team that arguably has the best new roster in the LCS. ROCCAT, who at times this split appeared to be firmly in control of the top spot, have shown some impressive individual strengths and some brilliant strategies that knocked the socks off the league’s best. A late-season faltering for ROCCAT speaks to their mortality, but with a full bye week of prep, I’d expect these Polish savants to bring more than just a single trick up their sleeve.
But if any team is well-suited to facing off against them, it’s Gambit. The two teams were clawing at each other for weeks to take the lead, with Gambit finally defeating ROCCAT before their own super week losses. Gambit has been here before. They have years of experience of playing at the highest of levels, and they’ve held their own against the best teams in the world. Gambit, with the ability to stay strong in a constantly changing league, should have the scales tipped in their favor for this exciting quarterfinal match.
Semifinals: Fnatic vs. ALL/CW
When: Tuesday, 4/15, 17:00 CEST / 8:00 AM PDT
Awaiting the winner of the battle of new rosters will be Fnatic, the 2013 spring and summer split champs. Their mid-season failings forgotten, Fnatic have rebuilt their confidence and core gameplay to ascend to the top two again, and are just one set away from another finals appearance. They aren’t just fighting to do well—with a three-peat on the line, and a new AD to etch into the growing Fnatic legend, they’re playing for a whole lot more than either of their potential opponents can claim.
Semifinals: SK Gaming vs. ROC/GMB
When: Tuesday, 4/15, 17:00 CEST / 8:00 AM PDT
Who would have expected lowly SK, the team that lost almost every player on their roster during the offseason, to finish in first place after one of the most tumultuous seasons ever in the LCS? While being held together by Scotch tape and CandyPanda’s solid leadership, SK mounted a consistent season, further reinforcing that the best team in EU isn’t necessarily the flashiest, rather, it’s the team that endures together through good times and bad. When the chips were down, SK didn’t give up, and their slow rise through the ranks speaks a testament to their well-managed and quietly efficient roster. All they need is just a little more fuel to push themselves into the finals.
Players to Watch
Overpow - Mid, ROCCAT
ROCCAT are the biggest question mark heading into playoffs. On point, they may be one of the best teams in the world. But their tough losses aren’t easy to dismiss. The biggest key for them is to keep Overpow alive and well in the game, and his lane will be a key area for ROCCAT to control, especially if they have some trick plays. Take special care to watch for surprise picks from this star mid laner.
Rekkles - AD Carry, Fnatic
Rekkles displayed an outstanding talent this split, especially in the beginning when he seemed practically invincible. Now, faced with his first playoff appearance, and with the season of Fnatic yet to be redeemed, he’ll have the most pressure to find that brilliance again, and deploy it against teams with just as much at stake. Rekkles is good, perhaps the best AD the EU LCS has ever seen (and is currently the leading All-Star contender for EU). To prove he deserves the praise, he’ll have to rise above the pressure and put on a show.
Predicted Winner
Fnatic
When push comes to shove, the team that stays together, plays together. Fnatic’s roster this season was a long time coming, and now armed with the dream team, they won’t stop at just a bronze or silver medal. Both of their potential opponents in the semifinals are teams with new rosters. With everything on the line, Fnatic will step up and deliver yet another first place trophy to their already impressive collection.
:'c
AWO AWO 
eat em all!!! just 
the games!
playing :D!!! Please pick 
Who want it,add me friend on EUNE
