EU LCS Week 11 Preview
Riot·3/31/2014, 11:44:55 PM·0 votes·692 views
This is it. The final week of the EU LCS, and things have never been closer. Alliance, Fnatic, and SK are now all tied for first, with ROCCAT and Gambit close behind. Seven of the eight teams still have a shot at a bye during playoffs. At the end of the week, one more team will join Millenium in relegation, but who that team will be is very much still up in the air. It’s time to see who can come out ahead in the EU LCS.
This match will really come down to what lies at the core of each team. Is Fnatic playing now like they did when the split first started, or will they run out of steam? Can Alliance cement themselves as the super-team they promised in the preseason, or will they fall apart when it matters the most. Regardless of who wins, this match will be one worth talking about for a long time to come.
SK Gaming has made their own late-season push, but they have to face off with Fnatic as well. SK, who had a rocky preseason and first couple weeks, are now playing solidly. They have silently climbed up the rankings with a good week and could be seeded very well into the playoffs. While most teams have shown vulnerabilities this late into the split, SK has done the opposite—they’ve fixed most of the problems that they showed initially, and are now firing on all cylinders heading into the final week. Fnatic will definitely have their work cut out for them.
Gambit and ROCCAT have slipped as of late, and now sit in fourth place for the first time in the split. At times, these two looked like champions who could sweep the playoffs with ease. But late season losses have both teams licking their wounds, and it’ll take some serious effort if they want to end the season with a bye. What’s more, the game against each other means that one will have a lead in the standings, while the other could end up with fifth place (or even relegation). These two teams can definitely stand amongst the world’s best when they are at 100%. This week, though, they’ll have to dig deep to get there.
This one is all about seeding. As the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds, both of these teams will be fighting to make the cut to get into playoffs and avoid relegation. Pending the SHC's prior games in the week, this could be the most important game this split for both of these teams. And with relegation as punishment, there might not be a more important game in these players’ careers. The Wolves and the Crew both have some very good players, but in order to stay afloat and make it to playoffs, they’ve have to pull out all the stops.
Fnatic vs. Alliance
When: Tuesday, 4/1, 17:00 CEST / 8:00 AM PDT The week starts off with a bang between two heavy hitters. Fnatic, the champions last split are pitted against Alliance, whom have proven their worth with a late-season push that has sent them rocketing to the top of the rankings. Alliance have bested Fnatic’s seven-game winning streak with eight of their own. Now, they seek to extend it.
This match will really come down to what lies at the core of each team. Is Fnatic playing now like they did when the split first started, or will they run out of steam? Can Alliance cement themselves as the super-team they promised in the preseason, or will they fall apart when it matters the most. Regardless of who wins, this match will be one worth talking about for a long time to come.
SK Gaming vs. Fnatic
When: Tuesday, 4/1, 19:00 CEST / 10:00 AM PDT
SK Gaming has made their own late-season push, but they have to face off with Fnatic as well. SK, who had a rocky preseason and first couple weeks, are now playing solidly. They have silently climbed up the rankings with a good week and could be seeded very well into the playoffs. While most teams have shown vulnerabilities this late into the split, SK has done the opposite—they’ve fixed most of the problems that they showed initially, and are now firing on all cylinders heading into the final week. Fnatic will definitely have their work cut out for them.
Gambit vs. ROCCAT
When: Wednesday, 4/2, 18:00 CEST / 9:00 AM PDT
Gambit and ROCCAT have slipped as of late, and now sit in fourth place for the first time in the split. At times, these two looked like champions who could sweep the playoffs with ease. But late season losses have both teams licking their wounds, and it’ll take some serious effort if they want to end the season with a bye. What’s more, the game against each other means that one will have a lead in the standings, while the other could end up with fifth place (or even relegation). These two teams can definitely stand amongst the world’s best when they are at 100%. This week, though, they’ll have to dig deep to get there.
Copenhagen Wolves vs. Supa Hot Crew
When: Thursday, 4/3, 18:00 CEST / 9:00 AM PDT
This one is all about seeding. As the No. 6 and No. 7 seeds, both of these teams will be fighting to make the cut to get into playoffs and avoid relegation. Pending the SHC's prior games in the week, this could be the most important game this split for both of these teams. And with relegation as punishment, there might not be a more important game in these players’ careers. The Wolves and the Crew both have some very good players, but in order to stay afloat and make it to playoffs, they’ve have to pull out all the stops.
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