EU LCS Bracketology
Riot·4/1/2014, 12:20:01 AM·0 votes·1,050 views
With only a one game difference between five teams, Super Week is preparing to be both an exciting and intense moment for European players and fans. Let's review what teams need to do and where they need to win the most, in order to advance to the spring split playoffs.
Sitting at the near the top of the rankings, Alliance has made a drastic 180 since the beginning of the split. Going a surprising 0-4 in the very first Super Week, Alliance overcame their communication errors that any newly formed team is bound to face. Looking to finish the split with a bang, the team is currently on an eight game tear with their last loss against SK Gaming back in Week 7. Currently with a winning or tied head-to-head record against the other seven EU LCS teams, Alliance can rest slightly easy knowing they will not automatically lose any sudden ties at the end of Super Week.
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Tuesday, 17.00 CDT / 8:00 AM PDT) - Wanting to start Super Week off on the right foot, all eyes will be on Alliance to see if they can maintain course in the first match of the week against Fnatic.
The start of the spring split was a glorious time for Fnatic; the team finally placed Rekkles in the ADC position for the first time since IPL5 and went a perfect 7-0 in the first three weeks. But then the impossible happened: as strong as Fnatic looked at the start, they collapsed in the following games to finish Week 7 with a mediocre 8-8 record. While Fnatic has since recovered from the misstep, the players know they watched an opportunity to sit even higher in the rankings slip by. The moment is now -has Fnatic finally returned back to form?
Game to watch: vs. SK Gaming (Tuesday, 19.00 CDT / 10:00 AM PDT) - Although winning or tied head-to-head against the majority of other teams, Fnatic is looking at a 1-2 record against both Alliance and SK Gaming, their first two matches of Super Week.
SK Gaming had a quiet entry into the spring split. Not quite at the bottom, they sat in the middle of the pack and slowly picked up the pace as the split progressed. Currently, the team is on an upswing. Jesiz continues to perform well against some of the best mid lanes in Europe while the newest member of the team, nRated, has meshed into a cohesive pair with CandyPanda. With a winning record against many teams, it's surprising that SK's only 1-2 record is against last place Millenium.
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Tuesday, 19.00 CDT / 10:00 AM PDT) - Out of the five teams tied for first and second place, SK Gaming has the lightest Super Week. With three out of four matches against the bottom three teams, SK's main concern should be Fnatic. If they win, SK has incredible odds to finish spring split with the No. 1 seed.
While their record indicates a tumultuous spring split, the Russians have consistently been in the top 2 for many weeks. However for Gambit themselves, it has always been about how the team finishes, not how they begin. When it comes down to crunch time, Gambit has repeatedly preformed in the clutch. This Super Week should be no different for them. Against three of the teams they face, Gambit is looking at a losing record, including 1-2 against both Fnatic and Alliance.
Game to watch: vs. ROCCAT (Wednesday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - Proving to be Russian kryptonite this split, ROCCAT is an impressive 3-0 against Gambit this split. While Gambit will undoubtedly lose if they tie the Poles at the end of Super Week, it's nothing if not pride, that Gambit wants to win against ROCCAT to avoid getting swept by any one team during the regular season.
For three splits, the EU LCS has always had a Polish team in the pool and ROCCAT has been the most impressive one. ROCCAT's explosive start to the season catapulted them as high as the No. 1 spot. But the last three weeks for them have been a concern: the Poles have gone a combined 3-5 in Weeks 8, 9, and 10. The question now is can ROCCAT return back to form and make a run for No. 1 or will they continue to slide?
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Thursday, 20:00 CDT / 11:00 AM PDT) - With an already losing record in the spring split against SK Gaming at 1-3, ROCCAT is looking to tie things up with Fnatic. A key point in coming out big in Super Week is to convert the 1-2 records to 2-2 to avoid losing tiebreakers at the end of the week.
Sitting right outside looking in, Copenhagen Wolves is 2 or 3 games behind the top five teams. While the dream of No. 1 has been extinguished already, the Wolves's primary focus this Super Week is to make it to playoffs and avoid relegation. Their future will be in their own hands at least, but with a losing record against all four teams they face in Super Week, the Wolves will undoubtedly have to come out big if they want to make secure No. 6.
Game to watch: vs. Supa Hot Crew (Thursday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - The Wolves will have an opportunity here to fend off Supa Hot Crew and maintain their position in the rankings and ultimately avoid relegation.
The spring split has not been kind to the new LCS teams. With two of the three new teams occupying the bottom rankings, there's still plenty room for improvement. For the Supa Hot Crew, their goal for Super Week is to claw out of No. 7 and into No. 6 in order to avoid relegation. Only one game behind Copenhagen Wolves, Supa Hot Crew does have a slightly easier schedule with one of their four games against No. 8 Millenium.
Game to watch: vs. Copenhagen Wolves (Thursday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - The winner between the Supa Hot Crew vs. Copenhagen Wolves match will have a big claim to the No. 6 spot.
Sitting lowly at No. 8, Millenium's fate has already been sealed. Even if the team went a perfect 4-0 and the No. 6 team, Copenhagen Wolves, managed an abysmal 0-4 Super Week, it would put both teams tied with a record of 11-17. However, Copenhagen Wolves' 4-0 head-to-head record against Millenium means they would advance as the No. 6 seed regardless. That being said, Millenium must toughen up for relegation they face in a few weeks and nothing would bolster their confidence more than to finish Super Week on a positive note.
Game to watch: vs. SK Gaming (Thursday, 17.00 CDT / 8:00 AM PDT) - With a surprising 2-1 record against SK Gaming, a win for Millenium against one of the top teams can go a long way as a morale booster.
Alliance (14-10)
Sitting at the near the top of the rankings, Alliance has made a drastic 180 since the beginning of the split. Going a surprising 0-4 in the very first Super Week, Alliance overcame their communication errors that any newly formed team is bound to face. Looking to finish the split with a bang, the team is currently on an eight game tear with their last loss against SK Gaming back in Week 7. Currently with a winning or tied head-to-head record against the other seven EU LCS teams, Alliance can rest slightly easy knowing they will not automatically lose any sudden ties at the end of Super Week.
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Tuesday, 17.00 CDT / 8:00 AM PDT) - Wanting to start Super Week off on the right foot, all eyes will be on Alliance to see if they can maintain course in the first match of the week against Fnatic.
Fnatic (14-10)
The start of the spring split was a glorious time for Fnatic; the team finally placed Rekkles in the ADC position for the first time since IPL5 and went a perfect 7-0 in the first three weeks. But then the impossible happened: as strong as Fnatic looked at the start, they collapsed in the following games to finish Week 7 with a mediocre 8-8 record. While Fnatic has since recovered from the misstep, the players know they watched an opportunity to sit even higher in the rankings slip by. The moment is now -has Fnatic finally returned back to form?
Game to watch: vs. SK Gaming (Tuesday, 19.00 CDT / 10:00 AM PDT) - Although winning or tied head-to-head against the majority of other teams, Fnatic is looking at a 1-2 record against both Alliance and SK Gaming, their first two matches of Super Week.
SK Gaming (14-10)
SK Gaming had a quiet entry into the spring split. Not quite at the bottom, they sat in the middle of the pack and slowly picked up the pace as the split progressed. Currently, the team is on an upswing. Jesiz continues to perform well against some of the best mid lanes in Europe while the newest member of the team, nRated, has meshed into a cohesive pair with CandyPanda. With a winning record against many teams, it's surprising that SK's only 1-2 record is against last place Millenium.
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Tuesday, 19.00 CDT / 10:00 AM PDT) - Out of the five teams tied for first and second place, SK Gaming has the lightest Super Week. With three out of four matches against the bottom three teams, SK's main concern should be Fnatic. If they win, SK has incredible odds to finish spring split with the No. 1 seed.
Gambit Gaming (13-11)
While their record indicates a tumultuous spring split, the Russians have consistently been in the top 2 for many weeks. However for Gambit themselves, it has always been about how the team finishes, not how they begin. When it comes down to crunch time, Gambit has repeatedly preformed in the clutch. This Super Week should be no different for them. Against three of the teams they face, Gambit is looking at a losing record, including 1-2 against both Fnatic and Alliance.
Game to watch: vs. ROCCAT (Wednesday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - Proving to be Russian kryptonite this split, ROCCAT is an impressive 3-0 against Gambit this split. While Gambit will undoubtedly lose if they tie the Poles at the end of Super Week, it's nothing if not pride, that Gambit wants to win against ROCCAT to avoid getting swept by any one team during the regular season.
ROCCAT (13-11)
For three splits, the EU LCS has always had a Polish team in the pool and ROCCAT has been the most impressive one. ROCCAT's explosive start to the season catapulted them as high as the No. 1 spot. But the last three weeks for them have been a concern: the Poles have gone a combined 3-5 in Weeks 8, 9, and 10. The question now is can ROCCAT return back to form and make a run for No. 1 or will they continue to slide?
Game to watch: vs. Fnatic (Thursday, 20:00 CDT / 11:00 AM PDT) - With an already losing record in the spring split against SK Gaming at 1-3, ROCCAT is looking to tie things up with Fnatic. A key point in coming out big in Super Week is to convert the 1-2 records to 2-2 to avoid losing tiebreakers at the end of the week.
Copenhagen Wolves (11-13)
Sitting right outside looking in, Copenhagen Wolves is 2 or 3 games behind the top five teams. While the dream of No. 1 has been extinguished already, the Wolves's primary focus this Super Week is to make it to playoffs and avoid relegation. Their future will be in their own hands at least, but with a losing record against all four teams they face in Super Week, the Wolves will undoubtedly have to come out big if they want to make secure No. 6.
Game to watch: vs. Supa Hot Crew (Thursday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - The Wolves will have an opportunity here to fend off Supa Hot Crew and maintain their position in the rankings and ultimately avoid relegation.
Supa Hot Crew (10-14)
The spring split has not been kind to the new LCS teams. With two of the three new teams occupying the bottom rankings, there's still plenty room for improvement. For the Supa Hot Crew, their goal for Super Week is to claw out of No. 7 and into No. 6 in order to avoid relegation. Only one game behind Copenhagen Wolves, Supa Hot Crew does have a slightly easier schedule with one of their four games against No. 8 Millenium.
Game to watch: vs. Copenhagen Wolves (Thursday, 18.00 CDT / 9:00 AM PDT) - The winner between the Supa Hot Crew vs. Copenhagen Wolves match will have a big claim to the No. 6 spot.
Millenium (7-17)
Sitting lowly at No. 8, Millenium's fate has already been sealed. Even if the team went a perfect 4-0 and the No. 6 team, Copenhagen Wolves, managed an abysmal 0-4 Super Week, it would put both teams tied with a record of 11-17. However, Copenhagen Wolves' 4-0 head-to-head record against Millenium means they would advance as the No. 6 seed regardless. That being said, Millenium must toughen up for relegation they face in a few weeks and nothing would bolster their confidence more than to finish Super Week on a positive note.
Game to watch: vs. SK Gaming (Thursday, 17.00 CDT / 8:00 AM PDT) - With a surprising 2-1 record against SK Gaming, a win for Millenium against one of the top teams can go a long way as a morale booster.
